CHAPTER
22
DRAWING BASICS
This chapter describes how to draw and resize vector objects. The
Canvas drawing tools let you easily draw basic shapes lines, rect-
angles, ovals, and arcs and create precise squares, circles, and
straight lines. Specialized tools let you draw grids, stars, polygons,
concentric circles, cubes, spirals, and smart lines that link objects
and stay connected even when you move the linked objects.
Drawing basic shapes
You can use the same basic technique with most Canvas drawing
tools. See the table titled Basic drawing procedures on page 22.398
for the procedures you use to draw basic shapes. Instructions for the
tools that let you draw grids, stars, polygons, concentric circles,
cubes, spirals, and Smart Lines appear later in the chapter.
Applying inks and strokes
When you draw a vector object, Canvas applies the current ink and
stroke settings to the objects you draw. The inks and stroke icons in
the toolbox show a preview of the current settings. You can change
these attributes before or after you draw an object. Refer to the chap-
ters titled Inks: colors and patterns on page 18.303, and Strokes:
outline effects on page 19.333, for more information.
Selecting tools in the toolbox
Tools for drawing lines, rectangles, ovals, and arcs are grouped in
tool palettes that pop out from the toolbox. The current tool is visible
in the toolbox. To open a tool palette to select another tool, press the
current tool icon. To keep a tool palette open while you work, drag it
away from the toolbox.
Drawing objects from the center
You can draw many vector objects starting from the objects center
by pressing a modifier key as you draw. Position the pointer where
you want the objects center to be, press Option (Mac) or Ctrl (Win-
dows) and drag away from the center to draw the object.
When you draw an object from the center, you can press Shift at the
same time if you want to also constrain the objects bounding box to
A
B
C
D
E
A Line
B Rectangles
C Paths
D Ovals and arcs
E Object tools