PowerClip and CorelDRAW X5
Recently I've had a lot of people ask me about PowerClip in CorelDRAW X5. They almost all start out by telling me PowerClip is broken and doesn't work at all. I get a quick chuckle as I know what is causing the problem for these users and I think CorelDRAW X5 is the first version in a very long time where PowerClip works correctly out of the box. It is all about a default setting and a user's workflow. Of course I cover it all in my CorelDRAW X5 Unleashed book.
Let's first talk about the default setting behind the confusion. Go to Tools | Options | Workspace | Edit and you'll find an option labeled "Auto-center PowerClip". In previous versions, it was checked by default and I felt it was the worst default setting in the program. Finally Corel left it unchecked in CorelDRAW X5 and it has caused confusion for all the users who didn't know the setting existed. If you want the old, flawed, behavior; just put a check in the box.
So why do I hate this default so much? In my workflow, I'll position an object exactly where I want it and then I'll PowerClip it into a shape. With the old default, my perfectly positioned object would move. It wasn't a problem for me, as I would change this crazy default to the correct unchecked setting. Other users just figured that's the way it worked and modified their workflow to adjust. This creates confusion for them as there as times the object "disappears" when PowerClipped. It didn't disappear, it just isn't visible since it it positioned outside the container object.
I think you'll find it better to adjust your workflow to positioning the object accurately that you'll find yourself more productive than changing the default back to auto-centering. Of course you can always post a comment and tell me why you prefer auto-centering.
Let's first talk about the default setting behind the confusion. Go to Tools | Options | Workspace | Edit and you'll find an option labeled "Auto-center PowerClip". In previous versions, it was checked by default and I felt it was the worst default setting in the program. Finally Corel left it unchecked in CorelDRAW X5 and it has caused confusion for all the users who didn't know the setting existed. If you want the old, flawed, behavior; just put a check in the box.
So why do I hate this default so much? In my workflow, I'll position an object exactly where I want it and then I'll PowerClip it into a shape. With the old default, my perfectly positioned object would move. It wasn't a problem for me, as I would change this crazy default to the correct unchecked setting. Other users just figured that's the way it worked and modified their workflow to adjust. This creates confusion for them as there as times the object "disappears" when PowerClipped. It didn't disappear, it just isn't visible since it it positioned outside the container object.
I think you'll find it better to adjust your workflow to positioning the object accurately that you'll find yourself more productive than changing the default back to auto-centering. Of course you can always post a comment and tell me why you prefer auto-centering.
Labels: thursday-tip
posted by Foster D. Coburn III at
1:00 AM
1 Comments:
Instead of disabling "Auto-center PowerClip", you can keep the centering function, so that the clipped object does not "disappear", and in order to fine-tune the size and position of the clipped object:
2. Right click the container and uncheck "Lock contents to PowerClip ".
3. Make any changes to the size and position of the container relative to the contents.
4. Right click the container and recheck "Lock contents to PowerClip ".
I found this method easier than "Edit contents" / "Finishing edit contents".
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home