How to Setup White Ink Layers in CorelDRAW

Preparing artwork for white ink printing in CorelDRAW requires configuring dedicated spot color layers to ensure your Raster Image Processor (RIP) software correctly interprets where and how white ink should be deposited. Depending on your substrate and final product, you must configure underbase layers, highlight layers, or backing layers, along with specific spot color palettes and overprint attributes.

1. The Spot Color Definition

Before creating any physical layers, CorelDRAW requires a custom spot color swatch. Standard CMYK or RGB white (values of 0,0,0,0 or 255,255,255) will not trigger a white ink channel in a RIP system; the printer will simply treat it as transparent.

  • You must create a new spot color in the Color Palette Manager.
  • Name the swatch exactly as required by your RIP software (common industry names include Spot1, White, RDG_WHITE, or White_Ink).
  • Assign a visible preview color (such as 100% magenta or cyan) set to 100% tint so you can clearly see the white coverage area against your workspace.

2. Underbase White Layer

The underbase layer is the most common white ink setup. It serves as a solid white primer beneath colored graphics when printing on dark, transparent, or metallic substrates. Without an underbase, CMYK inks appear dull or translucent on non-white media.

  • Placement: Positioned physically beneath the CMYK artwork inside the CorelDRAW Objects docker.
  • Creation: Duplicate your artwork elements, merge them using the Weld tool to create a solid silhouette, and fill the silhouette with your custom white spot color.
  • Choke Application: Often contracted (choked) by 0.5 to 1 point using the Contour tool to prevent white ink from peeking out along the edges of the CMYK print.

3. Highlight and Standalone White Layer

A highlight or selective white layer is used when parts of the design require pure, visible white ink on the surface, such as white text, crisp borders, or bright reflective accents over colored areas.

  • Placement: Positioned on the same level as, or directly above, the CMYK artwork.
  • Creation: Applied directly to specific vector objects or text using the white spot color swatch.
  • Overprint Requirement: If printing white highlights over an existing CMYK element, you must right-click the white object and select Overprint Fill or Overprint Outline. This prevents CorelDRAW from knocking out the color layer beneath it.

4. Backing Layer (Second Surface Printing)

Used primarily for printing on clear acrylic, glass, or transparent window films, second surface printing involves printing the CMYK artwork in reverse (mirrored) on the back of the material, followed by a white layer over the entire graphic.

  • Placement: Arranged at the top of the layer hierarchy in the CorelDRAW Objects docker (the reverse of an underbase).
  • Creation: Designed as a full flood or contour-shaped mask that covers the mirrored CMYK image, shielding it and providing opacity when viewed from the front through the clear material.

5. Raster White Layer (Selective Bitmaps)

When working with photographic or gradient artwork rather than pure vectors, a dedicated raster mask layer is required.

  • Creation: Create a high-contrast grayscale bitmap mask of the artwork.
  • Mapping: Convert the grayscale channel directly to the spot white color palette within CorelDRAW, or export it on a separate dedicated layer named appropriately for your RIP's multi-layer import settings.