Bitmap Filters Accessible in CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW allows designers to apply a wide range of native bitmap filters directly to raster graphics and converted vector shapes without needing to switch to an external photo editor. This guide provides an organized breakdown of the primary bitmap filter categories built directly into the CorelDRAW workspace, detailing the specific tools available to manipulate textures, lighting, perspective, and artistic styles.

3D Effects

These filters add depth, volume, and simulated dimensional perspective to flat bitmap objects.

  • 3D Rotate: Tilts the bitmap along the X, Y, and Z axes.
  • Cylinder: Wraps the bitmap around a cylindrical surface.
  • Emboss: Creates a raised or stamped relief effect based on image edges.
  • Page Curl: Simulates the corner of a page lifting and curling over.
  • Perspective: Warps the bitmap toward a vanishing point to simulate depth.
  • Pinch/Punch: Distorts the image by pushing it inward or bulging it outward.
  • Sphere: Maps the bitmap onto the surface of a three-dimensional ball.

Blur Filters

Blur effects soften edges, diminish noise, or suggest motion within an image.

  • Gaussian Blur: Produces a smooth, haze-like blur using a bell-shaped color distribution.
  • Motion Blur: Simulates the directional movement of an object or camera.
  • Radial Blur: Applies a circular blur originating from a central point.
  • Zoom Blur: Simulates rapid movement toward or away from the viewer.
  • Smart Blur: Blurs flat areas while preserving sharp contrast edges.
  • Feather: Softens the outer edges of a bitmap into transparency.

Artistic Effects

Artistic filters emulate classic fine-art techniques, painterly textures, and traditional physical media.

  • Charcoal and Crayon: Recreates dry-medium sketch styles.
  • Water Color: Mimics transparent fluid washes and wet edges.
  • Impressionist and Palette Knife: Simulates thick, visible brushstrokes and impasto techniques.
  • Stained Glass: Segments the image into colored cells separated by lead-like outlines.
  • Pastel and Pen & Ink: Renders the image using chalky textures or crosshatching.

Camera Effects

Camera filters simulate optical camera lens configurations, lighting artifacts, and historical film processing.

  • Lens Flare: Adds simulated optical glare and reflection circles.
  • Colorize: Tints the image uniformly while maintaining tonal contrast.
  • Photo Filter: Emulates physical colored glass lens filters used in photography.
  • Time Machine: Recreates vintage photographic styles from different historical eras (e.g., Daguerreotype, Sepia, Early Color).

Color Transform

These filters remap color values to create stylized graphical effects.

  • Halftone: Converts the image into discrete dots simulating print screen patterns.
  • Psychedelic: Shifts colors aggressively toward vibrant, saturated spectrum values.
  • Solarize: Inverts selected tones to mimic photographic overexposure.
  • Bit Planes: Reduces color depth to flat, posterized layers.

Contour and Edge Detection

Contour filters analyze tonal variations to isolate and highlight image boundaries.

  • Edge Detect: Outlines contrast borders against a solid background.
  • Find Edges: Converts the image into line-art outlines based on tonal boundaries.
  • Trace Contour: Highlights high-contrast transition areas using thin contour lines.

Creative and Texture Filters

These filters map geometric, environmental, or material patterns onto the bitmap.

  • Weather: Adds atmospheric elements like snow, rain, or fog.
  • Glass and Crystal: Distorts pixels to simulate viewing the image through textured glass.
  • Fabric and Canvas: Overlays woven textiles onto the image surface.
  • Brick Wall, Stone, and Cobblestone: Emulates textured architectural materials.

Distort Filters

Distort filters warp, twist, and reshape pixel layouts without altering underlying color values.

  • Mesh Warp: Uses an interactive grid to stretch and manipulate targeted image regions.
  • Ripple and Swirl: Applies liquid-like waves or whirlpool distortions.
  • Pixelate: Breaks the image into distinct square blocks.
  • Displace: Warps the image using the luminance profile of a secondary map.

Noise and Sharpening

These corrective and stylizing filters modify pixel granularity and contrast.

  • Add/Remove Noise: Introduces random pixel grain or cleans up artifacts.
  • Sharpen and Unsharp Mask: Increases edge contrast to enhance perceived focus and detail.
  • High Pass: Retains high-frequency edge details while filtering out low-frequency flat areas.