I need help drawing simple polygon in Corel

[dunnmfg]

Can someone please explain how to draw this simple polygon in Corel. I have got a lot better in this Corel over the last 6 months on designing signs and what not but this is kicking my butt!

[abmagrum]

if you are trying to draw whats in youre picture .
you just select the rectangle tool.
and stretch it to the size you need.

[Team Tracker]

A way I like to show people is a little long winded but a good exercise.

-drag out 4 verical guidlines and set one to 0" another to 2.5" another to 34.5" and the last to 37"
-drag out 2 horizontal guidlines and set one to 0" and the other to 32"
-drop down the View menu and turn on Snap to Guidlines
-get your Freehand Bezier tool and click on the intersecting guidlines at the lower left corner at 0"y and 2.5 "x
-move your mouse to the intersecting guidlines at 0"x and 32"y and click there
-move your mouse to the intersecting guidlines at 37"x and 32"y
-move your mouse to intersecting guidlines at 34.5"x and 0"y
-finally move your mouse tot he starting point for your final click to close the object

This little tutorial will help to introduce you to guidlines, snapping, and the freehand bezier tool. If you have any questions about this please reply. Hope it helps.

[dunnmfg]

Thanks for the replies but that is way over my head right now....is there any other simple way of making this?

[plain ol Bill]

Draw a rectangle using the rectangle tool - look at the top of the screen - see the little scissors? - just below and to the right of that is the object size box with little arrows just to the left of the numbers - enter the size of the rectangle you want in these boxes - up arrow box for vertical size - sideways box for horizontal. If it does not size correctly look at the little padlock next to it and click it to unlock the sizes and try again.
Do it again and again and again and again and you will remember how.

Did it work? I hope so.

[dunnmfg]

This is not a perfect rectangle....it has to be 37" wide at the top and tapered down to 32" wide at the bottom and have 32" tall sides.

[Gamelord]

Use the guidelines and then snap to guidelines. Guidelines are your friend!!!!!

Open a blank paper.
Drag a vertical guideline from the side, then doubleclick on it. It should open up your guideline window.

Click on the guideline you just created, change it's position to 0, click move. it will relocate at 0.
Then add another guideline at 37", click ADD
Then change to Horizontal guidelines. Add one in at 0
Then add another one at 32".

Now you should have a square with all four guidelines. Now to make it so you can make a poly.
Add another vertical guideline at 2.5"
Then add another vertical one at 34.5"
This will make it so you can have the bottom smaller than the top.

Once all six guidelines are there, now you can simply draw your poly. Make sure your "Snap to guidelines" is selected under "view" pulldown tab.

Click on the freehand pen tool. Start at the top right hand corner with the pen tool, click and then move down to the inside of the bottom right hand corner (34.5"), click again to draw the line, click once more to continue the line, then move over to the inside bottom left hand corner (2.5") and click again to draw, click again to continue, then move to the outter top left hand corner, click and click, then move back to the top right hand corner, double click and your poly is now drawn.

**Corel X5 will give you a flyout that will say "Intersection" when your mouse is exactly at the intersection of the two guidelines, this makes sure your poly lines are all exact. Click when the 'intersection' shows up and the "snap to" will make sure you are exactly on the line. If you mess up, you can always fix it with the 'node' tool.

***To make sure your object is closed, click on a color swatch when you finish drawing. If the object fills, it is closed and ready to cut. If it doesn't fill, you have a node or two open that needs to be closed (joined).

Export to DFX and cut.

You are welcome.

[Gamelord]

Another way to create the object is to draw a square and make it exactly 37 x 32.

Then move the square into the area you created with the guidelines.

Then once it snaps into place, right click on it and "convert to curves".

Then select the node tool, then select the square again to highlight the four nodes. Then slide the bottom nodes into the inside guideline until they snap into position.

Once snapped, export to DXF and cut.

**Note... When exporting the image, the guidelines will not be exported, only the image. If you save the image in Corel as a CDR file, the guidelines will save.

[dunnmfg]

Thank you Gamelord for the detailed answer...I will sit down and practice this.

[Gamelord]

Here's the .cdr file that you should be able to open up and see what I did. I also included the DXF file as well. I am currently using Corel X5. You will need X5 or X6 to open the .cdr file.

Be sure to ask if you have any questions.

[dunnmfg]

Forgot to say thanks Gamelord and others for the help! Just had to come back for this.