Insert Special Characters and Symbols in CorelDRAW

This guide provides a straightforward walkthrough on how to find and insert special characters, symbols, and glyphs into your CorelDRAW projects. By using the built-in Glyphs inspector (formerly the Insert Character docker) or standard keyboard shortcuts, you can easily access accented letters, currency signs, mathematical notations, and decorative dingbats to enhance your typography.

Using the Glyphs Docker

The most versatile way to insert non-standard characters in modern versions of CorelDRAW is through the Glyphs docker.

  1. Open the Glyphs Docker:
    • Go to the top menu bar and select Text > Glyphs.
    • Alternatively, press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + F11. (In older versions of CorelDRAW, this panel is labeled Insert Character).
  2. Select Your Font:
    • At the top of the Glyphs docker, choose the font family and style matching your text. Different fonts contain different glyph sets. For dingbats and decorative symbols, select specialized symbol fonts like Wingdings, Webdings, or Symbol.
  3. Filter Characters (Optional):
    • Use the dropdown menu in the docker to filter by specific subsets, such as Currency, Mathematical Operators, Arrows, or Punctuation, to locate the desired character faster.
  4. Insert the Character:
    • Into existing text: Select the Text tool (F8), click inside an active text frame where you want the character to appear, and double-click the symbol in the Glyphs docker.
    • As a standalone graphic object: Click and drag the symbol directly from the docker onto the drawing canvas. CorelDRAW will place it as an independent curve or artistic text object, which you can scale and modify like any vector shape.

Alternative Methods for Quick Insertion

  • Unicode and Alt Codes: If you know the numeric code for a symbol, ensure your Num Lock is on, hold down the Alt key, and type the four-digit code on the numeric keypad (e.g., Alt + 0169 for the copyright symbol ©, or Alt + 0174 for the registered trademark ®).
  • Copy and Paste: You can copy symbols from the Windows Character Map utility, a web browser, or any text editor and paste (Ctrl + V) them directly into CorelDRAW text boxes.