CorelDraw Essentials 2

Like Serif PagePlus 9, CorelDraw Essentials is concerned with desktop publishing. However, it's also stuffed with a vast array of image manipulation tools.

It comes with an extra CD that provides animated tutorials to get you started. We found these easy to follow and recommend spending as much time as possible on these if you're an inexperienced designer. A number of wizards are also at hand to guide you through creating certificates, letterheads, cards and calendars, and there are more than 250 customisable templates to work with.

Essentials 2 is also very good at working with digital photos and text. There are dozens of special effects to play with, which can make your page look all the more appealing. It's also very proficient at working with design tools such as brushes and shapes. If you've only ever used Windows Paint, though, the learning curve here is quite steep.

For what it offers, Essentials 2 is a good application. Design enthusiasts will undoubtedly get the most out of it, but there is a lot of help for beginners too. Clipart fans will also appreciate the extra CD packed full of 100,000 free images.

Contact: Corel 01628 589800
www.corel.co.uk