Use the robust graphics tools to draw unlimited shapes, lines and smooth Bezier curves.
Cut, or split, paths with the Cut Path tool using a cutting gesture.
Insert text boxes or add curved text along paths.
Fine-tune your drawing objects by adding or deleting points on paths.
Use the Clip Art Stamp tool to place clip art from the Styles & Clip Art palette. Use the Style Dropper to pick up and place styles among objects.
The Preview displays the style or clip art that is active for use with the drawing tools.
Choose the Rectangle or Oval tool and click onto the drawing canvas to begin drawing the shape. Hold the cursor and drag to continue, releasing the cursor to end the shape. Hold the SHIFT key while drawing to constrain objects to make perfect circles and squares.
Choose the Irregular Polygon tool to draw any irregularly shaped object. Choose a line or fill style as desired. Click onto the drawing canvas to add the first point; continue clicking to add additional points connected by straight line segments. Double-click to end the path or press the ESC key to end the path. Alternatively, click onto the first drawn point to end drawing and close the path.
Choose the Regular or Irregular Polygon tool and click onto the drawing canvas to begin drawing the shape. Hold the cursor and drag to continue, releasing the cursor to end the shape. Hold the SHIFT key while drawing a Round Rectangle to constrain objects to make perfect circles and squares. Arcs, wedges, stars and round rectangles are directly adjustable with special object handles. Drag object handles to make adjustments on these special objects.
Handles on arcs directly control the object's rotation, radius, and arc angle.
Handles on wedges directly control the object's rotation, radius, and arc angle.
Handles on stars directly control the object's rotation, radius, radial ratio, tip, and valley settings. Right-click a star to change the number of sides (from 3 to 16) in the contextual menu. Additionally, to instantly create perfect triangles, hexagons, octagons and more, right-click and uncheck the "Star" setting in the object's contextual menu and adjust the number of sides.
Handles on round rectangles directly control the object's rotation and corner radius.
Any of these special objects can be converted to a regular shape or path for further editing.
Bezier curves offer some of the greatest control and flexibility when drawing. However, it may be the least familiar tool to some users. Artboard offers a hands-on Quick Start Tutorial in the built-in templates to help users master this simple but powerful tool.
Bezier curves and freehand lines contain curve handles at points along the path. When Bezier curves are placed, their curve handles are symmetrical in length and direction. Using the Bezier Curve tool, click-hold and drag the cursor to place the starting point and begin spreading the curve handles. release the cursor to place the curve handles. Click again and repeat to continue. Double-click to end the path or press the ESC key to end the path. Clicking (without hold-and-drag) while drawing a Bezier curve will place a point with curve handles retracted, allowing corners and curves within the same path. Press the Delete key while drawing a Bezier curve to remove the last placed point.
Freehand line curve handles may be asymmetrical in length as the line is drawn.
Curves are easily adjusted after placement by dragging the curve handles, shown in blue. When adjusting curve handles, the length of the left and right ends of the handle are adjusted independently. Modifier keys provide control over curve handle adjustments.
*Hold the SHIFT key to constrain the angle of the handles to 15-degree increments.
*Hold the ALT/OPTION key to keep the length of the curve handles symmetrical to each other when making adjustments.
*Hold the CMND (Apple) key while moving the curve handles to adjust them independently of each other, including length and direction.
*Hold the CTRL key after clicking on the handle to temporarily turn off snapping to grid or guides while adjusting curve handles.
Drawing with the Freehand Line tool is much like drawing with a pen. Choose the tool, place the first point and move the cursor begin drawing, picking up the cursor to release the path. Points and curve handles are added automatically as the line is drawn, enabling later adjustment as desired. Freehand line curve handles may be asymmetrical in length as the line is drawn.
Note, if a path drawn with the Freehand Line tool appears choppy or stair stepped, it is likely that snapping to Graph Paper, Guides, or Other Objects is on. Choose View > Snap To settings in the main menu to disable snapping and continue drawing.
Add or remove points on a path using the Add Point To Path or Remove Point From Path tools. With a path selected so existing points are shown, choose the Add Point To Path tool and click onto a path where the point is to be added. With a path selected so existing points are shown, choose the Remove Point From Path tool and click onto a point to remove it.
Use the Style Dropper to quickly pick up a style from an existing object and apply it to other objects, as well as pick up a style from an existing object and continue drawing. Click onto a first object to pick up the style; clicking onto subsequent objects applies the style. The style dropper cursor shows whether dropper is “full" (will drop) or “empty" (will pick up). To pick up a new style while the Style Dropper tool is active, press the OPTION/Alt key while clicking an object with the Style Dropper. The dropper can pick up styles from inside a group.
No more digging through menus to find the rotate command. Artboard lets you keep your attention where it should be - on your drawing canvas.
Use the Select tool to grab the rotate handle (purple dot) on any shape or shape group and spin. To rotate a shape around a specific point, drag the center target where you want it – the object will rotate around that point.
To rotate several objects around a common point, group them then set the center target for the group and rotate. Ungroup afterwards as desired.
Use the Cut Path tool to cut a single path into two sections. To join two paths into one path, move the endpoints together then choose the Edit > Paths > Join (CMND-J keyboard shortcut) from the main menu.
Artboard provides three "snap" settings to control object location and enable perfect alignment. Go to View > Snap To > Graph Paper, Guides, or Other Objects to enable these snap settings. Snap to graph paper creates an invisible set of evenly spaced invisible hot spots which make the objects subtly move in even increments. Snap to guides creates hot spots along layout guide lines, which the object handles will snap to when active.
When drawing any object, it may be desirable to constrain it in various ways to keep lines perpendicular or at set angles to the page. Holding the SHIFT key while drawing constrains the line angle to 15-degree increments while drawing, constrains rectangles to squares, and ovals to circles. When resizing an object or object group, holding the SHIFT key constrains its aspect ratio.
Holding the OPTION key while resizing a shape or group of shapes holds the center point in place.
By default, Artboard tools are "sticky" – the tool will remain active until you choose a different tool. Depending on the task at hand, having the tools revert immediately to the Select tool after each use may be preferred.
All tools will be in the "sticky state" (orange) until you double-click on any tool to release them (blue or graphite depending on your system 'appearance' setting). In the non-sticky state, click a tool once to "turn it on" and use it once. Afterward, you’ll revert back to the direct Select tool. To make tools sticky again, double-click on any tool.