Technique using the Pick tool and the Transformations command group in CorelDRAW X8

I. The Pick Tool in CorelDRAW X8

The CorelDRAW program manages objects through a coordinate system. In CorelDRAW, the coordinate system has the coordinate origin as the lower left origin of the paper, the horizontal axis coincides with the lower margin and the axis coincides with the left margin of the page.

Each object in CorelDRAW has a center with specified coordinates. If you change the coordinates of the center, the position of the object will also change.

You can change the center coordinates by using the property bar or drag and drop the mouse or using the Position command. For example, a circle has coordinates of X: 0.0 '' and Y: 0.0 '' so its position will be as shown below.

Pick tool is one of the most frequently used tools in CorelDRAW Pick tool, in addition to the main function of selecting objects, it can also be used to move objects, rotate objects, change the size of objects. object and research.

When you select an object with the Pick tool, around the object will appear squares and you can drag and drop these squares to change the size of the object in proportion or not to a specific scale.

1. Drag the red squares to resize the object proportionally.
2. Drag the black squares to resize the object out of proportion.

Left-click once on the object, arrows appear around the object, allowing you to distort the object and rotate the specific object.

1. Rotate the red arrows to rotate the object.
2. Drag the black arrows to distort the object.

Attention:

1. To select multiple objects you press and hold the Shift key while selecting.
2. To zoom in or out on a concentric object, press and hold the Shift key while dragging.
3. To rotate by 15 degrees or multiples of 15 degrees press and hold the Ctrl key while rotating.
4. To flip horizontally or vertically an object you also press and hold the Ctrl key while flipping.

II. The Transformations command group

Using the Pick tool gives you an intuitive view when manipulating the object, but when you use it, it may not achieve the desired results or be difficult to achieve absolutely. So in addition to using the Pick tool you can also use the Transformations group command in the Object menu.

The Transformations command group gives you five commands as shown below.

1. Position command

The Position command allows you to move an object from one position to another. Using the Position command as follows, first select the object you need to change position then press Alt + F7 a dialog box appears as shown below, you customize the necessary parameters and then Apply.

1. New center coordinates of the object.
2. The position is selected as the center of the object.
3. Number of copies after each translation.

For example, you can use the Position command together with the Pen tool - Rectangle tool - Smart Fill tool to draw a logo as shown below.

+ Step 1: Use the Pen tool to draw an apple.

+ Step 2: Next, you use the Rectangle tool to draw a rectangle.

+ Step 3: Next, you use Pick tool to select the rectangle.

+ Step 4: Go to Object => select Transformations => Position or press Alt + F7. Customize the parameters as shown below, then click Apply.

+ Step 5: Then you use Smart Fill tool to fill objects

+ Step 6: Delete unnecessary rectangles.

2. Rotate command

The Rotate command is used to rotate an object in CorelDRAW. Using the Rotate command as follows, first select the object you need to rotate (adjust the center of rotation if necessary) then press Alt + F8 a dialog box appears as shown below, you customize the necessary parameters. like rotation angle, center of rotation . then press Apply.

1. Swivel angle.
2. Center rotation.
3. The selected position is the rotation center of the object.
4. Number of copies after each rotation.

For example, you can use the Rotate command with the Polygon tool to quickly draw the Mitsubishi logo.

+ Step 1: Use the Polygon tool to draw a picture.

+ Step 2: Use the Pick tool to select the picture only.

+ Step 3: Go to Object => select Transformations => Rotate or press Alt + F8. Customize the parameters as shown below, then click Apply.

3. Scale And Mirror Order

The Scale and mirror command is used to scale an object to scale. Using the Scale and Mirror command as follows, first select the object to be scaled, press Alt + F9, a dialog box appears as shown below allowing you to enter the percentage to enlarge or enlarge. minimize the object after entering the parameters you choose Apply.

For example, you can apply command on an object is a circle to get a new object as shown below.

The remaining commands such as Size, Skew, you learn more in case you want to remove the Transformations just done, you can go to the menu Object => choose Transformations => choose Clear Transformations

So I have shown you two ways to move, rotate, and deform an object depending on the design requirements you choose for using the Pick tool or the Transformations command group accordingly. See you in the next article. Good luck !

Jessica Tanner

Update 30 January 2021