Contour objects

To contour an object
To copy or clone a contour
To set the fill color for a contour object
To specify an outline color for the contour object
To set the fill progression
To separate an object from its contour lines

You can contour an object to create a series of concentric lines that progress to the inside or outside of the object. CorelDRAW also lets you set the number of the contour lines and the distance between them.

In addition to creating interesting 3D effects as well as shading in complex illustrations, you can use contours to create cuttable outlines for output to devices such as plotters, engraving machines, and vinyl cutters.

After contouring an object, you can copy or clone its contour settings to another object. You can also change the colors of the fill between the contour lines and the contour outlines themselves. You can set a color progression in the contour effect, where one color blends into another. The color progression can follow a straight, clockwise, or counterclockwise path through the color range of your choice.

You can also choose how contour corners appear. For example, you can use pointed or rounded corners, or you can bevel (square off) sharp contour corners.

You can separate an object from its contour lines.

A center contour has been applied to the above object. The number of contour lines, as well as the distance between lines, can be changed.

An outside contour has been applied to the above object. Note that an outside contour projects from the outside edge of the object.

To contour an object

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1 In the toolbox, click the Contour tool .
2 Click an object or a set of grouped objects, and drag the start handle toward the center to create an inside contour or away from the center to create an outside contour.
3 Move the object slider to change the number of contour steps.

 

You can also
 
Add contour lines to the center of the selected object
Click the To center button .
Specify the number of contour lines
Click the Inside contour or Outside contour button on the property bar, and type a value in the Contour steps box on the property bar.

Inside contour with two steps (left) and four steps (right)
Specify the distance between contour lines
Type a value in the Contour offset box on the property bar.
Accelerate contour line progression (changes contour shapes)
Click the Object and color acceleration button on the property bar, and move the Object slider.

Left to right: Inside contour without acceleration, with lower acceleration, with higher acceleration
Choose the shape of contour corners
Click the Contour corners button on the property bar, and choose one of the following commands:
• Mitered corners (for pointed contour corners)
• Round corners
• Bevel corners

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You can create contours by clicking Effects Contour (the second Contour command in the Effects menu) and specifying the settings you want in the Contour docker.

To copy or clone a contour

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1 Select the object to which you want to apply the contour effect.
2 Click Object, and click one of the following:
• Copy Effect Contour From
• Clone Effect Contour From
3 Click the object whose contour effect you want to copy or clone.

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You can also use the Attributes eyedropper tool to copy a contour. For more information, see To copy effects from one object to another.

To set the fill color for a contour object

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1 In the toolbox, click the Contour tool .
2 Select a contour object.
3 Open the Fill color picker on the property bar, and click a color.
If you cannot apply the fill color, make sure that the Fill color option is enabled on the status bar.
If the original object has a fountain fill, a second color picker appears.

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You can accelerate the fill color progression by clicking the Object and color acceleration button on the property bar and moving a slider.

You can change the contour center’s color by dragging a color from the color palette to the end fill handle.

To specify an outline color for the contour object

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1 In the toolbox, click the Contour tool .
2 Select a contour object.
3 Open the Outline color picker on the property bar, and click a color.

To set the fill progression

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1 In the toolbox, click the Contour tool .
2 Select a contour object.
3 Click the Contour colors button on the property bar, and then click any of the following buttons:
• Linear contour colors
• Clockwise contour colors
• Counterclockwise contour colors

Fill progression from left to right: Linear, clockwise, counterclockwise

To separate an object from its contour lines

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1 Using the Pick tool , select a contoured object.
2 Click Object Break Contour Apart.

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The features documented in the Help are available in the full version of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2021. Some features may not be available in this version of the product.