CorelDraw Flowers

Helpful CorelDraw tips:

• Make a working file
  • I always create my working file first that I keep copies of each big change. That way I don't have to undo and redo all my work should I need to make a change. I can see how parametric programs would be beneficial here.
• Can't find the tool you are looking for? Go to Window / Inspectors
  • Inspectors are the different tool menus
• ALWAYS check for hidden nodes, or copied lines
  • If an object has too many nodes, or multiple lines I use the combine or "create a new object that surrounds the selected objects" options

I want to use CorelDraw to create a cut file for making a flower out of paper. I have made them using scissors, but the result is imperfect, and hard for kids to replicate. My hope is that the silhouette or Cricut machines can cut the petals, and the kids can assemble the flowers.

I started by making an oval in a new file. The oval is about 3 inches high as big as the petal size I want.

I will then copy the oval, and paste 6 of them so that they fan out in a circle. I can do this by:

1. Changing the center to be at the bottom quadrant, and rotating each 60 degrees from the previous. (0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300).

2. Using the distribute menu found under Objects -> Align and Distribute. I swear I have done this before, but it may have been in an older version because it could not distribute by angle. Instead use transform tool. If it isn't in your quick tool bar on the left edge of your window go to menu bar at the top -> Window -> Inspectors -> Transform (Control T).

   • The top option bar in the transform menu looks like a counter clockwise circular arrow. That is for angular rotation distribution. I used 60 degrees, and 5 copies.
   • Select all the ovals, and create a new object that surrounds the selected object. This created a 6 petal flower template.
   • Next step is to cut the shape into the different layers of petals. A 5 petal, 4 petal, 3 petal, 2 petal, and 1 petal. I tried to find the knife tool, but can't. I tried joining a line segment to the shape to be able to delete sections, but I can't get the line and shape to join/weld. So I am going with my quick and dirty way of using a rectangle rotated to the angle I want (30 degrees), and creating an object from where they overlap. I copy the new shape, and work on the copy, saving the original. I rotate the rectangle 90 degrees, and create an object from the overlap, a single petal. I then click the rectangle then the 3 petal shape, and cut out the overlapping portion leaving a 2 petal shape. I now have 1 petal, 2 petal, 3 petal, 6 petal shapes. The 4 petal and 5 petal shapes are created by cutting the 1 and 2 petal shapes from the 6 petal shape. Alternatively, you can add petals to form the desired shapes.
   • I had trouble with the 4 petal shape. I could not get the 2 petals to cut cleanly from the 6 petal shape. I cannot find a simple align centers function that works when I moved the center of the 2 petals to the edge. The best I could do was try to align them to the center of the page, which aligned the center of shape not my chosen rotational center. I ended up rotating the shapes 30 degrees to make movement by arrow keys possible. Then aligned the best I could. Then cut, and removed the extra curve segment from the new shape. One corner had extra nodes, so I deleted the extra.

New Idea: Starting from 6 petal shape and rectangle. Overlap to center, and make 3 petal shape out of overlapping area. Group new 3 petal shape with 6 petal shape and rotate 60 degrees. Ungroup. Copy the 3 petal shapes, and move them to another part of the page. Group the 3 and 6 petal shapes. Cut the rotated petal shapes with the rectangle. Ungroup, this should have made the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 petal shapes. For the 6 petal shape, draw a line connecting the indent of the petal to the inner circle. Make sure all lines are hairline for cutting, and no shapes have multiple overlapping lines.

See my CorelDraw files here.

Another idea: (This worked well, and had extra cuts which will help when making the 3d shape).

1. Take the single petal shape from the common shapes menu. Move the center to the tip.

   

2. Use the transform toolbar to rotate 60 degrees, and paste 5 copies.

   

3. Group the petals.

4. Make a circle for the center of the flower. Make sure to align it to the group.

   

5. Then cut it from the group.

   

6. Make a new object surrounding the group, and cut the circle from the resulting 6 petal shape. Move that shape to the side. Ungroup the petals.

7. Remove the center circle, and 1 petal. Make a new object surrounding the group to form the 5 petal shape, and move it to another part of the page.

8. Remove another petal, make a new object, and move it to another part of the page. Repeat until only 1 petal is left.

   

9. Then draw a line from a petal edge to the center circle on the 6 petal group.

   

10. Highlight all, and make sure all lines are hairline.