CDR is proprietary to CorelDRAW
CDR is the native file format of CorelDRAW. Its internal structure is closed, so the reliable way to create a CDR is to open or import your artwork in CorelDRAW and save it there.
Need a CDR from a DDS? Here's why that isn't a direct conversion — and the editable formats that get you there.
You can't convert a DDS to CDR — CDR is CorelDRAW's own format, and only CorelDRAW writes it.
CDR is the native file format of CorelDRAW. Its internal structure is closed, so the reliable way to create a CDR is to open or import your artwork in CorelDRAW and save it there.
Even after importing, a DDS is pixels — not the editable shapes, text and layers a CDR is designed to hold. So a direct DDS → CDR conversion wouldn't give you a truly editable document anyway.
DDS (DirectDraw Surface) is Microsoft's texture format for games and 3D apps, storing compressed images with mipmaps that GPUs read directly.
How to open DDS opens in game engines, GIMP (with a plugin), Photoshop (with the NVIDIA plugin) and texture tools; convert to PNG to view normally.
Full DDS format guideCDR is CorelDRAW’s native vector format for logos, layouts and print artwork — proprietary to Corel software.
How to open CDR opens in CorelDRAW; convert images to CDR to join a Corel workflow.
Full CDR format guide