What is a CDR file Format, and how do you open it?

What is a .CDR file?

A .CDR file is a file format created and launched by the Corel Corporation for use in vector graphic drawings and images. It is a vector drawing image file exclusively developed with CorelDRAW to store digital images compressed and encoded. 

CDR file full form is Corel Draw Image File. It is a vector-based image file format identified using the .CDR extension at the end of the file name. While CDR files are not known by other names, others with the .CDR extension include the macOS archives, Raw Audio CD Data format, and Crash Data Retrieval Data files.

A CDR file format is unique because it primarily includes vector graphic drawings that define an image as a list of graphic primitives like ellipses, arcs, texts, lines, and rectangles. It allows vector graphics to be mapped point-wise to a page to increase/reduce graphic size without distorting the original image. 

History of CDR Image Files?

Corel Corporation developed and launched the CorelDraw (CDR) file format in 1989 for vector graphic images and drawings. While most editing programs recognize the CDR file format, it is the default format for Corel Draw Applications.

Corel Corp contracted Pat Beirne and Michel Bouillon to develop a vector-based illustration program, which could be packaged with its desktop publishing systems. Most editing programs did not support Corel products, meaning CDR helps identify and save files in CorelDRAW's proprietary format.

Although the popularity of the CorelDraw file format has plummeted over the years compared to file formats like SVG and EPS, it is still a popular choice in the Graphic Design and Print industry as it offers various features for creating logos, brochures, and illustrations.

What are CDR files used for?

CDR files are used for storing vector graphics, including drawings and images with texts, shapes, and effects. They are commonly used to create banners, web pages, envelopes, business cards, letters, icons, logos, flyers, and other computer graphics.

Pros and Cons of CDR files

CDR files contain vector image data, such as colored shapes, tables, paths, texts, lines, and digital effects. As a proprietary file format of Corel Draw, CDR is widely used in the Artistic Design and Prepress Industries, although the format has its benefits and demerits, as detailed below.  

Advantages of CDR files

1. Scalable: CDR files are scalable upwards or downwards to fit any screen size without losing image quality and resolution levels because they are vector-based.
2. Flexibility: CDR files are easy to manipulate to accommodate the resolutions of output device spectrums.
3. High-Quality and High-Resolution Images: CDR files create multilayered and detailed vector graphics that retain all details during image processing or editing.
4. Comprehensive data and metadata: CDR files store or preserve image size, resolution, color space, and sharpness, making them suitable for use in the Prepress and Artistic Design Industry to develop visually appealing logos, brochures, banners, and illustrations. 
5. Software Support and Access: The files are supported by specific CorelDraw software packages available in the market, making editing and opening easier.
6. Easy Editing: CDR file format creates and saves images of line-based elements, including lines and polygons-like texts, which are easily edited.

Disadvantages of CDR files

1. Complexity: CDR files cannot be used to create, edit, and store complex images because they are ZIP-compressed directories of many files, such as XML files and RIFF-structured data. 
2. Software Compatibility: CDR files are exclusive to CorelDraw software and not standardized, making them difficult to edit or open using specific programs or software.
3. Re-Editing: Re-editing vector graphics data in CDR format takes longer than re-editing bitmap files of the same complexity since all image elements are sequenced and edited independently.
4. Larger Files: The CDR files contain masked images that are high-resolution and bigger compared to the image mask size on the design template and the unused contents of the canvas page. 

How to open or view .CDR files

To open or view CDR files online or offline, use the proprietary software called CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X8. However, CDR files can also be opened with ACD Systems Canvas X 16, Inkscape, Adobe Reader, Adobe Illustrator, Corel PaintShop Photo Pro (Windows), and Corel WordPerfect Office.  

How to open CDR files in Illustrator

To open CDR files in Illustrator, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Download and install Adobe Illustrator on your computer
• Step 2: Launch your Adobe Illustrator Software.
• Step 3: Choose File > Open and navigate to the .CDR file to be opened. Click Open. 

Alternatively, download and install Illustrator on your PC and then do the following:

• Step 1: Locate and select the CDR file; right-click the CDR.
• Step 2: Choose the "Open with" option and select Adobe Illustrator.
• Step 3: Click Ok.

