SVG Optimization Settings in CorelDRAW

This guide outlines the built-in SVG export and optimization settings available in CorelDRAW, explaining how to reduce file sizes, streamline code, and ensure broad compatibility across web browsers and vector workflows. By adjusting styling methods, font formatting, coordinate precision, and bitmap handling during export, designers can generate lightweight, clean SVG files directly from the application.

SVG Version Compatibility

CorelDRAW allows you to select the target SVG specification version during export:

  • SVG 1.1: The standard and most widely compatible version for modern web browsers and design software.
  • SVG Basic: A streamlined profile intended for devices with moderate computational limits.
  • SVG Tiny: A lightweight subset of the SVG standard designed for mobile and embedded devices with minimal rendering capabilities.

Styling Options

The way styles are written directly affects the legibility of the code and the final file size. CorelDRAW provides three methods for handling styles:

  • Presentation Attributes: Applies styling properties (such as fill, stroke, and opacity) directly to individual XML elements. This creates clear, standalone elements and provides high compatibility.
  • Internal Style Sheet: Consolidates repetitive styling rules into a <style> block at the top of the SVG file. This reduces redundancy and cuts file size when multiple elements share identical appearances.
  • Inline Styles: Embeds styling rules within a style="..." attribute on each element.

Font and Text Management

Text elements can be handled in two ways, balancing editable code against visual fidelity:

  • As Text: Preserves fonts as actual text elements (<text>). This produces the smallest file size and keeps text searchable and accessible. You can choose to embed the full font, embed a font subset (only the glyphs used), or rely on installed system fonts.
  • As Curves: Converts all typography into vector paths (<path>). While this significantly increases file size, it guarantees the typography renders identically on any device without requiring font files.

Coordinate Precision and Decimal Places

Vector paths are defined by coordinate points. CorelDRAW allows you to define the decimal precision of these coordinates:

  • High Precision (3–4 decimals): Maintains maximum geometric accuracy, suitable for high-precision manufacturing or print workflows, but inflates file size.
  • Optimized Precision (1–2 decimals): Standard for web and UI graphics. Reducing precision drastically decreases the number of characters in the path data (d="...") with virtually no noticeable impact on visual rendering.

Bitmap Image Handling

When an artwork contains raster elements alongside vectors, CorelDRAW offers controls over how those bitmaps are stored:

  • Embed: Converts raster graphics into Base64-encoded strings directly inside the SVG. While this makes the SVG self-contained, it substantially increases the overall file size.
  • Link: Saves the raster elements as separate image files referenced via URLs. This keeps the primary SVG file light and modular.
  • Compression Format: When embedding, you can specify JPEG or PNG compression to manage the balance between raster quality and file footprint.

Object Naming and ID Generation

CorelDRAW includes options to control how element IDs are written into the SVG structure:

  • Layer/Object Names: Retains custom names assigned in the Objects docker as XML id attributes, which is useful for web development and CSS/JavaScript manipulation.
  • Minimal/Sequential IDs: Generates short, automated IDs to minimize unnecessary metadata and bloat in production-ready files.