Corel Boosts Technical Graphics with Designer 10 Extra Precision and Workflow Support Eric Grevstad
Mon 2/10/03 -- Designing page layouts or Web sites calls for precision, but designing airplanes or machine tools calls for super-precision -- and that's what Corel Corp. promises to deliver with its latest technical graphics software, Corel Designer 10.
Shipping in March for $469 ($229 for the upgrade), Designer 10 adds Precision Snapping capabilities that let users accurately specify locations in a technical drawing, while Gravity Snapping automatically locates set points for adding or modifying geometry while using any tool. Enhanced illustration tools help create technical graphics such as call-outs with halos, dimensions, connector lines, and custom line endings.
New editing tools control all transformations from one location, with a Transformation Docker to precisely move, rotate, scale, flip, skew, and project objects to isometric views. Thousands of reusable, industry-standard symbols can be stored in files or linked over a network to decrease the file size and improve the consistency of illustrations; a Link Manager lets networked users update all graphics for consistency's sake when changes are made in the symbol libraries.
The program supports over 60 import/export filters, including formats popularly used in technical graphics workflow such as CorelDraw, AutoCAD, SVG PDF, and Microsoft Visio. Visual Basic for Applications is also included so users can script and automate workflow tasks.
