Quick links to procedures on this page:

•
 
To create a PowerClip object
•
 
To create an empty PowerClip frame
•
 
To add content to a PowerClip frame
•
 
To convert a PowerClip frame back to an object
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To select the contents of a PowerClip object
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To position the contents inside a PowerClip frame
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To copy the content of a PowerClip object
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To edit the content of a PowerClip object
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To lock or unlock the contents of a PowerClip object
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To extract the content of a PowerClip object
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To set default options for PowerClip frames

Creating PowerClip objects

Corel DESIGNER lets you place vector objects and bitmaps, such as photos, inside other objects, or containers. A frame can be any object, for example artistic text or a rectangle.When the object is larger than the frame, the object, called the contents, is cropped to fit the form of the frame. This creates a PowerClip object.

You can create more complex PowerClip objects by placing one PowerClip object inside another to produce a nested PowerClip object. You can also copy the contents of one PowerClip object to another.

You can create an empty PowerClip frame from an object, or convert a PowerClip frame back to an object. Creating empty PowerClip frames or text frames is useful when you want to define the layout of your document before adding the content. For more information about text frames, see Adding paragraph text. After you create an empty PowerClip frame, you can add contents to it. You can also add contents to a PowerClip frame that already contains another object.

After you create a PowerClip object, you can select or edit its contents, or reposition the contents inside the frame. Whenever a PowerClip object is selected, a floating toolbar appears.

The PowerClip toolbar lets you edit, select, extract, lock, or reposition the contents inside the frame. The toolbar appears whenever a PowerClip object is selected.

You can lock the PowerClip contents, so that when you move the frame, the content moves with it. If you want to delete the contents of a PowerClip object or modify it without affecting the frame, you can extract the contents.

You can set the default behavior for dragging content to PowerClip frames, centering new content, and marking empty PowerClip frames.

To create a PowerClip object Back to Top
1.
 
Select the object that you want to use as PowerClip contents.
2.
 
Click Effects PowerClip Place inside frame.
3.
 
Click the object that you want to use as a frame.
If you want to create a nested PowerClip object, drag the PowerClip object inside another PowerClip object, and hold down the W key as you release the mouse button to place the object inside the frame.
You can also right-click an object or a group of objects, click PowerClip inside, and then click the object that you want to use as a frame.
If the content is placed so that it falls outside the frame in its current position, it is automatically centered inside the frame to make it visible. To change this setting, click Tools Options, choose PowerClip frame in the Workspace list of categories, and set the options you want in the Auto-center new content area.
To create an empty PowerClip frame Back to Top
1.
 
Select an object that you want to use as a frame.
2.
 
Click Effects PowerClip Create empty PowerClip frame.
You can also right-click the object, choose Frame type, and click Create empty PowerClip frame.
You can also click the PowerClip frame button on the Layout toolbar. To open the Layout toolbar, click View Toolbars Layout or Layout Layout toolbar.
To add content to a PowerClip frame Back to Top
1.
 
Drag an object to the PowerClip frame.
When the object approaches the frame, the frame is highlighted.
2.
 
Do one of the following:
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To add the object to an empty PowerClip frame, release the mouse button.
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To add the object to a full PowerClip frame, hold down the W key as you release the mouse button.
You can also drag content to the PowerClip frame directly from Corel CONNECT, or from the Connect docker.
If the content is placed so that it falls outside the frame, it is automatically centered inside the frame to make it visible. To change this setting, click Tools Options, choose PowerClip frame in the Workspace list of categories, and set the options you want in the Auto-center new content area.
To convert a PowerClip frame back to an object Back to Top
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Right-click the PowerClip frame, choose Frame type, and click None.
If the frame contains content, the content is deleted when the frame reverts to a regular object. To avoid losing the content, you can first extract it from the PowerClip object.
You can also convert a frame back to an object by clicking the No frame button on the Layout toolbar. To open the Layout toolbar, click View Toolbars Layout or Layout Layout toolbar.
To select the contents of a PowerClip object Back to Top
1.
 
