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The Multifunctional Contour Tool

How do I get a black penguin to show up on a black T-shirt? How do I perfectly mimic a smaller or larger version of a custom shape? How do I create text that looks threedimensional? You might think that each of these questions would lead you in three different directions. In fact, there is a CorelDraw tool that is the common denominator for all three: the Contour tool.

The Multifunctional Contour Tool

A CORELDRAW TUTORIAL

By Shon Roti

How do I get a black penguin to show up on a black T-shirt? How do I perfectly mimic a smaller or larger version of a custom shape? How do I create text that looks threedimensional? You might think that each of these questions would lead you in three different directions. In fact, there is a CorelDraw tool that is the common denominator for all three: the Contour tool.

CorelDraw can solve graphic challenges in many ways. And there are no wrong ways to get to those solutions, as long as you get there on time and the client is happy with the product or design. However, there is often a better way. I have come to the conclusion that many of the challenges I had earlier in my career could have been solved much easier and faster using the Contour tool.

In this tutorial, I will be using CorelDraw version 2020; however, the Contour tool has changed little over the years, and the tutorial will be relevant for most legacy Corel versions as well.

There are several ways to access the Contour tool in CorelDraw. To open the Contour tool docker, go to Effects>Contour (Ctrl+F9) or go to Windows>Dockers>Effects>Contour. An interactive Contour tool can also be accessed from the tool bar in the Drop Shadow flyout menu (FIGURE A).

Figure A

BASIC FUNCTIONS

The Contour tool can be used to create progressively concentric lines and objects to the inside or outside of a single vector object. Some of the basic functionalities of this tool allow control over the number of lines (steps) and objects created and the color of the lines and fills. Corners of these lines and objects can also be modified to be beveled or rounded. The property bar will change to reveal these functions with an object selected and the Contour tool selected (FIGURE B). The results of these functions on a simple vector square can be seen in FIGURE C.

Figure B

Figure C

PENGUIN ON A BLACK SHIRT

The challenge of placing a black penguin on a black shirt—a challenge given to me by a running club client—can be best demonstrated graphically with the artwork mocked up on two different-colored shirts (FIGURE D). The solution is to outline the artwork in white and have the black areas of the art be left “open” to reveal the color of the shirt. The Contour tool makes this possible while allowing the contours of the artwork to remain.

Figure D

Figure E

The first step is to select the artwork and add an outline. To begin, select all of the artwork and click the Create Boundary button in the property bar (FIGURE E). This will create an outline around every object and weld them together. FIGURE F shows what the outlines look like without the original artwork included.

Figure F

The next step is to use the Contour tool to create the concentric line created from the outline that was previously made. The tool from the toolbar can be used interactively to produce this line, or you can create it using the functions in the docker. In the docker fields, I entered the following: Outside Contour in the Alignment field, 1 step (one line), Offset at .25 inches, and Round Corner. Then I clicked Apply at the bottom of the docker (FIGURE G).

Figure G

If you use the interactive Contour tool from the toolbar, you will first have the object/line selected and then left click and drag outward to build the line—free-hand style. You can then use the functions in the property bar to modify if needed.

Because my interest was only with the outer (red) line, I needed to remove the unwanted lines (in black). To break apart these welded lines, select the lines and go to Object>Break Apart or use Ctrl+K as a shortcut. After deleting the black lines, I still had a few inner red lines that were unnecessary. To delete these areas, I again broke apart (Ctrl+K) the red line and deleted those lines. These can also be deleted using the Shape tool (F10) by dragging over all the nodes of the lines to be removed and pressing the Delete key (FIGURE H).

Figure H

Now all that remained was to fill this new object white, remove the red outline, and place it beneath (Ctrl+End) the original artwork. The penguin could now be revealed on the black T-shirt (FIGURE I).

Figure I

THREE-DIMENSIONAL TEXT

The Contour tool is great for creating depth and dimension (FIGURE J). To accomplish this, similar steps to the penguin art will be employed. The font used is College sized to 224 points (12 inches wide). With the text selected, modify the fields in the Contour docker to the following: Contour Alignment: To Center; Offset at .007 inches; Fill Color to white; and Round Corner. Click Apply. The number of steps will be automatically calculated. A close-up of a portion of the letter “C” reveals the steps and the blending that occurs to create the depth effect (FIGURE K).

Figure J

Figure K

CUSTOM SHAPES AND CONTOURS

I was recently tasked by a client to design a mock-up for a custom cutting board resembling a map of my hometown, Sioux Falls, SD, that included a drip edge (FIGURE L). After I created the vector shape of the cutting board, I needed to create the drip edge that would follow the inside of the shape. Here again, the Contour tool made it easy to create. After selecting the premade graphic, I used the Contour docker to create an inside contour with one step/line about .375 inches inside the perimeter. This new line could then be used by a laser or plotter cutter to cut the channel.

Figure L

The Contour tool in CorelDraw has changed little since its inception, and its options are many. Whether for design or production logistics, the Contour tool provides simple yet powerful functionality to overcome many challenges.

Shon Roti is the owner of 9th Street Designs, a sublimation and graphic design consulting and promotional products business. A graphic designer, Roti has spent more than 2 decades working as a production artist and instructor in the awards and promotional products industry. In 2014, the Awards and Personalization Association named him Speaker of the Year. Find him at www.9thsd.com or contact him at shon@sublimationconsultant.com.

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