What Is the Attributes Eyedropper in CorelDRAW?

The Attributes Eyedropper tool in CorelDRAW is a powerful productivity feature that samples object properties—such as fills, outlines, effects, size, and text formatting—from a source object and transfers them to target objects. Unlike the standard Color Eyedropper tool, which only samples color values, the Attributes Eyedropper allows designers to duplicate complex styling and transformations in a few clicks. This guide explains what properties the tool can copy, how it works, and how to use it efficiently in your vector workflow.

Attributes You Can Copy

When you activate the Attributes Eyedropper, the property bar displays three main categories of attributes that you can choose to sample or ignore:

  • Object Attributes: Includes fills, outlines, and general object properties. You can copy uniform fills, gradients, mesh fills, outline widths, outline colors, and line styles.
  • Transformations: Copies spatial modifications including size, rotation, scale, and position. This is ideal when you need multiple elements to match the exact dimensions or orientation of a key element.
  • Effects: Samples vector and creative effects applied to an object, such as drop shadows, contours, blends, extrusions, distortions, and bevels.
  • Text Properties: Copies character formatting (font family, size, style, color) and paragraph formatting (alignment, line spacing, indents) from one text block to another.

How to Use the Attributes Eyedropper Tool

  1. Select the Tool: In the CorelDRAW toolbox on the left side of the workspace, click the flyout arrow on the Eyedropper tool and select the Attributes Eyedropper tool.
  2. Configure Properties: Look at the Property Bar at the top of the screen. Click on the dropdown menus for Properties, Transformations, and Effects to check or uncheck the specific attributes you want to sample.
  3. Sample the Source Object: Move your cursor over the object containing the properties you want to copy. The cursor displays an eyedropper icon. Click once on the object to capture its attributes.
  4. Apply to the Target Object: Once you sample the attributes, the cursor automatically converts into a paint bucket icon (the Apply Object Attributes tool). Click on any target object to apply the copied attributes.
  5. Apply to Multiple Objects: You can continue clicking on additional objects to apply the same attributes repeatedly. To pick a new source object, click the Attributes Eyedropper icon on the Property Bar to re-enable the sampler cursor.

Attributes Eyedropper vs. Color Eyedropper

It is important to distinguish the Attributes Eyedropper from the standard Color Eyedropper:

  • Color Eyedropper: Strictly samples color values (RGB, CMYK, or spot colors) from objects or desktop areas and applies that single color to a fill or outline.
  • Attributes Eyedropper: Samples the entire structure of the styling—including outlines, fills, dimensional scale, and applied vector effects simultaneously—making it far more comprehensive for layout consistency.