This is a simple and easy way to make the text frames in your web-to-print templates appear like they are cut out of a piece of flat surface, be it a sheet of paper or anything else.

Before you start

/

• Import the image that you will use as the background in your CorelDRAW template file.
• Input the dummy text, set its horizontal alignment and turn it into a variable web-to-print field called Text.

/

The main idea

In a nutshell, we’ll place a copy of the background image inside the text frame as a PowerClip and put it on top of a torn paper shape.

You’re probably thinking, why don’t we just go with CorelDRAW Back Minus Front shaping option between the text and the paper shape? The problem with that is, it requires us to convert the text to curves and therefore restricts us from using it as a variable web-to-print field. It will work for a static text but we want it to be a variable text frame.

Checkout a more advanced variation of this technique that you can use to create the same cut-out effect from a 3D surface.

Thorn paper

/

Draw the basic shape of the paper (Ex. rectangle) and activate the Artistic media tool (I) from the toolbox menu on the left.

/

/

/
We’ll use one of the preset brushes to simulate the appearance of a thorn paper along the edges of the rectangle.

/

Select CorelDRAW Sprayer option of the artistic tool and choose the appropriate brush from Spraylist File List dropdown menu.

/

Use these brush settings as reference.

/

/

The edge of your rectangle should now look similar to this.

Dummy text

Duplicate the background image and place the copy inside the dummy text frame as a PowerClip (Effects/PowerClip/Place Inside Container).

Since the goal is to achieve the illusion like the text is cut out of the paper, the position of the background image and the PowerCliped image has to be absolutely the same. To make sure this is so, center each image on the page by selecting it and pressing “P” on the keyboard.

/

Another way to go is to use the same position coordinates that you can see in the top-left corner of the objects property bar for both images.

/

/

/

/

The result should be similar to this.

/

/

/

/

/

Your Object Manager (Window/Dockers/Object Manager) should look similar to this in the end.

All done!

Our web-to-print software can handle this effect easily! Upload the template into your catalog and test it.

/

/

Try this web-to-print template.

/

Download the FREE CorelDRAW template file.

Useful links

• See-through in InDesign from indesignsecrets.com
• Text knock-out in Photoshop at showandtell-graphics.com
• Transparent glass lettering in Photoshop at psd.tutsplus.com
• Cutout text in Paint Shop Pro elated.com
• Cut-Out effect in Photoshop at eyesondesign.net

/

/