To separate images or objects in CorelDRAW, you'll typically use the "Break Apart" function or the knife/eraser tools depending on what you're trying to achieve. Here's a breakdown of the common scenarios and methods:
1. Breaking Apart Combined Objects (Groups, Blends, Contours, etc.)
If you have a group of objects, a blend, a contour, or other compound object that you want to separate into its individual components:
- Select the object(s) you want to separate.
- Go to Object > Group > Ungroup All Objects (or just Ungroup if it's only one level deep). Alternatively, you can right-click on the object and choose "Ungroup" or "Ungroup All." This will separate a group into individual objects.
- For blends, contours, or effects, you might need to use Object > Break Apart (Ctrl+K). This will separate the components of the effect, allowing you to work with them individually. You may need to ungroup them afterwards as well.
2. Cutting or Slicing an Image into Multiple Pieces
If you want to physically cut an image into separate parts, use the following methods:
- Using the Knife Tool:
- Select the Knife tool from the toolbox (usually found under the Eraser tool or in the Crop tool flyout).
- In the property bar, choose the desired knife mode (e.g., Leave, Delete, or Auto-reduce). Leave will keep both sides of the cut, Delete will remove the portion you slice off, and Auto-reduce is usually best for vector shapes.
- Click and drag across the image where you want to cut. A straight cut will be created.
- For freehand cuts, hold down the mouse button and draw the desired path.
- The image will be split into separate objects along the cut line.
- Using the Bézier Tool for Precise Cuts:
- This method is especially useful for irregular shapes.
- Select the Bézier Tool.
- Carefully trace the area you want to separate. Ensure the start and end points are connected to create a closed shape.
- Select both the image and the shape you just created.
- Go to Object > Shaping > Intersect. This creates a new object from the area where the two overlapped.
- You'll now have a separated portion of the image. You can then move or delete the original.
- Using the Eraser Tool:
- Select the Eraser tool from the toolbox.
- Adjust the size and shape of the eraser in the property bar.
- Erase the parts of the image you want to remove. Be aware that this will permanently delete those pixels/objects.
- If you are working with vector objects and wish to simply break a curve, you can erase a small portion of the line and it will automatically be broken at those points.
3. Extracting an Object from a Background (Masking/Clipping)
If you want to isolate a specific object within an image by removing the background:
- This often involves creating a vector mask. Use tools like the Bézier tool or Pen tool to carefully trace the outline of the object.
- Once you have a closed vector path (a curve), select both the image and the vector path.
- Go to Object > PowerClip > Place Inside Frame. The vector path will act as a mask, showing only the part of the image that's inside the path. You can later edit the contents of the powerclip to adjust the image inside of the frame.
- Alternatively, Object > Shaping > Intersect can extract the part of the image within the curve as a separated object, as explained above.
By understanding these techniques, you can effectively separate images and objects in CorelDRAW to achieve your desired results.