Adobe Illustrator can open CDR files natively. This means the software can read and display the CDR file contents without converting the format to a different one. Illustrator supports particular major features of the CDR format, including vector layers, texts, shapes, and paths. 

How to open a CDR file with CorelDraw

To open a CDR file with CorelDraw, follow the below steps:

• Step 1: Download and Install CorelDraw on your computer 
• Step 2: Launch the CorelDraw program (before attempting to open the file).
• Step 3: On the Menu bar, choose File > Open and locate the .CDR file to be opened. Click Open.
   

Alternatively, you can use the CorelDraw web version available here 

How to open CDR file in Photoshop

To open CDR files in Photoshop, convert them into other compatible file formats like PSD since Adobe Photoshop does not natively support CDR files. 

• Step 1: Download and install CorelDraw and Photoshop on your computer. 
• Step 2: Export the CDR file from CorelDRAW as a PSD and bring that into Photoshop by doing the following: 

Launch the CorelDraw program, go to File > select Export > Choose PSD from the options. Click on Export and then Save to convert your CDR file to PSD format.

• Step 3: Launch the Photoshop
• Step 4: Click the "Open" button on the Photoshop home screen or choose “File > Open” from the Menu Bar.
• Step 5: Click Open.

On the other hand, double-click the file, and it will automatically open in Photoshop. Or Right-Click the CDR file, choose Open with Photoshop, and Open.

How to open CDR files in Mobile (Android or iPhone)

To open a CDR file on Android or iPhone, do the following:

• Step 1: Go to the Play Store, download and install the latest version of the VectorView app.
• Step 2: Search your file folders and locate your .CDR file 
• Step 3: Choose Open > Click Share. Wait for the CDR file to open.

How to open a CDR file on a Mac

To open a CDR file on Mac, do the following:

• Step 1: Download and install the latest version of CDRViewer 4.
• Step 2: Navigate and find your CDR file in Finder.
• Step 3: Right-click on the CDR file > Open with > CDRViewer.

How to open a CDR file on Windows

To open a CDR file on Windows, download and install the CorelDraw Graphics suite on your computer. Then, launch CorelDRAW and follow the steps below.

• Step 1: From the File menu, choose Open [Ctrl+O]
• Step 2: From the File Open dialog box, navigate to locate your CDR file
• Step 3: Select the CDR file and click the Open button

Online CDR File Viewers

It is possible to view CDR files online. Examples of online CDR file viewers include:

• CorelDraw 
• Pixlr Editor
• Imagetostl
• Aspose
• Conholdate
• Fviewer
• Groupdocs
• Fileformat app

How to create and edit CDR files

You can create a CDR file from other formats, such as JPEG, by following the steps below.

• Step 1: Download and install CorelDraw Software on your computer. 
• Step 2: In CorelDRAW, open the JPEG
• Step 3: Using the PowerTRACE tool, Trace the image
• Step 4: Save the created file as a CDR file under the format Option.  

Alternatively, 

1. Launch CorelDRAW and select New Document. Choose the preferred canvas size and colors.
2. Go to File > Import. Under the file browser, choose the .CDR File and click Import.
3. Use the cursor to select where the image should be placed. Then, click and drag to position the image on the canvas. 
4. Edit your image
5. Save the file to a preferred location or folder on your computer

Note: You can edit CDR files without CorelDraw. Use tools such as Aryson CDR File Viewer instead of CorelDraw. 

Can you convert a CDR file?

You can convert a CDR file to .AI, .PSD, .PDF, .WPD, .DOC, .RTF, .DXF, .DWG, .SVG, GIF, BMP, PNG, and .JPG file extensions. To do so you can visit our image to CDR file converters and follow the steps below 

Step 1: Upload the CDR file

Step 2: Select the file format you wish to convert to

Step 3: Click convert and download the converted file

Note: The converter allows batch conversions in case you have multiple files you wish to convert.

If you would like to convert CorelDraw's higher version to a lower version such as CDR to CDR 12, we recommend exporting using CorelDRAW.