CorelDRAW 2026 Help | Explore the PowerTRACE dialog box

Explore the PowerTRACE dialog box

The PowerTRACE dialog box contains controls that help you preview and edit traced results.

Circled numbers correspond to the numbers in the following table, which describes the main controls of PowerTRACE.

Control	Description
1. Preview window	Preview the traced result and compare it to the source bitmap.
2. Preview list box	Choose one of the following previewing options: • Before and after — lets you display both the source bitmap and the traced result • Large preview — lets you preview a traced result in a single-pane preview window • Wireframe overlay — lets you display a wireframe (outline) view of the traced result on top of the source bitmap
3. Overlay slider	Control the visibility of the source bitmap below the wireframe when the Wireframe overlay option is selected
4. Zooming and panning tools	Zoom in and out of an image displayed in the preview window, pan an image displayed at a zoom level higher than 100%, and fit an image to the preview window.
5. Trace type	Choose whether to trace the image as filled shapes (Outline) or lines (Centerline). For more information, see Choose a trace type and profile.
6. Trace profile	Select a trace profile optimized for your source image. Each profile applies a predefined set of tracing settings. For more information, see Choose a trace type and profile.
7. Image handling	Optimize the source image for tracing and manage it afterward. For more information, see Prepare the image.
8. Shape detail	Control shape detail, node density, and curvature in the traced result. For more information, see Adjust shape detail and structure.
9. Shape structure	Control how shapes are organized in the traced result. For more information, see Adjust shape detail and structure.
10. Color	Control color mode, color count, sorting, merging, and editing in the traced result. For more information, see Adjust color output.
11. Traced result details area	Find information about the number of objects, nodes, and colors in the traced result. The information updates dynamically as you adjust the settings in the PowerTRACE dialog box.
12. Reset button	Restore the first settings used to trace the source bitmap.
13. Undo and Redo buttons	Undo and redo the last action you performed. For more information, see Undo, redo, and repeat trace.

By default, the PowerTRACE dialog box displays both the source bitmap and the traced result, so you can compare them as you adjust the tracing options. You can also preview the traced result in a single-pane window, or display a wireframe (outline) overlay over the source bitmap.

You can zoom in and out to get a better view of the graphic, and you can pan to view areas that fall outside the preview window.

To preview traced results

• In PowerTRACE, choose one of the following options from the Preview list box:

• Before and after — displays both the source bitmap and the traced result

• Large preview — displays a preview of the traced result in PowerTRACE

• Wireframe overlay — displays a wireframe (outline) preview of the traced result on top of the original bitmap. To control the visibility of the original bitmap underneath the wireframe, move the Overlay slider.

You can also
Zoom in or out	Click the Zoom in or Zoom out tool, and click in the preview window.
Fit an image in the preview window	Click the Zoom to fit tool.
Pan a graphic	Click the Pan tool , and drag the graphic.

You can resize the PowerTRACE dialog box to make more controls visible or reduce scrolling. Drag an edge of the dialog box to make it larger or smaller.