[sdiy] CorelDraw for Frontpanels?

[Tim Parkhurst]

On Thu, Jan 28, 2010 at 1:49 AM, Tom Arnold <xyzzy at sysabend.org> wrote:
> Was curious, anyone using Coreldraw for front panels?  Specifically, are
> there any scripts or other tricks to draw scales around controls?
>
> I use FrontDesigner right now which has specific tools for this, but I'm
> guessing there is some way to do it in Corel?
>
> Any pointers appreciated...
>

Hey Tom,

Absolutely love CorelDraw. Use it for panels and all Magic Smoke docs
(including the original overly complicated MSE logo). No automation or
scripts that I know of, but it always gives me results I can use. For
making tick marks around pots, Try this:
1) Create on circle that is the size of the pot cutout. Hold Shift and
drag the circle to change the size, and right-click to duplicate the
circle about the center. Make this duplicate a very tiny circle in the
center of the original. This duplicate now lets you locate the center
of the original circle fairly precisely.
2) Add a line starting from the center of the circle and radiating
out. Press CTRL to lock the line angle to a preset (10° is the
default, but this can be changed)
3) Use the Select tool and click again on the line you just created.
You'll see the control handles for the line change to rotation arrows,
with two small concentric circles indicating the rotation center. Drag
the rotation center for the line to the center of the circle you
created in step 1.
4) Zoom out and use the rotation arrows to drag the "outside" end of
the line to a new angle. Hold CTRL to lock the rotation to the preset
steps, and right-click before you let go of the left mouse button to
create a new line (rather than just moving the original).
5) Once you've duplicated the line at the angle you want, press CTRL +
R to repeat the last action and duplicate more lines at the same angle
increment.

Hope I'm not repeating stuff everyone already knows, but I find Corel
a very useful tool once you learn the various mouse button, shift,
ctrl and arrow key combinations. It's also MUCH less expensive than
Illustrator, even if you get the full package with Draw and
Photo-Paint (a PhotoShop work alike).


Tim (I need a little cheepness) Servo
-- 
"Sire, the church of God is an anvil that has worn out many hammers."
- H.L. Hastings