Quick links to procedures on this page:
Lines are treated the same way as outlines of closed shapes, such as ellipses and polygons. In some programs, outlines are known as strokes or thick lines.
You can change the appearance of both lines and outlines by using the controls in the Outline section of the Object properties docker, the Outline pen dialog box, and the property bar. For example, you can specify the color, width, and style of lines and outlines. The preset line styles available in CorelDRAW are solid or dashed.
Corners and ends
You can choose a corner style to control the corner shape in lines and a line cap style to change the appearance of a line’s endpoints.
Different corner styles were applied to the upper and lower row of triangles. Different line caps were applied to the lines in the upper-right corner. Arrowheads were applied to the lines in the lower-right corner.
With dashed lines and outlines, the Default dashes option applies the dashes along the line and outline without any adjustments in the corners and endpoints. However, you can control the appearance of dashes in the end and corner areas by using two additional options. The Align dashes option aligns dashes with the end and corner points so that there is no empty space in the corners and at the start and end of a line or outline. The Fixed dashes options creates dashes of fixed length in the end and corner points.
Miter limit
You can set the miter limit to determine the corner shape in objects containing lines that meet at sharp angles. Corners with angles above the miter limit are pointed (mitered); corners with angles below the miter limit are beveled (squared off).
Behind fill, Scale with object, and Overprint outline settings
By default, an outline is applied on top of an object’s fill, but you can apply it behind the fill, with the fill overlapping the outline. You can also link the outline thickness to an object’s size so that the outline increases when you increase the object’s size and decreases when you decrease the object’s size. In addition, you can set the outline to print on top of underlying colors, without removing them during printing.
Outline position
You can specify the position of the outline by placing it outside or inside the object, or centering it so that it overlaps equally the outside and the inside of an object. The effect of outline position options are more obvious with thick outlines.
You can specify the position of the outline. Outline options from left to right: Outside, Centered, Inside.
Line styles and calligraphic outlines
You can create custom line styles, and you can edit the available preset line styles.
In addition, you can create calligraphic outlines. A calligraphic outline varies in thickness, creating the effect of a hand-made drawing.
Default line and outline properties
The default line and outline properties for each new object that you draw are as follows:
However, you can change any of these default line and outline properties at any time.
Cuttable outlines
To create a cuttable outline for devices such as plotters, vinyl cutters and Print-Cut devices, you need to assign the appropriate predefined color name (usually CutContour) that is specified by the device manufacturer.
Note that cuttable outlines do not print when identified by the RIP or Print-Cut device. If you want to make the outlines printable, you can use the Object Shaping Boundary command. For more information, see To create a boundary around selected objects.
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Click Window Dockers Object properties. |
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In the Outline section, type a value in the Width box. |
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If the Outline section is not displayed, click Outline. |
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Corners from left to right: Mitered, rounded, and beveled.
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Line caps from left to right: Square cap, Extended square cap, and Round cap.
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Align dashes button — aligns the dashes with the end and corner points of lines and outlines |
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Fixed dashes button — creates dashes of fixed length in the corners and ends. These dashes are half the length of the first dash in the dashed line pattern. |
Tip: The Default dashes button , which is enabled by default, spreads evenly dashes along the line or outline without making any adjustments.
Dashed line options from top to bottom: Default dashes, Align dashes, and Fixed dashes.
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Lines meet at the same sharp angle. Left: The angle exceeds the miter limit, creating a pointed corner. Right: The angle is below the miter limit, creating a beveled corner.
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Enable the Behind fill check box.
The Behind fill check box is disabled (left) and enabled (right).
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Enable the Scale with object check box.
Left to right: Original object; scaled object with Scale with object disabled — there is no change in the outline thickness; scaled object with Scale with object enabled.
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Enable the Overprint outline check box.
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You can also specify line and outline settings in the Outline pen dialog box. To access the Outline pen dialog box, double-click the Outline icon on the status bar or press F12.
You can also change the outline width of a selected object by typing a value in the Outline width box on the property bar.
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In the Outline section of the Object properties docker (Window Dockers Object properties), perform a task from the following table. |
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Click the Settings button , and move the slider in the Edit line style dialog box. By clicking the boxes to the left of the slider, you can specify the placement and frequency of the dots in the new line style you create. Click Add.
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Choose a line style from the Style list box, and click the Settings button . Create a line style in the Edit line style dialog box, and click Replace.
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Click Window Dockers Object properties. |
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In the Outline section, click one of the following buttons to set the shape of corners: |
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If the Outline section is not displayed, click Outline. |
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If the Stretch box is not displayed, click the arrow button at the bottom of the Outline section. |
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Type a value in the Tilt nib box to change the orientation of the pen in relation to the drawing surface. |
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To reset the Stretch and Tilt nib values to their original values, click the Default button. |
You can also create a calligraphic outline in the Outline pen dialog box. To access the Outline pen dialog box, double-click the Outline icon on the status bar.
You can also adjust the Stretch and Angle values by dragging in the Nib shape preview box.
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Using the Pick tool, click on an empty space in the drawing window to deselect all objects. |
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In the Change document defaults dialog box, enable the check boxes for the objects and text whose default settings you want to change, and click OK. |
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