A file format defines how an application stores information in a file. If you want to use a file created in a different application than the one you are currently using, you must import that file. Conversely, if you create a file in one application and want to use it in another application, you must export the file to a different file format.
When you name a file, an application automatically appends a filename extension, usually three characters in length (for example, .cdr, .bmp, .tif, and .eps). This filename extension helps you and the computer differentiate between files of different formats.
The following list includes all file formats used in this application. Note that not all file format filters are installed by default.
If you cannot export or import a file from the list, you need to update your installation of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X8.
• Adobe Illustrator (AI)
• Adobe Type 1 Font (PFB)
• Windows Bitmap (BMP)
• OS/2 Bitmap (BMP)
• Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM)
• CorelDRAW (CDR)
• Corel Presentation Exchange (CMX)
• Corel PHOTO-PAINT (CPT)
• Corel Symbol Library (CSL)
• Cursor Resource (CUR)
• Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX, or RTF)
• Microsoft Publisher (PUB)
• Corel DESIGNER (DES, DSF, DS4, or DRW)
• AutoCAD Drawing Database (DWG) and AutoCAD Drawing Interchange Format (DXF)
• Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)
• PostScript (PS or PRN)
• GIF
• JPEG (JPG)
• JPEG 2000 (JP2)
• Kodak Photo CD Image (PCD)
• PICT (PCT)
• PaintBrush (PCX)
• Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF)
• HPGL Plotter File (PLT)
• Portable Network Graphics (PNG)
• Adobe Photoshop (PSD)
• Corel Painter (RIF)
• Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
• Adobe Flash (SWF)
• TARGA (TGA)
• TIFF
• Corel Paint Shop Pro (PSP)
• TrueType Font (TTF)
• Visio (VSD)
• WordPerfect Document (WPD)
• WordPerfect Graphic (WPG)
• RAW camera file formats
• Wavelet Compressed Bitmap (WI)
• Windows Metafile Format (WMF)
Additional file formats
CorelDRAW also supports the following file formats:
• ANSI Text (TXT) — ANSI Text (TXT) is a vector format that stores ANSI characters. This format is able to store text information but not formatting information, such as the font type or size. When a TXT file is imported to or exported from CorelDRAW, only the text is transferred. If the file has graphic elements, they are not imported or exported.
• CALS Compressed Bitmap (CAL) — CALS Raster (CAL) is a bitmap format used mainly for document storage by high-end CAD programs. It supports a monochrome (1-bit) color depth and is used as a data graphics exchange format for computer-aided design and manufacturing, technical graphics, and image-processing applications.
• Corel ArtShow 5 (CPX) — The CPX file format is a native file format of Corel ArtShow 5. It can contain both vectors and bitmaps.
• Corel Presentations (SHW) — The SHW file format is a native format of Corel Presentations.
• Corel R.A.V.E. (CLK) — The CLK file format is an animation file format that is native to Corel R.A.V.E.
• CorelDRAW Compressed (CDX) — The CDX file format is a compressed CorelDRAW file.
• Corel DESIGNER or CorelDRAW Template (CDT) — The CDT file format is for a Corel DESIGNER or CorelDRAW template file.
• Encapsulated PostScript (Desktop Color Separation) — The DCS file format, developed by QuarkXPress, is an extension of the standard encapsulated PostScript (EPS) file format. Typically, the DCS file format consists of five files. Four of the five files contain information about high-resolution color. This information is expressed in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) format. The fifth file, considered the master file, contains a PICT preview of the DCS file.
• EXE — The EXE format is a Windows 3.x/NT bitmap resource.
• FPX — The FlashPix file format stores images at different resolutions in a single file. This file format is not supported by the 64-bit version of the suite.
• Frame Vector Metafile (FMV) — The FMV file format is used for a Frame Vector Metafile.
• GEM Paint (IMG) — GEM Paint (IMG) is a bitmap format that is the native bitmapped file format of the GEM environment. IMG files support 1- and 4-bit paletted color and are compressed by using an RLE method. IMG was a common format in the early days of desktop publishing.
