How to Turn Off Effect Layers in CorelDRAW

This article provides a direct guide on how to temporarily disable or toggle the visibility of individual effects applied to objects in CorelDRAW. Modern versions of CorelDRAW utilize non-destructive bitmap and vector effects, allowing you to hide specific layers—such as drop shadows, blurs, or color adjustments—without permanently deleting them. By using the dedicated dockers, you can easily turn individual effect layers on and off to evaluate your design or streamline workspace performance.

Using the Properties Docker (FX Tab)

The primary and most precise method to manage individual non-destructive effects is through the Properties inspector.

  1. Select the Object: Use the Pick Tool to click on the vector object, text, or bitmap that contains the effects you want to disable.
  2. Open the Properties Docker: If the docker is not already visible on the right side of your workspace, go to Window > Dockers > Properties or press Alt + Enter.
  3. Switch to the FX Tab: In the Properties docker, click the FX (Effects) icon located at the top of the panel. This will display a stack of all non-destructive effects applied to the active selection.
  4. Toggle the Effect Visibility: Locate the specific effect you wish to turn off. Click the Eye icon next to the effect's name to hide it. The effect will instantly be disabled on the canvas while retaining its settings. Click the icon again to re-enable the effect.

Using the Objects Docker

You can also control effects that generate sub-elements or linked groups using the Objects docker.

  1. Open the Objects Docker: Go to Window > Dockers > Objects.
  2. Locate the Object: Expand the layer containing your target artwork in the tree view.
  3. Expand the Object Hierarchy: Objects with live effects (such as Drop Shadows, Contours, or Extrusions) will show an arrow or plus sign next to them. Click it to reveal the linked effect sub-layers.
  4. Hide the Layer: Click the Eye icon next to the specific effect sub-layer to turn its visibility off.

Temporarily Disabling Live Effects for Performance

If your document contains numerous heavy raster effects, such as Gaussian blurs or complex transparency:

  • You can switch your display mode to Draft or Wireframe via View > Wireframe to globally bypass rendering complex effects without manually turning off each individual layer.
  • To make permanent changes, select the effect in the FX tab of the Properties docker and click the Trash Can icon to delete it entirely, rather than using the eye icon to hide it.