CorelDraw update released

Corel announced the release Tuesday of a new version of its CorelDraw graphics software. CorelDraw Graphics Suite 12 includes a new "smart drawing tool" to reduce the work involved in creating sketches, plus expanded text tools. It also allows users to export drawings to common office documents. The package is available now in English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese versions, priced at $399 for the full product, $179 for those upgrading from a previous version, and $99 for the academic version.

CorelDraw is one of the core products the Canadian software maker has focused on since going private last year, after shareholders agreed to a $98 million buyout by venture capital firm Vector Capital. The company subsequently laid off 18 percent of its already reduced staff and shed one division.