• GEM File (GEM) — The GEM file format is used for a GEM file.
• GIMP (XCF) — XCF is the native GIMP format. It supports layers and other GIMP-specific information.
• ICO — The ICO format is a Windows 3.x/NT icon resource.
• Lotus PIC (PIC) — The PIC file format is used for a Lotus PIC file.
• MacPaint Bitmap (MAC) — MacPaint (MAC) is a bitmap format that uses the filename extensions MAC, PCT, PNT, and PIX. It is the format used by the MacPaint program that was included with the Macintosh 128. It supports only two colors and a palette of patterns. It is used mainly by Macintosh graphics applications to store black-and-white graphics and clipart. The maximum size for MAC images is 720 × 576 pixels.
• Macromedia FreeHand (FH) — the FH format is the native vector file format for Macromedia Freehand. Corel graphics applications support versions 7 and 8 of Macromedia FreeHand.
• MET Metafile (MET) — The MET file format is for a MET Metafile.
• Micrografx Picture Publisher 4 & 5 (PP4, PP5) — The PP4 file format is a native file format of Micrographx Picture Publisher 4. The PP5 file format is a native file format of Micrographx Picture Publisher 5. This file format is not supported by the 64-bit version of the suite.
• Picture Publisher File (PPF) — The PPF file format is native to Micrografx Picture Publisher 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. This file format is not supported by the 64-bit version of the suite.
• Microsoft Excel (XLS) — The XLS file format is the native file format of a Microsoft Excel workbook.
• Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT) — The PPT file format is native to Microsoft PowerPoint.
• NAP Metafile (NAP) — The NAP file format is used for a NAP Metafile.
• Fill File (FILL) — This file format is used for saving custom fills in CorelDRAWCorel PHOTO-PAINT.
• PostScript Interpreted (PS or PRN) — PRN PostScript (PS or PRN) is a metafile format for PostScript printers. This format is written in ANSI text. The PostScript Interpreted import filter can import PS, PRN, and EPS PostScript files.
• SCITEX CT Bitmap (SCT) — The SCT file format is used for importing 32-bit color and grayscale SCITEX images. SCITEX bitmaps are created from high-end scanners. The bitmaps are then processed for output by film recorders or high-end page layout programs.
• WB — WB is the file format for Quattro Pro 6, 7, and 8 spreadsheets.
• WK — WK (.wk3, .wk4) is the extension of Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets.
• WSD — WSD is the document format for Wordstar 2000 and Wordstar 7.
• XPixMap Image (XPM) — The XPM file format is used with an XPixMap Image file.
Recommended formats for importing graphics
The list below shows what file formats to use when you are importing graphics from other applications.
Application Recommended import format
Adobe Illustrator AI, PDF
AutoCAD DXF, DWG, HPGL (PLT files) CDR, Clipboard
Deneba Canvas, Macromedia FreeHand PCT, AI
and other vector packages
Microsoft Office WMF, PNG.
For more information, see "Working with office productivity applications" in the Help.
WordPerfect Office WPG
Micrografx Designer DSF, DRW, AI, DS4
* To import text from a text-editing application, you can use RTF files, or you can copy the text to the Clipboard and then paste it in your project.
Recommended formats for exporting graphics
When exporting graphics to be used in Adobe PageMaker, use the encapsulated PostScript file format if you have a PostScript printer. If you have a non-PostScript printer, the WMF format is recommended.
The following lists the recommended file formats for exporting to page layout and desktop publishing packages that have graphics editing capabilities.
Application Recommended format
Adobe Illustrator AI, PDF
Adobe PageMaker EPS, WMF
AutoCAD DXF
Macromedia FreeHand and other vector programs PCT, AI
Microsoft Office PNG, WMF
WordPerfect Office WPG
Micrografx Designer CGM
The HPGL or DXF outlines formats are recommended for exporting graphics to be output to devices such as plotters and computer-driven cutters.
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