How to Customize Color Palettes in CorelDRAW

Customizing color palettes in CorelDRAW allows designers to maintain brand consistency, speed up production, and organize project-specific swatches. This guide explains how to create new custom palettes, add and modify colors, and configure palette display settings directly within the software.

Opening the Palettes Docker

To manage palettes, you must first open the Palette Docker (or Inspector in macOS):

  1. Go to the top menu and select Window.
  2. Hover over Dockers (or Inspectors).
  3. Select Color Palettes (or Palettes).

The Palettes docker will appear on the right side of your workspace.

Creating a New Custom Palette

  1. In the Palettes docker, click the Palette options icon (represented by a folder or plus icon depending on your version).
  2. Click New > New empty color palette (or New palette from document to automatically pull colors already used in your current project).
  3. Choose a destination folder, enter a name for your palette, and click Save.
  4. Ensure the checkbox next to your new palette is checked so it remains visible on your workspace.

Adding Colors to Your Palette

You can populate your custom palette using several methods:

  • Drag and Drop: Select any vector object or outline on your canvas and drag it directly onto your open palette window or palette toolbar.
  • The Eyedropper Tool: Select the Color Eyedropper tool from the toolbox, sample any color from your screen, and click directly on an empty slot in your custom palette.
  • Via the Palette Editor: In the Palettes docker, select your palette and click the Palette Editor button (an icon with a pencil). Click Add Color, choose your desired color model (RGB, CMYK, Pantone, etc.), pick your shade, and click OK.

Editing and Organizing Colors

Using the Palette Editor, you can refine existing swatches:

  1. Select your custom palette in the docker and click Palette Editor.
  2. Select a color swatch from the list.
  3. Change Values: Click Edit Color to adjust the color values or change the color model.
  4. Rename Swatches: Click into the Color name field to assign descriptive names (e.g., "Primary Brand Blue").
  5. Reorder: Drag swatches up or down within the list to change their sequence on the toolbar.
  6. Delete: Select an unwanted swatch and click Delete Color.
  7. Click OK to save the changes.

Setting Display and Default Options

To make your custom palette easier to access:

  • Set as Default: Right-click the palette in the Palettes docker and choose Set as Default if you want its swatches used as the standard fills and outlines for all new objects.
  • Display Color Names: Click the flyout arrow at the top of your docked palette and select Customize > Show color names to view text labels alongside the swatches.
  • Docking: Drag the palette title bar to dock it horizontally at the bottom or top of the screen, or keep it vertically aligned along the right edge.