<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Creating a Basic Shape</span>
</h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="procedure">
<ol type="1">
<li>
<p>
Drawing shapes is not the main purpose for using
<acronym class="acronym">GIMP</acronym>. However, you may create shapes by
either painting them using the technique described in <a class="xref" href="gimp-using-simpleobjects.html#gimp-using-straightline1" title="Figure 7.35.  The dialog shows a new image, filled with a white background.">Figure 7.35, “
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The dialog shows a new image, filled with a white background.
</span>
”</a> or by using the
selection tools. Of course, there are various other ways to
paint a shape, but we'll stick to the easiest ones here. So,
create a <a class="link" href="gimp-file-new.html" title="5.2.  New">new image</a> and
check that the <a class="link" href="gimp-toolbox-areas.html#gimp-toolbox-color-area" title="7.1.  Color Area">foreground
and background colors</a> are different.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<div class="figure">
<a id="gimp-using-basicshape1"></a>
<p class="title">
<b>Figure 7.39. 
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The screenshot shows how a rectangular selection is
created. Press and hold the left mouse button while you
move the mouse in the direction of the red arrow.
</span>
</b>
</p>
<div class="figure-contents">
<div class="mediaobject">
<img src="../images/using/basicshape1.png" alt="The screenshot shows how a rectangular selection is created. Press and hold the left mouse button while you move the mouse in the direction of the red arrow." />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br class="figure-break" />
<p>
Basic shapes like rectangles or ellipses, can be
created using the <a class="link" href="gimp-tools-selection.html" title="2. Selection Tools">selection tools</a>. This
tutorial uses a rectangular selection as an example. So,
choose the <a class="link" href="gimp-tool-rect-select.html" title="2.2.  Rectangle Selection">rectangular
selection tool</a> and create a new selection: press and
hold the left mouse button while you move the mouse to another
position in the image (illustrated in figure <a class="xref" href="gimp-using-rectangular.html#gimp-using-basicshape1" title="Figure 7.39.  The screenshot shows how a rectangular selection is created. Press and hold the left mouse button while you move the mouse in the direction of the red arrow.">Figure 7.39, “
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The screenshot shows how a rectangular selection is
created. Press and hold the left mouse button while you
move the mouse in the direction of the red arrow.
</span>
”</a>). The selection is created
when you release the mouse button. For more
information about key modifiers see <a class="link" href="gimp-tools-selection.html" title="2. Selection Tools">selection tools</a>.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<div class="figure">
<a id="gimp-using-basicshape2"></a>
<p class="title">
<b>Figure 7.40. 
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The screenshot shows a rectangular selection filled with the
foreground color.
</span>
</b>
</p>
<div class="figure-contents">
<div class="mediaobject">
<img src="../images/using/basicshape2.png" alt="The screenshot shows a rectangular selection filled with the foreground color." />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br class="figure-break" />
<p>
After creating the selection, you can either create a filled
or an outlined shape with the foreground color of your choice.
If you go for the first option, choose a <a class="link" href="gimp-toolbox-areas.html#gimp-toolbox-color-area" title="7.1.  Color Area">foreground color</a> and
fill the selection with the <a class="link" href="gimp-tool-bucket-fill.html" title="3.3.  Bucket Fill">bucket fill tool</a>.
If you choose the latter option, create an outline by using
