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 object’s center by pressing a modifier key as you draw. Position the pointer where you want the object’s 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 object’s bounding box to A B C D E A    Line B    Rectangles C   Paths D   Ovals and arcs E    Object tools
Canvas 8 Help: Drawing basics (1 of 22)                                                             Page #397