Corel Designer 9

At first glance the list of new features to Designer 9 aren't that impressive, since they consist primarily of improved import and export options for various file formats. However, some of these newly supported file formats have important implications.

This update can now import DXF and DWG files from AutoCAD 2000, and retain the measurement units, colour schemes and view orientations stored within these files. It also maintains references to external files that are linked to the main file.

Another new feature lets you export files as PDFs, so your drawings can be read by other users who don't have Designer installed on their PCs. Links can be created between sections within the PDF file so that recipients can quickly move from one page to another, or add links to external web pages.

The most interesting addition is the ability to export files in Macromedia's Flash file format (SWF). Flash has become the de facto standard for vector graphics animation on the internet, so this feature allows you to create compact illustrations which can be used online. However, there's no point in supporting a file format for animated graphics if Designer itself doesn't allow you to create animated graphics. The program does provide some basic animation options, but the documentation doesn't make it clear how to use this new functionality.

The Transform command is used to animate individual objects, perhaps showing them changing shape, size or colour. More complex animations can be created using a multi-layer illustration that stores different graphics on each layer. If you then select the Publish to Web command, Designer will convert each layer in the illustration into a separate frame within the animation sequence.

Although this sounds intuitive, Designer's manual gives very little advice on how to put these ideas into practice. It informs you what you can do, without actually showing you how to do it. There are no tutorials for the animation features, and it's unclear how to turn a simple static image into an animation that extends over a specific amount of time. Animation will be a new skill for many existing Designer users, so Micrografx really ought to have made more effort to introduce basic animation concepts.

This upgrade is unlikely to create any converts from rival products such as CorelDraw or FreeHand, but it's a worthwhile upgrade for existing Designer users. However, its manual could do with a rewrite for you to get the most out of the new features.

Contact

Micrografx: Grafx House, Forsyth Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 5SB
Tel 01483 747526, Fax 01483 747528
www.micrografx.com/igrafx/designer/

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