What is a CDR file?
CorelDRAW Image File
- Developed By
- Corel Corporation
- Initial Release
- 1989
- MIME Type
- application/x-coreldraw
The CDR format is a proprietary vector graphics file utilized by CorelDRAW, based on the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) container structure. It encapsulates vector definitions, text, and raster images, often utilizing compression for the internal data chunks. The internal structure varies significantly between versions (e.g., CorelDRAW X4 vs. 2024), making backward compatibility limited. CDR files serve as the primary source format for Corel's graphic design suite, supporting multipage layouts and advanced color management profiles.
How to open a CDR file
Native support for CDR is exclusive to the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite on Windows and macOS. Third-party support is limited due to the proprietary nature of the format; however, Inkscape (using the UniConvertor library) and LibreOffice Draw can attempt to import older CDR versions. For reliable viewing without Corel software, users often require dedicated file viewers like CDR Viewer or conversion to standardized formats like PDF or SVG.