PDF Security Settings in CorelDRAW

Exporting documents to PDF format in CorelDRAW allows designers to protect intellectual property and control how recipients interact with their files. Through the application's native PDF export engine, users can apply robust security features ranging from document-level encryption to granular restrictions on printing, editing, and content copying. This guide outlines the specific security settings available in CorelDRAW when publishing files to PDF.

Accessing PDF Security in CorelDRAW

To configure security settings in CorelDRAW:

  1. Navigate to File > Publish to PDF.
  2. Click the Settings button in the export dialog box.
  3. Switch to the Security tab.

Document Passwords

CorelDRAW provides two distinct password types to control file access:

  • Open Password (Document Open): Requires recipients to enter a password to open and view the PDF. Without this password, the contents cannot be rendered or read by any viewer.
  • Permission Password (Master/Owner): Restricts the actions users can perform on the PDF, such as printing or editing, even if they can open the document. Entering the permission password overrides these restrictions, granting full access to the file.

Permission and Restriction Settings

Once a permission password is set, CorelDRAW unlocks granular restriction controls:

  • Printing Permissions: You can completely forbid printing, allow only low-resolution printing (useful for digital proofs while preventing high-end reproduction), or grant full high-resolution printing rights.
  • Editing and Modification Permissions: You can restrict how the PDF can be altered. Options include preventing all modifications, allowing page insertion, deletion, and rotation, or restricting actions to filling in form fields and signing existing signature fields.
  • Content Copying and Extraction: You can disable the ability to copy or extract text and graphics to the system clipboard, protecting your creative assets and written content from being repurposed.
  • Accessibility Support: CorelDRAW allows you to enable or disable text access for screen reader devices used by visually impaired users, independent of general content copying restrictions.

Encryption Standards

The level of encryption applied to the PDF depends on the PDF compatibility preset selected in the General tab of the PDF settings:

  • 40-bit RC4: Compatible with older PDF viewers (Acrobat 3.0 and 4.0), offering minimal security.
  • 128-bit RC4 or AES: Supported in Acrobat 5.0 through Acrobat 7.0 presets, providing standard, reliable protection for commercial files.
  • 256-bit AES: Available when targeting modern Acrobat versions (Acrobat 9.0 and later), providing state-of-the-art encryption suitable for sensitive and high-value documents.