Create Silhouettes Around Objects in CorelDRAW

Creating silhouettes around object selections in CorelDRAW is an essential technique for graphic design, sticker making, and vinyl cutting. This guide explains how to quickly generate clean, solid silhouettes from both vector graphics and bitmap images using CorelDRAW’s native vector shaping tools, including the Create Boundary command, the Contour tool, and Quick Trace.

Creating a Silhouette from Vector Objects

If your design is already composed of vector shapes, generating a silhouette takes only a few clicks using the Boundary feature:

  1. Select the Objects: Use the Pick Tool to select all vector elements that make up your design. If they are in a group, you do not need to ungroup them.
  2. Apply Create Boundary:
    • Look at the Property Bar at the top of the screen and click the Create Boundary icon.
    • Alternatively, navigate to Object > Shaping > Boundary.
  3. Isolate and Fill: CorelDRAW generates a new single closed path around the outer perimeter of your selected objects. Select this new outline, choose a solid color from the Color Palette (typically black) to fill it, and remove the outline color if needed.

Creating an Expanded Silhouette Using the Contour Tool

To create a silhouette that includes an offset margin (often used for stickers or badge cutlines):

  1. Select the Base Shape: Click on your object or previously generated boundary.
  2. Activate the Contour Tool: Select the Contour Tool from the toolbox on the left (grouped under the drop shadow tool flyout) or open the docker via Effects > Contour.
  3. Configure the Offset: Set the contour type to Outside Contour, choose your desired offset distance, and set contour steps to 1.
  4. Separate the Contour: Right-click the newly created contour and select Break Contour Apart (or press Ctrl + K).
  5. Finalize: Delete the original object inside or weld the shapes together, then assign your desired fill color to the outer boundary.

Generating Silhouettes from Bitmap Images

If your subject is a raster image (such as a JPEG or PNG) without a transparent background:

  1. Select the Image: Click on the bitmap using the Pick Tool.
  2. Trace the Bitmap: On the Property Bar, click Trace Bitmap > Outline Trace > Clipart (or Silhouette).
  3. Adjust Settings: In the PowerTRACE window, increase the Detail slider until the subject outline is clearly defined, check Delete original image if desired, and click OK.
  4. Weld and Color: Select the newly traced vector elements, click the Weld button on the Property Bar to merge all interior shapes into one, and apply a uniform color fill.