How to Apply Multiply Blend Mode in CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW provides built-in transparency and merge options to control how overlapping objects and images interact visually on your canvas. This guide walks you through the exact steps to locate and apply the Multiply blend mode to vectors, text, or bitmaps, allowing you to create rich color blends, realistic shadows, and seamless composite artwork.

Step 1: Select Your Object

Using the Pick Tool (shortcut: Spacebar or the top icon on the toolbox), click on the object, group of objects, or bitmap image you want to blend with the elements beneath it. Ensure the object is positioned directly above the background or target artwork.

Step 2: Activate the Transparency Tool

Click the Transparency Tool in the main toolbox on the left side of your screen. The icon resembles a checkerboard pattern (or a wine glass in older CorelDRAW versions). Alternatively, press the keyboard shortcut 5 if configured, or access it from the flyout menu alongside the Drop Shadow tool.

Step 3: Choose a Transparency Type

Look at the Property Bar at the top of the workspace. Select the transparency type that suits your needs:

  • Uniform Transparency: Applies the blend mode evenly across the entire surface of the selected object.
  • Fountain Transparency: Blends the object using a gradient transition.
  • No Transparency: Keep this selected if you only want the blend mode to apply without lowering the base opacity, depending on your version. (In CorelDRAW 2019 and newer, you can set the blend mode directly).

Step 4: Change the Merge Mode to Multiply

  1. In the Property Bar, find the Merge Mode (Blend Mode) drop-down menu. By default, it is set to Normal.
  2. Click the drop-down and select Multiply.
  3. The selected object will immediately blend with the colors beneath it, multiplying the color values to produce a darker, richer combined tone. White areas of the top object will become transparent, while darker areas remain visible.

Step 5: Adjust Opacity Settings

When you apply a Uniform Transparency in CorelDRAW, it defaults to 50% opacity. If you want the full, saturated strength of the Multiply effect:

  1. Locate the Transparency slider in the Property Bar.
  2. Change the value to 0% (0 means fully opaque color, applying 100% of the Multiply color interaction).
  3. Increase the slider toward 100% if you want a softer, more subtle effect.

Applying Multiply via the Properties Docker

You can also apply the Multiply blend mode using the side inspector:

  1. Go to Window > Dockers > Properties (or press Alt + Enter).
  2. Click the Transparency tab at the top of the docker.
  3. Select the Uniform Transparency icon.
  4. Open the Merge Mode drop-down menu and choose Multiply.
  5. Set your desired starting transparency slider value.

To remove the Multiply effect, reselect the object with the Transparency Tool and set the Merge Mode back to Normal, or click the No Transparency icon on the Property Bar.