I like to import an image in Draw and sample various portions of it for colors in my background. Usually I like to use a gradient - so I sample one shade in the image and fill my background... then I like to sample another color from the image and create a gradient using those two colors. Sampling the first color from the image is easy, as I just fill my background with a uniform fill of the first color. But for the second color of my gradient there's no way to use the eyedropper to directly select the color for that marker. I have to sample the color, note the RBG or CMYK values, then go manually enter it in the color select window. I've seen this feature in Fireworks (which I only use rarely), and it's quite useful.

Hi A.,

One of the features I proposed early in the beta cycle for X4 was for a new tool to sample bitmap gradients to create vector gradients. People thought I was crazy. OK, so that's normal. ;-)

Well... Os came up with a solution shortly thereafter. I spent a long time beta testing it, and was amazed at the results. See below, I made this moments for you.

The default fountain fills in Draw are mostly unusable for professional work IMO. Too garish.

With a few steps, you can convert any gradient you find in nature into a fountain fill. This tool makes speeds up the process of creating attractive fountain fills for your projects, based on real items.

This macro is now part of this package

Accroya:

But for the second color of my gradient there's no way to use the eyedropper to directly select the color for that marker. I have to sample the color, note the RBG or CMYK values, then go manually enter it in the color select window. I've seen this feature in Fireworks (which I only use rarely), and it's quite useful.

Accroya:

Sampling the first color from the image is easy, as I just fill my background with a uniform fill of the first color. But for the second color of my gradient there's no way to use the eyedropper to directly select the color for that marker

In CorelDRAW there is always a way :)

1. Open the Color docker (Window > Dockers > Color)
2. Sample the second color. The Color docker will store that color
3. Select your object with the Interactive Fill tool
4. Select the second marker
5. On the Color docker, click the Fill button to apply the color you sampled earlier to that marker

Note

On the Color docker, make sure the Auto-applies color button is released.

See also

• Working with Colors thread.

External links

• Using the Eyedropper to sample colors for the Interactive Fill and Mesh tools.
• Using the Eyedropper to sample colors for separates parts of an Artistic Media Brush.
  

Hey that's a great tip. That's a much better way to achieve this than I had been doing.

Thanks!

That macro is actually pretty cool. I've been using it for a while now and I'm impresed with it. I use it so much I put a button on my toolbar for it. Another cool feature is that it also does angles based on how you place your color samples.

Here is a quickie - far left gradient was a bitmap that became a fountain fill after using the macro.

 That's a very cool tip! However, this functionality is not very obvious for someone, like me, that doesn't use the Color docker on a regular basis. What I and others have been asking for is an eyedropper in every color fill dialog, just like in Dreamweaver and Fireworks. I hate to write color numbers in the boxes.

But this will have to do for now. I wonder why nobody has pointed me in this direction when asking for such an extended eydropper functionality. Probably because not that many are aware of how it works.

Lars Forslin:

this functionality is not very obvious for someone, like me, that doesn't use the Color docker on a regular basis

It's another secret of Mystic CorelDRAW.

I didn't use the Color Docker that much, until I've discovered this "functionality".

This is very much a case of "Corel Draw mystic". I think the interface needs an real overhaul, not just cosmetic, but in functions for a more logical workflow. Probably the number of dockers could be reduced, also because we now have a lot mor screen real estate compared to when the dockers were constructed. Workflow needs to be more obvious and streamlined, too many ways of doing things only creates confusion.

That's a great tip, will have to file it away in my cranium... but the advantage of the macro is it will do multiple steps without having to drag unrelated colors from the pallet onto the interactive fill, and then change to the sampling. So for a 2 step gradient (sounds like a dance) it's perfect, more than that and it's time for the macro.