Select the PowerClip object.
The PowerClip toolbar appears.
2.
 
Click the Select PowerClip contents button on the PowerClip toolbar.
To position the contents inside a PowerClip frame Back to Top
1.
 
Select a PowerClip object.
2.
 
Perform a task from the following table.

To
Do the following
Center the contents inside the PowerClip frame
Click Effects PowerClip Center contents.
Fit the contents proportionally inside the PowerClip frame
Click Effects PowerClip Fit contents proportionally.
The content is resized so that its longest dimension fits inside the frame. The content is not distorted, and its aspect ratio is preserved. The whole content is visible, but there may be empty areas in the frame.
Fill the PowerClip frame proportionally
Click Effects PowerClip Fill frame proportionally.
The content is resized so that it fills the frame without being distorted. The content’s aspect ratio is preserved. The frame is full, but there may be parts of the content that fall outside the frame and are not visible.
Fill the PowerClip frame by stretching the contents
Click Effects PowerClip Stretch contents to fill frame.
The content is resized and distorted so that it fills the frame. The content’s aspect ratio is not preserved. The frame is full, and all of the content is visible.

The Fit contents proportionally, Fill frame proportionally, and the Stretch contents to fill frame commands modify the PowerClip contents. The content remains modified even if you extract it from the frame.
You can also position the contents by clicking the Fit contents button on the PowerClip toolbar and clicking a command.

Examples of PowerClip contents positioned by using the following commands: Center contents (top left), Fit contents proportionally (top right), Fill frame proportionally (bottom left), and Stretch contents to fill frame (bottom right).

To copy the content of a PowerClip object Back to Top
1.
 
Select an object.
2.
 
Click Effects Copy effect PowerClip from.
3.
 
Click a PowerClip object.
To edit the content of a PowerClip object Back to Top
1.
 
Select a PowerClip object.
2.
 
Click Effects PowerClip Edit PowerClip.
3.
 
Edit the contents of the PowerClip object.
4.
 
Click Effects PowerClip Finish editing this level.
While you edit, the container is displayed in Wireframe mode and cannot be selected.
To lock or unlock the contents of a PowerClip object Back to Top
1.
 
Select a PowerClip object.
2.
 
Click Effects PowerClip Lock contents to PowerClip.
When the content is unlocked, it is separated from the frame, so that the frame can be moved independently. If you move the frame while the content is unlocked, the content remains stationary and is not visible until you move the frame over it.
You can also right-click a PowerClip object and click Lock contents to PowerClip, or you can select the PowerClip object and click the Lock contents to PowerClip button on the PowerClip toolbar.
To extract the content of a PowerClip object Back to Top
1.
 
Select a PowerClip object.
2.
 
Click Effects PowerClip Extract contents.
You must extract the contents of each level in a nested PowerClip separately.
After the content is extracted, the frame remains as an empty PowerClip frame.
You can also right-click a PowerClip object and click Extract contents, or you can select the PowerClip object and click the Extract contents button on the PowerClip toolbar.
To set default options for PowerClip frames Back to Top
1.
 
Click Tools Options.
2.
 
In the Workspace category, click PowerClip frame.
3.
 
Perform a task from the following table.

To
Do the following
Set the default behavior for dragging content to a PowerClip frame
In the Drag content inside PowerClip area, choose PowerClip with content or Empty PowerClip from the list box, and then choose one of the following options:
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Ignore PowerClip frame — places the content on top of the PowerClip frame instead of inside
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Add content to PowerClip frame
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Replace existing content (available only for PowerClip frames with content)
Set the default behavior for centering new content in a PowerClip frame
In the Auto-center new content area, choose one of the following options:
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When content is completely outside the frame — centers content only if it is beyond the boundaries of the PowerClip frame and will not be visible otherwise
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Always — always centers new content
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Never — turns off auto-centering
Mark empty PowerClip frames
Enable the Show lines in empty PowerClip frames check box, and choose one of the following options:
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Always — displays lines in empty PowerClip frames on screen and in printed or exported documents
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On screen only — displays lines in empty PowerClip frames only on screen

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