Every once in a while you’ll need to use some shape or text as a PowerClip container for another shape, text or even an image. This tutorial shows different combination of PowerClip transparencies.

Layering

Transparency effects are always dependent on the way transparent objects are layered on top of each other.

A simple PowerClip container has two layers, the top (front) layer is the object placed inside the container and the bottom layer is the container it self.

CorelDRAW does not allow you to place an object that has a transparency effect assigned to it, inside a text object as a PowerClip! There is a simple solution to this limitation which is to add the transparency effect after the object is inside the PowerClip container.

Workaround

First you need to remove the transparency effect from the object that will go inside the container. Select the object, activate CorelDRAW’s Transparency tool and click Clear Transparency icon in the top properties bar.

Once you have removed the transparency (or any other) effect from the shape, you should have no problems placing it inside the text object as a PowerClip. Select the shape, go to Effects/PowerClip/Place Inside Container… and click on the text object.

Next, you need to go inside the PowerClip and assign the same transparency effect the object had before we removed its transparency. Right click on the container (text object) and chose Edit Contents. Select the object and assign the desired transparency effect to it.

Transparent content inside a blank PowerClip

In this example, the content has a transparency effect assigned to it while the PowerClip container itself has No Fill.

If the PowerClip container is placed on top of some other background object and has No Fill assigned to it, making it completely transparent, the contents of the PowerClip will have the background object as it’s own background.

Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.

Transparent content inside a color PowerClip

In this example, the content has a transparency effect assigned to it while the PowerClip container it self has a Fountain fill.

If the PowerClip container has some Fill assigned to it (Solid, Fountain, Pattern fill etc.), the contents of the PowerClip will have the container fill as it’s own background.

Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.

Solid fill content inside a transparent PowerClip

In this example, the content has no transparency effects assigned to it while the PowerClip container does.

Adding a transparency effect to the PowerClip container does not mean that the contents of the PowerClip will inherit that effect. The PowerClip’s content acts like a solid fill object placed on a transparent background.

Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.

Solid fill content inside a blank PowerClip

In this example, the content has no transparency effects assigned to it and the PowerClip container has No Fill.

Transparency can be achieved without using CorelDRAW’s Transparency tool. Since the PowerClip container has No Fill, it is completely transparent and its content is outlined by the shape of the container it self.

Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.

Double transparency effects

In this example, both the PowerClip and it’s content have a transparency effect assigned to it.

The result is influenced by all layers when you add transparency to, both the container and its content. The background object is visible through the PowerClip and both the background object and the PowerClip fill are visible through the PowerClip content.

Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.

Limitation

The image inside the PowerClip cannot be a variable web-to-print image field if it has a transparency effect assigned to it. We will add this feature at some stage and you’ll be able to use transparency effects on PowerClip’d variable web-to-print fields.

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