Define editable areas

To define a rectangular or elliptical editable area
To define an editable area by using text, objects, or the Clipboard contents
To define an editable area by using the Freehand Mask tool
To define an editable area by using the Planar Mask tool
To define an editable area by painting
To define a border-shaped editable area
To define an editable area based on the edge of a shape or area
To define the entire image as an editable area

There are a number of ways to define an editable area in an image without using color information from the image.

Rectangular or elliptical editable areas

You can define rectangular or elliptical editable areas in an image.

A circular area defined with the Ellipse mask tool

Editable areas defined by using text, objects, or the Clipboard contents

You can define an editable area by using objects. When you create an editable area that has the shape of one or more objects, you have to move the objects away from the editable area before editing it.

You can define an editable area by using text. The editable area created when you type has the font and style characteristics you specify. You can also create an editable area from existing text.

You can define an editable area by pasting information from the Clipboard into the image window as an editable area. The area you create is a floating editable area, which you can edit and move without changing the underlying image pixels.

Editable areas defined by using the Freehand Mask tool

You can define an editable area by outlining the image area with the Freehand mask tool as you would with a pencil and paper, or by clicking at different points on the image to anchor straight line segments.

You can also define an editable area by painting over it with a brush.

Editable areas defined by using the Planar Mask tool

The Planar mask tool lets you define a feathered editable area along parallel lines. The lines can be moved or rotated to adjust the position and degree of the effect that is applied to the mask.

In combination with a blur effect, such as the Bokeh Blur, the Planar mask tool is useful for setting the depth of field in a photo along a linear area of focus such as a road, a bridge, or another linear element, while blurring the areas outside the lines. For more information about the Bokeh Blur effect, see Bokeh Blur effect.

Border-shaped editable areas

You can define a border-shaped editable area from the edges of an existing editable area to frame parts of an image with a color, texture, or special effect. A new mask marquee is placed on either side of an existing mask marquee to define a border-shaped editable area.

Editable areas based on the edge of a shape or area

You can define an editable area based on the edge of a shape or area by painting with the Smart Selection Mask tool. The selection strokes that you apply expand to the outer edges of the area that you painted. You can also detect the edges of a shape or area within selections created with any mask tool.

Editable areas consisting of the entire image

You can also define the entire image as an editable area. This feature is very useful when you want to apply a special effect requiring a mask to the entire image.

To define a rectangular or elliptical editable area

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1 In the toolbox, click one of the following:
• Rectangle mask tool
• Ellipse mask tool
2 Click the Normal mode button on the property bar.
3 On the property bar, choose one of the following from the Style list box:
• Normal — lets you manually define a rectangular or elliptical editable area
• Fixed size — lets you specify the width and height of a rectangular or elliptical editable area
• Row(s) — lets you define a rectangular editable area across the width of the image. You can specify the height of the row and a value to round the rectangle’s corners.
• Column(s) — lets you define a rectangular editable area along the height of the image. You can specify the width of the column and a value to round the rectangle’s corners.
4 Drag in the image window to define the editable area manually, or click to position an editable area of a specified size or orientation.

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Using the Normal mask style, you can define a square or circular editable area by holding down Command after you begin to drag in the image window.

Using the Normal mask style, you can define an editable area from its center by holding down Shift after you begin to drag in the image window.

To define an editable area by using text, objects, or the Clipboard contents

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To
Do the following
Define an area by using text
Click the Text tool , and specify the text attributes on the property bar. Click the Create mask button on the property bar, type the text, and click anywhere in the toolbox to apply the changes.
Define an area by using objects
Select one or more objects, and click Mask Create Mask from Object.
Define an area by using the Clipboard contents
Click Edit Paste Special Onto Object.

To define an editable area by using the Freehand Mask tool

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1 In the toolbox, click the Freehand mask tool .
2 Click the Normal mode button on the property bar.
3 Click where you want to start and end each line segment in the image window.
4 Double-click to complete the outline.

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You can also define an editable area by dragging the Freehand mask tool in the image window and double-clicking to complete the outline.

An editable area created with the Freehand mask tool

To define an editable area by using the Planar Mask tool

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1 In the toolbox, click the Planar mask tool .
Parallel lines appear on the image. The solid lines define the overall editable area, and the dashed lines define the feathered area along the top and bottom of the editable area.
2 Perform a task from the following table:

 

To
Do the following
Specify the size of the entire editable area
Type a value in the Selection range box on the property bar.
Specify the size of the feathered area
Type a value in the Feather range box on the property bar.
Rotate the editable area
Type a value in the Angle of rotation box on the property bar
Move the editable area
Drag the editable area to a new location

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You can adjust the editable area and the feathered area by dragging the interactive onscreen handles. You can also rotate the editable area by dragging a rotation handle.

You can use different mask modes with the Planar mask tool. For more information about mask modes, see Expand and contract editable areas.

Example of a planar mask in combination with a blur effect

To define an editable area by painting

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1 In the toolbox, click the Brush mask tool .
2 Specify the tool’s attributes on the property bar.
3 Click the Normal mode button on the property bar.
4 Drag in the image window.

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You can change the size of the brush nib of the Brush mask tool by holding down Option and dragging in the image window until the nib is the size you want.

You can apply a straight brushstroke with the Brush mask tool by holding down Command after you begin to drag in the image window. While still holding down Command, you can press and release Shift to switch between horizontal and vertical brushstrokes.

To define a border-shaped editable area

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1 In the toolbox, click a mask tool.
2 Define an editable area.
3 Click Mask Mask outline Border.
4 Type a value in the Width box.
5 Choose an edge type from the Edges list box.

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A soft edge produces a more gradual blend with the background image than a hard edge does.

To define an editable area based on the edge of a shape or area

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1 In the toolbox, click the Smart Selection Mask tool .
2 Paint within the shape or area in the image that you want to select.
The edges of the shape or area are detected, and the selection expands to those edges.
If there are areas in the selection beyond the shape or area edge, you can remove them by clicking the Subtractive button on the property bar and painting over the areas to remove. For more information, see To add to or subtract from an editable area.

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You can use any mask tool to define an editable area based on the edge of a shape or area. After defining an editable area, click Mask Apply Smart Selection to Mask.

By default, anti-aliasing is turned on to prevent jagged edges in the editable area. To turn off anti-aliasing, click the Anti-aliasing button on the property bar.

You can feather the edges of the editable area by clicking the Feather mask button on the property bar and specifying settings in the Feather dialog box. For more information about feathering editable areas, see To feather the edges of an editable area.

An editable area based on the edge of a shape created with the Smart Selection Mask tool

To define the entire image as an editable area

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• Click Mask Select entire image.

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If the mask overlay is enabled, the mask marquee does not appear.

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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.