Reference

CDR (CorelDRAW)

CDR is CorelDRAW’s native vector format for logos, layouts, and print artwork, common in sign-making and apparel design. Like other vector formats it stores editable paths rather than pixels, so it scales without quality loss but opens reliably only in Corel software.

Files & formatsGeneral

CDR (CorelDRAW)

Also known as: .cdr file, CorelDRAW file, Corel vector file

CorelDRAW’s native vector format
Common in signage, printing, and apparel design
Opens reliably only in Corel; export to SVG, EPS, or PDF to share

What CDR is used for

CorelDRAW is a vector design suite popular in printing, signage, embroidery, and apparel shops, and CDR is its working file. It stores artwork as paths, text, and layers, so designs scale cleanly from a business card to a banner.

CDR is the CorelDRAW equivalent of Illustrator’s AI — a source format meant for editing rather than final delivery.

Compatibility and conversion

CDR is proprietary and not well supported outside CorelDRAW, which is its main drawback. To share artwork, export to a neutral format — SVG or EPS for vectors, PDF for print, or PNG/JPEG for a flattened image.

For storage, keep CDR only when you still need to edit in Corel; otherwise a PDF or PNG export is smaller and far easier to open.

Related terms

Keep reading the reference.

Files & formatsSVGSVG (.svg) is a vector image format that stores shapes as math rather than pixels, so it scales to any size without losing sharpness. For logos and icons it is usually tiny, but it is unsuited to photographs, which it cannot represent efficiently.General Files & formatsEPSEPS (Encapsulated PostScript) is a vector graphics format used mainly for logos, illustrations, and print artwork. Like other vector files, it stores shapes as math rather than pixels, so it scales to any size — though it is an older format now often replaced by SVG and PDF.General Files & formatsAI (Adobe Illustrator)AI is Adobe Illustrator’s native vector format for logos, icons, and illustrations. It stores artwork as editable paths and layers rather than pixels, so it scales to any size without quality loss. File size depends on complexity, not output resolution.General Files & formatsPDFPDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout document format that looks the same on any device. Most PDFs are small, but scanned documents and image-heavy files can grow large, and they accumulate quietly in Downloads and the Files app.General