Learning How to Effectively Use Corel

Is it possible for the sole owner of an awards and engraving business to learn enough about the Corel products to be effective? The answer is yes; however, I wouldn’t suggest trying to do it all at once.

The trick is to learn something, then apply it. Learn enough to be able to offer a line of products that can be confidently produced. Customers will gradually push you forward to learn new skills that can be further marketed once mastered. Over time, your skills and product lines will grow. Will your knowledge of the software and your design ability match that of design specialists? Probably not, simply because of time and focus, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an effective business with customers who value the work that you do.

My point is that the Corel Graphics Suite is a big, versatile program that can be equally utilized by anyone from a hobbyist to a sole proprietor of a small engraving shop to a seasoned and world-renowned professional design specialist. Be curious. Learn as much as you can about the tools, but don’t try to master everything at once. Master something simple then utilize what you mastered – put it to work.

-Jim Sadler

Read more about using CorelDRAW as a layout tool in the October ’18 issue of A&E.