# How to Draw Shapes

Artboard makes drawing simple and direct. Object handles and control knobs are visible and editable when using the single, direct Select [s] tool. Ovals, rectangles, arcs, wedges, stars, regular polygons and round rectangles are directly adjustable with special object handles – we call these Smart Shapes. No more switching tools or digging through menus to find the rotate command. Keep your attention where it should be – on your drawing canvas.

## Show Hide To Draw Rectangles, Ovals, Circles and Squares:

Do one of the following:

- RECTANGLE – Choose the Rectangle [r] tool, press and drag the cursor to begin drawing the shape, release the cursor to end the shape.
- SQUARE – Choose the Rectangle [r] tool, hold the SHIFT-key when drawing to maintain the aspect ratio, press and drag the cursor to begin drawing the shape, release the cursor to end the shape.
- OVAL– Choose the Oval [o] tool, press and drag the cursor to begin drawing the shape, release the cursor to end the shape.
- CIRCLE – Choose the Oval [o] tool, hold the SHIFT-key when drawing to maintain the aspect ratio, press and drag the cursor to begin drawing the shape, release the cursor to end the shape.

## Show Hide To Draw Open and Closed Paths:

Do one of the following:

- AN OPEN PATH – Choose the Irregular Polygon [p] or Bezier Path [b] tool, click onto the drawing canvas to add the first point; continue clicking to add additional points connected by path segments; double-click to end the path or press the ESC-key to end the path.
- A CLOSED-LOOP PATH / IRREGULAR POLYGON – Choose the Irregular Polygon [p] or Bezier Path [b] tool, click onto the drawing canvas to add the first point; continue clicking to add additional points connected by path segments; click onto the first drawn point to automatically end drawing the path; the coincident points will act as a single point.
- To OPEN A CLOSED LOOP PATH – Choose the Select [s] tool, hold the CMND-key and drag the last point drawn away from the first point.

## Show Hide To Formally Close (or Open) Paths that Loop:

By default, Artboard treats the first and last placed points on a loop as a single point when they are coincident (or overlapping). However, the path is not formally closed (with a straight line segment between first and last points).

To change this behavior so paths are formally closed when you end a path by clicking on its first placed path:

1. Open the Artboard > Preferences… Editing in the main menu.
2. Check (or uncheck) "Automatically close paths when drawing".

To open formally closed paths, do one of the following:

- With the path selected, right-click and choose 'Open' from the contextual menu.
- With the path selected, choose Edit > Paths (+Option-key) > Open from the main menu.

## Show Hide To Draw Arcs, Wedges, Stars, Regular Polygons, and Round Rectangles:

Do one of the following:

- ARCS – Choose the Arc [a] tool, click to place the center, move the cursor outward and click to define the radius, then move the cursor to define the arc and click to end the shape. Handles on Arcs directly control the object's rotation, radius, and arc angle.
- WEDGES – Choose the Wedge [w] tool, press to place the center, drag the cursor outward to define the radius, and release the cursor to end the shape. Handles on Wedges directly control the object's rotation, radius, and arc angle.
- REGULAR POLYGON / STAR – Choose the Regular Polygon [g] tool, press to place the center, drag the cursor outward to define the radius, and release the cursor to end the shape. Handles on Regular Polygons/Stars directly control the object's rotation, radius, radial ratio, tip, and valley settings. Use the Geometry pane to change the number of sides (from 3 to 16). Additionally, to instantly create perfect triangles, hexagons, octagons and more, uncheck the "Star" setting in the Geometry pane and adjust the number of sides for a regular polygon.
- ROUND RECTANGLES – Choose the Round Rectangle tool, press and drag the cursor to begin drawing the shape, release the cursor to end the shape. Handles on Round Rectangles directly control the object's rotation and corner radius.

HINT: When your convert any of these special objects to a regular shape or path, they loose their "Smart" status and become regular shapes without dynamic editing handles.

## Show Hide To Reposition, Resize and Draw Out From Center:

Do one of the following:

- REPOSITION / MOVE - Choose the Select [s] tool, press and drag the object, release. Alternatively, use the Geometry panel to adjust the location x/y position
- RESIZE - Choose the Select [s] tool, press and drag any of the object handles, release. Alternatively, use the Geometry panel to adjust size.
- DRAW OUT FROM CENTER - Choose a shape tool (such as Oval [o] or Rectangle [r]), hold the Alt/Option-key while drawing shape, release.
- DRAW OUT FROM CENTER AND CONSTRAIN ASPECT RATIO - Choose a shape tool (such as Oval [o] or Rectangle [r]), hold the Shift-Alt/Option-key while drawing shape, release.

## Show Hide To Rotate Objects:

Choose the Select [s] tool and do one of the following:

- ROTATE - Select the object, press and drag the shape's purple rotation handle, release. Alternatively, use the Geometry panel to adjust angle.
- CONSTRAIN ROTATION ANGLE TO 15-DEGREE INCREMENTS - Select the object, hold the SHIFT-key and drag the shape's purple rotation handle, release.
- REPOSITION OBJECT CENTER POINT - Select the object, press and drag the center blue crosshair target, release.
- ROTATE SEVERAL OBJECTS AROUND A COMMON PONIT - Group the objects, reposition the center target for the group as desired, and rotate.

## Show Hide Use the Geometry Panel to Precisely Adjust an Object's Size and Position:

While objects may be resized and repositioned directly, the can also be precisely adjusted using numeric input in the Geometry panel. (located in the lower left sidebar).

Do one of the following:

- EDIT NUMERIC INPUT - Highlight or double-click the existing number and type in a new number, then click back onto your drawing canvas to remove the focus from the Geometry panel.
- LOCK (OR UNLOCK) ASPECT RATIO - When changing object width and height in the Geometry panel, click the lock icon open (or closed).

HINT: The numeric input menu is context sensitive to the current selected object and the object type is displayed. Additional special object settings, such as star tips and valleys will be revealed when available. To hide the Geometry panel, click the Geometry panel icon in the bottom of the window.

## Show Hide To Quickly Switch Between Shape and Edit Mode:

Drawing objects can be quickly converted between shape mode, in which the object has a bounding box, and edit mode, in which the shape is comprised of a path and its points.

Do one of the following:

- Choose the Select [s] tool and double-click a shape or path object.
- Choose Graphic > Convert To in the main menu.
- Right-click the object and choose a convert-to option in the contextual menu.

Arcs, wedges, regular polygons/stars, and round rectangles are converted to regular shape objects in this process; double-click again to convert to path.

## Show Hide To Change the Size of Object Handles:

Choose Artboard > Preferences… Options and change 'Handles:' to large or small.

## Show Hide To Show (or Hide) the Tooltip Feedback Window:

Choose Artboard > Preferences… Editing and check (or uncheck) 'Display dimensions when dragging objects'.

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