DSF

Running trial version, watching youtube vids and so on to try pick up how to use it, very basic stuff at the moment, cutcontour and manipulating imported images, nothing clever at all! Not having used either Coreldraw or Illustrator before I've no idea which is better so not starting that discussion at the moment but wondered if anyone knew where to buy Coraldraw competitively rather than full price, used or new. Seen a couple 'licences' for sale on Ebay but wary of being scammed because if I do use Pirate copy I'd rather not get duped into it, got some pride lol.

Also, anyone any good links to video clips with useful tutorials or other suggestions that would be handy, rather than me endlessly watching everything only to find it either irrelevant or rubbish, bit frustrated with my lack of knowledge using it at the moment. Learning to get most from my Roland BN-20 and produce well anything I can really but to create and manipulate images and graphics for clothing and other various items hopefully being a main part.

Wondered if a poll was run what the outcome would be on who uses Coral v Illustrator - I know some use both (clever clogs) but as a 'go to' tool which is preferred for working with vectors.

Thanks
Mark

CorelDraw Essentials is a very cheap and useful option. I still use X4 which again can sometimes be sourced at a good price and offers most of the functions you'll probably ever need

Thanks, don't think essentials supports CMYK or spot colours needed with Roland Versaworks though your right that I probably won't need a lot of the features the full blown version includes. I considered an older version and it's an option though prefer learning the latest of something to try keeping abreast (if I can!) I guess occasionally a genuine used sale may come up too but probably not by the time my trial ends!
Mark

I'm using CorelDraw X7. I decided to go for the yearly subscription this year to see how I like it. It has a learning curve, but there are tons of videos to help if you get stuck. Every time I learn something new it's like a revelation.
I have used Photoshop for years and was going to go for Illustrator but it's to expensive and Adobes subscriptions are dearer than CorelDraw.

Kath

How much is X7 on subscription? My youngest uses the Adobe cloud as he's at school we get the whole package for him at £15 per month which is great value.

Hi Justin, CorelDraw X7 cost me £ 179.40 prepaid for a year. Which is £14.95 a month. That includes the full Suite. Illustrator cost £17.15 a month. I think in the long run doing it this way is probably dearer, except you will never have to buy the upgrades when they come out.
As I said it has a big learning curve, but up to now I'm liking it. I use it more than Photoshop CS 6

Kath

Yeah I agree, not the cheapest way but you always get the latest version.

Yep rental/subscription is the other option, years worth up front not monthly installments like Adobe to get that price otherwise it's £22.96 30days/month. Lots of software is going to this sales model and in time it'll probably be mainstream, helps manage cashflow and keeps you uptodate too.
Mark

Did you try Illustrator Kath? I wasn't going to do the CD v Ill but I wondered that if you've used Photoshop, doesn't Illustrator have a lot in common from an appearance and usage angle? Are you pleased you went with CD? I might try Illustrator too and see if there's anything easier or more useful in either. Some out there may already know any shortcomings of either and so be interested to know.

I have the free version of Illustrator on my Mac. It's the Windows version which I run in Parallels. I think it is illustrator CS 2, Sorry I cannot remember which site I downloaded from but it's not pirate. Adobe have allowed the use of this version plus you get a serial number for it.
My limited knowledge of Photoshop is self taught and if I don't keep using it Except for the basics I forget how to do things....��
The few times I have tried illustrator I have once or twice had an error that it could not open certain files as they were not supported, I took this to be because it is an older program, so always go back to CorelDraw which has open opened everything I throw at it.
Of course the newest Illustrator would not have that problem. It was just CorelDraw subscription was cheaper.

Kath

PS you also get other apps in the Coreldraw Subscription including
Corel® PHOTO-PAINT™ X7