The CorelDRAW guide to AI design

What is AI Generate?

AI Generate is CorelDRAW Graphic Suite’s prompt-based image creation docker/inspector for creating and editing images with AI in CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT.

You can generate original images from a text prompt, guide results using a reference image or selected design content, and refine outputs with options like styles and color palettes. You can also use prompts to modify an existing image—for example, to adjust elements, remove objects, or clean up image results.

Writing a clear, compelling prompt is essential, as it directly shapes the images AI Generate produces. Those images can then be converted into editable vector artwork using PowerTRACE, so you can refine details, adjust colors and shapes, and incorporate the results into professional design projects.

Try CorelDRAW’s AI Generate to create original images from simple text prompts.

Designing with prompts

A prompt is a written instruction that tells an AI model what to create or modify. The clarity and structure of a prompt directly influence the quality and usefulness of the output.

Well-written prompts communicate intent, visual direction, and constraints so that AI can generate results that are easier to refine and reuse.

How to write effective prompts

Strong prompts typically include:

• Subject: What the image should depict
• Style: Visual tone, artistic direction, or medium
• Details: Color, lighting, texture, or composition
• Purpose: How the image will be used
• Other objects and background

Example: A flat, modern illustration of a mountain landscape at sunset with bold warm colors and minimal shading, designed for a poster. Panoramic view, rugged mountains, a few conifers, deep orange, red skies

Example: Illustration of a mountain

Prompting tips:

• Start the prompt with the style or medium you want. For example: Oil painting of a fruit bowl...
• Include more important details closer to the beginning of the prompt
• You can increase the importance of certain details in a prompt by putting them in square brackets ([ ])
• For text you would like to appear in the output, include the text in quotation marks (“”) for greater chances of precision
• Be descriptive about mood, setting, emotions to bring more depth to your images
• Include the aspect ratio, style presets, and color palettes for specific results
• Try to use positive prompts instead of negative ones. For example: Use “plain background” instead of “no background”
• Avoid conflicting instructions. For example: If you include “vibrant colors” in the prompt, choose a palette that matches, not a pastel color palette

Prompting for vector-friendly image results

If your goal is to convert AI-generated bitmaps into scalable vector artwork, your prompts should encourage simplified visuals.

Prompting tips for vector-ready images:

• Use terms like flat, minimal, vector style, or solid colors
• Avoid heavy textures, gradients, or photographic realism
• Emphasize clean shapes and strong contrast
• Limit color palettes when possible
• Choose the right AI model—Flux Schnell and Stable Diffusion Medium can provide hyper-minimal vector style results, while Nano Banana can provide polished works

Prompting for line art images for engraving

• Start with the prefix “simple line art”
• Add descriptors like “thick or thin black lines” and “white or plain background” to the end
• Use the line art style preset
• Choose Flux Schnell for fast images with simple clean lines

Prompting for logo generation

• Use the Nano Banana model for best results
• Define the type of company the logo is for
• Text or name should be in quotation marks (“ ”)
• Use words like modern, minimalist, abstract, mascot, emblem
• Describe the font style you want using phrases like serif or sans serif, artistic, or embellished
• You can use a sample for inspiration. Just load the sample image in the remix tab and ask Nano Banana to use the image as inspiration to create a new logo. You can specify the elements you want to keep.
• If you like a generated logo, you can generate multiple color variations of it in the Remix tab

Prompting with simplified shapes, strong contrast, and limited visual complexity can improve trace results and reduce cleanup time when converting AI-generated images to vector graphics.

What is PowerTRACE?

PowerTRACE is CorelDRAW’s bitmap-to-vector tracing feature that converts raster images into editable vector artwork. It analyzes shapes, colors, and edges in a bitmap image and recreates them as scalable vector paths that can be edited, recolored, and reused without loss of quality.

Designers use PowerTRACE to turn images into flexible vector graphics suitable for logos, illustrations, signage, print, and other professional design outputs.

Using PowerTRACE to enhance your AI workflow

AI-generated images are typically raster-based, which limits how easily they can be edited or scaled. PowerTRACE allows you to take those AI-generated images and convert them into editable vector artwork inside CorelDRAW.

By applying PowerTRACE to AI-generated images, you can refine shapes, simplify details, adjust colors, and integrate AI-generated visuals into professional vector designs. This makes it easier to move from AI-generated concepts to polished, production-ready artwork.

If you’re new to tracing or want to improve your results, this step-by-step tutorial covers the fundamentals of getting clean, professional traces.

Converting an AI-generated image with PowerTRACE

To convert an AI-generated image to vector artwork:

• Select the AI-generated bitmap in CorelDRAW
• Launch PowerTRACE
• Choose a preset that matches your image style, such as detailed logo or high-quality image
• Adjust detail, smoothing, and color controls to simplify shapes and reduce noise
• Preview results and fine-tune settings before applying the trace

Once traced, the artwork becomes fully editable vector objects that you can recolor, reshape, and scale without loss of quality.

Turn image into vector

AI workflows in CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW supports an end-to-end workflow where you can explore, refine, and prepare AI-generated imagery for final output without breaking your creative flow. Images created with GenAI can be edited using familiar design tools, like AI background removal, and, when needed, converted into editable vector artwork to meet real production requirements.

This workflow makes it easier to move from early visual ideas to finished designs that are ready for print, digital, or large-format use, while maintaining consistency, control, and flexibility throughout the process.

Powering prompts with credits

AI credits power generative image creation and editing in CorelDRAW. Each GenAI image you create uses a set number of credits based on the selected AI model. The number of credits you receive depends on your CorelDRAW product type, and if you run out, you can purchase additional AI credit packs anytime you need. Learn more about AI credits.