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Working With Templates in CorelDRAW

Get a free CD insert template and learn about using templates in CorelDRAW

By Sue Chastain, About.com

I recently purchased an MP3-CD boombox and have been making a lot of CDs filled with MP3 music. A single CD can hold between 100-150 songs in MP3 format, so getting a song list to fit on a standard CD insert template (and still have it be readable) was a bit of a challenge. That's why I developed this CD insert template, and I thought I would share it with you, and use it as an example to discuss templates and how they can help you.

What's unique about this template is that it gives you three panels on each side of the paper, for a total of six panels to print on.

This particular template is designed for specially sized paper, which I cut to size out of 11x17 stock. You can do the same, or you can find a local printer who will cut paper to specific sizes for you. The paper size needs to be 4.75 inches wide and 15 inches long. After printing, you only need to trim the bottom edge, fold the paper, and it's ready to slide into your CD jewel case. For regular jewel cases, cardstock works well; for slimline cases, you will need to use lighter paper.

You also need a printer that will accept user-defined paper sizes. Many inkjet printers will let you define custom paper sizes and save them so they will be available from the paper selection menu in your printer options. Check your printer options to see if your printer has this capability.

I have designed this template for my particular printer (an Epson Photo Stylus EX) which has a very small unprintable area on the top and sides. If your printer has a larger unprintable area, you may need to modify the template slightly.

I realize not everyone will have a use for this particular template, but by opening the template and examining it, you can learn about some of CorelDRAW's features you may not be aware of. I'm sorry, I do not plan to create this template for other CorelDRAW versions or programs at this time.

Click here to download the template.
(Zip file includes a version 9 and a version 10 file.)
CorelDRAW 10 version: CDinsert_3fold_4.75x15_2p_v10.cdt
CorelDRAW 9 version: CDinsert_3fold_4.75x15_2p_v9.cdt
**Do not attempt to open the version 9 file in version 10**

Next we'll open the template and examine it... Continued on Page 2

Questions? Comments? Post to the Forum!

Sue Chastain
Guide since 1999

Sue Chastain
Graphics Software Guide

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