How to Apply Drop Caps in CorelDRAW

Applying a drop cap in CorelDRAW allows you to enlarge the initial letter of a paragraph so that it drops down into the lines of text below it, creating an elegant, editorial appearance for publications, newsletters, and brochures. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions on how to enable, format, and customize drop caps using CorelDRAW's paragraph text tools.

Prerequisites

Drop caps can only be applied to Paragraph Text in CorelDRAW. The feature is not available for Artistic Text. If your text is currently artistic, select it with the Pick tool and press Ctrl + F8 (or go to Text > Convert to Paragraph Text).

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Select the Text: Choose the Text tool (F8) and click inside the paragraph where you want to add the drop cap, or highlight the specific paragraph.

  2. Open the Drop Cap Settings:

    • Go to the main menu at the top of the screen and select Text.
    • Click on Drop Cap from the dropdown menu to open the Drop Cap dialog box.
    • Alternative: Open the Text Properties docker (Window > Dockers > Properties, then click the Paragraph icon) and locate the Drop cap toggle.

  3. Enable the Drop Cap: Check the box labeled Use drop cap (or toggle the Drop cap icon to the active state in the docker).

  4. Customize the Settings: In the Drop Cap settings panel, adjust the following parameters to suit your layout:

    • Number of lines dropped: Determines how many lines of text the initial letter spans vertically (commonly set between 2 and 4 lines).
    • Space after drop cap: Sets the horizontal distance between the enlarged letter and the rest of the text on each line.
    • Use hanging indent: When enabled, this aligns the second and subsequent lines directly under the text rather than wrapping beneath the drop cap letter itself.

  5. Apply and Preview: If using the dialog box, click Preview to verify the appearance, then click OK to apply the change.

Formatting the Drop Cap Letter

Once applied, you can customize the appearance of the drop cap independently:

  • Select the enlarged initial letter directly with the Text tool.
  • Change its font, weight, color, or fill using the standard property bar at the top of the workspace.