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How can sublimation shops create a sample color swatch in CorelDRAW?

When sublimating a design, it is important to ensure that you get the colors that the customer wants. If the customer brings a school logo to imprint on a track suit or sports bag, being able to match the color is paramount. This is where a sample swatch sheet can come in handy. 

CorelDRAW has a number of scripts and macros. In CorelDRAW X8 and 2017, they are also referred to as Extensions. One such macro is called CreateColorSwatch or CreateChart in X8. This is installed by default in earlier versions, but in X8 and later, you need to go into the Welcome tab and select Get More>Extensions>Color Chart Creator>Download. This downloads and installs the macro.

Once it is installed, you can create a new document. From the Tools menu go to Macro>Run Macro. In the Macros In drop-down menu, select GlobalMacros. Under Macro Name, select CorelMacros>CreateColorSwatch>Run. In X8 you would select Macros In>ColorChartCreator>Run. This allows you to select a palette. Note that you should have the palette that you want to use currently open. This can be done from the Color Palette Manager. Once the palette is selected, select the other options, and click OK. This generates a swatch of each color in the palette. 

The final step is to sublimate this onto whatever type of substrate you wish so that it can be used by your customer to select the closest color to suit their needs.

-Roger Wambolt, Corel Corp.

Roger Wambolt

Roger Wambolt's career is the culmination of over 21 years in graphic design and education. It began in the trenches at Corel, where Wambolt provided user support, training and championed Corel's partner programs. Over the years, he acquired extensive knowledge through his relationships with graphics professionals in many industries, including print, sublimation, screen printing, sign making, engraving, and embroidery. In 2010, he started AdArt Graphics to provide graphic design and training services to a variety of international clients. A CorelDraw Graphics Suite expert, Wambolt has been a popular presenter at industry trade shows. He has developed and conducted classroom training and online sessions throughout North America and has authored articles for key industry magazines. You can train at home with Wambolt using his book Bring It Home with CorelDraw: A Guide to In-House Graphic Design or by watching his online course CorelDraw X8 Essential Training at Lynda.com, in addition to his numerous tutorials on the Corel Discovery Center.

View all articles by Roger Wambolt  

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