CorelDRAW Help | Merge modes

Merge mode	Description
Normal	Applies the transparency color on top of the base color
Add	Adds the values of the transparency color and the base color
Subtract	Adds the values of the transparency color and the base color together, and then subtracts 255
Difference	Subtracts the transparency color from the base color and multiplies by 255. If the transparency color value is 0, the result will always be 255.
Multiply	Multiplies the base color by the transparency color, and then divides by 255. This has a darkening effect, unless you are applying color to white. Multiplying black with any color results in black. Multiplying white with any color leaves the color unchanged.
Divide	Divides the base color by the transparency color, or conversely, divides the transparency color by the base color, depending on which color has the higher value
If lighter	Replaces any base color pixels that are a darker color with the transparency color. Base color pixels that are lighter than the transparency color are not affected.
If darker	Replaces any base color pixels that are a lighter color with the transparency color. Base color pixels that are darker than the transparency color are not affected.
Texturize	Converts the transparency color to grayscale, and then multiplies the grayscale value by the base color
Color	Uses the hue and saturation values of the source color and the lightness value of the base color to create a result. This merge mode is the opposite of the Lightness merge mode.
Hue	Uses the hue of the transparency color, as well as the saturation and lightness of the base color. If you are adding color to a grayscale image, there will be no change because the colors are desaturated.
Saturation	Uses the lightness and hue of the base color and the saturation of the transparency color
Lightness	Uses the hue and saturation of the base color and the lightness of the transparency color
Invert	Uses the transparency color’s complementary color. If a transparency color value is 127, there will be no change because the color value falls in the center of the color wheel.
Logical AND	Converts the transparency and base colors to binary values, and then applies the Boolean algebraic formula AND to these values
Logical OR	Converts the transparency and base colors to binary values, and then applies the Boolean algebraic formula OR to these values
Logical XOR	Converts the transparency and base colors to binary values, and then applies the Boolean algebraic formula XOR to these values
Behind	Applies the source color to those areas of the image that are transparent. The effect is similar to looking through the clear, silver-free areas on a 35-mm negative.
Screen	Inverts the source and base color values, multiplies them, and then inverts the result. The result color is always lighter than the base color.
Overlay	Multiplies or screens the source color according to the value of the base color
Soft light	Applies a soft, diffused light to the base color
Hard light	Applies a hard, direct spotlight to the base color
Color dodge	Simulates the photographic technique called dodging, which lightens image areas by decreasing the exposure
Color burn	Simulates the photographic technique called burning, which darkens image areas by increasing the exposure
Exclusion	Excludes the transparency color from the base color. This mode is similar to the Difference mode.
Red	Applies the transparency color to the red channel of RGB objects
Green	Applies the transparency color to the green channel of RGB objects
Blue	Applies the transparency color to the blue channel of RGB objects

Merge mode

Description

Normal

Applies the transparency color on top of the base color

Add

Adds the values of the transparency color and the base color

Subtract

Adds the values of the transparency color and the base color together, and then subtracts 255

Difference

Subtracts the transparency color from the base color and multiplies by 255. If the transparency color value is 0, the result will always be 255.

Multiply

Multiplies the base color by the transparency color, and then divides by 255. This has a darkening effect, unless you are applying color to white. Multiplying black with any color results in black. Multiplying white with any color leaves the color unchanged.

Divide

Divides the base color by the transparency color, or conversely, divides the transparency color by the base color, depending on which color has the higher value

If lighter

Replaces any base color pixels that are a darker color with the transparency color. Base color pixels that are lighter than the transparency color are not affected.

If darker

Replaces any base color pixels that are a lighter color with the transparency color. Base color pixels that are darker than the transparency color are not affected.

Texturize

Converts the transparency color to grayscale, and then multiplies the grayscale value by the base color

Color

Uses the hue and saturation values of the source color and the lightness value of the base color to create a result. This merge mode is the opposite of the Lightness merge mode.

Hue

Uses the hue of the transparency color, as well as the saturation and lightness of the base color. If you are adding color to a grayscale image, there will be no change because the colors are desaturated.

Saturation

Uses the lightness and hue of the base color and the saturation of the transparency color

Lightness

Uses the hue and saturation of the base color and the lightness of the transparency color

Invert

Uses the transparency color’s complementary color. If a transparency color value is 127, there will be no change because the color value falls in the center of the color wheel.

Logical AND

Converts the transparency and base colors to binary values, and then applies the Boolean algebraic formula AND to these values

Logical OR

Converts the transparency and base colors to binary values, and then applies the Boolean algebraic formula OR to these values

Logical XOR

Converts the transparency and base colors to binary values, and then applies the Boolean algebraic formula XOR to these values

Behind

Applies the source color to those areas of the image that are transparent. The effect is similar to looking through the clear, silver-free areas on a 35-mm negative.

Screen

Inverts the source and base color values, multiplies them, and then inverts the result. The result color is always lighter than the base color.

Overlay

Multiplies or screens the source color according to the value of the base color

Soft light

Applies a soft, diffused light to the base color

Hard light

Applies a hard, direct spotlight to the base color

Color dodge

Simulates the photographic technique called dodging, which lightens image areas by decreasing the exposure

Color burn

Simulates the photographic technique called burning, which darkens image areas by increasing the exposure

Exclusion

Excludes the transparency color from the base color. This mode is similar to the Difference mode.

Red

Applies the transparency color to the red channel of RGB objects

Green

Applies the transparency color to the green channel of RGB objects

Blue

Applies the transparency color to the blue channel of RGB objects

You can also click the Transparency tool

in the toolbox and choose a merge mode from the Merge mode list box on the property bar.

The features documented in the Help are available in the full version of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2020. Some features may not be available in this version of the product.