The Drawing Tools
Selection tool

Selection tool allows you to select an object in your drawing. You select an object by clicking on the object. An object is anything you have drawn. An object can be a line segment, a rectangle, a freeform drawing, and so on. When an object is selected you will see it surrounded by a border which contains small black boxes. Each black box is called a vertex.

For example:


Each of these five objects are selected.



Text tool

The Text tool allows you to enter text into your drawing. Click on the Text tool, then click and drag on the drawing window to create a caption box. You type text within the box. When you are done typing, click the mouse outside the caption box.
Click on the Text tool, then click and drag on the drawing window to create a caption box. Type in your first and last name. Click the mouse the when you are done outside the caption box.
For example:


Let's say you made a mistake. Click on the Selection tool and then click on the text. The caption box should return. You can highlight text inside and delete or enter whatever text you want to.
Select your text. Type in your middle name. Remember to click outside the caption box when you are done.



Line tool

The Line tool lets you draw straight lines. To draw a straight line, click on Line tool, then within the drawing window click where you want to start the line. While holding down the mouse, drag it to draw the line. When you are done drawing your line release the mouse button. Click outside the line.
Select the Line tool. Within your drawing, draw a few lines.

To draw a perfectly straight horizontal or vertical line, hold the shift key down while you drag the mouse. You can also draw a 45 degree line this way.
Draw the word "HI". Make sure the lines are perfectly straight. Note that you have to select the Line tool before you draw each line.

Let's say you made a mistake. How do you erase? Note that PowerPoint does not erase part of an image, it will only erase the whole object.



Rectangle tool

The Rectangle tool draws a rectangle. Click and drag your mouse to draw the rectangle.
Draw a rectangle around the word "HI".

If the rectangle becomes filled with a color, then click on the arrow beside the Fill Color tool button: while the rectangle is selected. A submenu will pop up, select no fill. Lastly, click outside the rectangle.

To draw a square you hold down the Shift key while you are dragging.

To draw a square starting from the center and extending out, hold down the Shift and Ctrl key while dragging.
Draw two squares, one inside the other, using the Rectangle tool.

The result:




Ellipse tool

The Ellipse tool draws an ellipse.
Click and drag to draw an ellipse.

To draw a circle, hold down the Shift key while dragging.
To draw an ellipse from the center and extending out, hold down the Ctrl key while dragging.



Freeform tool

The Freeform tool allows you to draw freehand. To find the Freeform tool, click on the AutoShapes menu, then select the Lines submenu. Another menu will appear, select . Drag the mouse around to create a freehand form then double- click to finish.
Draw your name in script (ie. freeform).



Free Rotate tool

The Free Rotate tool rotates a selected object. To rotate an object, select it then click on the Free Rotate tool. Click on a vertex and rotate the object. Click outside of the selection box.



Auto Shapes tool

The Auto Shapes tool gives you access to a submenu of pre-drawn shapes.



Fill Color tool

The Fill Color tool turns the current fill on. To use the Fill Color tool you must select the object first by clicking on it, then click on the Fill Color tool button. When you fill a selected object, the object will be filled with the default color. You can change that fill by clicking the arrow beside the Fill Color tool.

Click on the Star tool and draw a star.
While the star is still selected, click on the Fill Color tool button.
Observe that the star will fill with color.

For example:
(Selected and filled)
(Selected and no fill)



Line Color tool

The Line Color tool will remove or replace the line surrounding your object. To use the Line Color tool you must select the object first by clicking on it then use the Line Color tool to fill with the default color. To change that color, click on the arrow beside the Line Color tool. A sub-menu will appear. Select no line or replace it with a different color.
For example:
(Selected with no line)



Shadow tool

The Shadow tool will shadow or unshadow a selected object. To use the shadow tool you must first select the object by clicking on it. Then click on the Shadow tool and a sub-menu will appear. Select no shadow or replace the shadow with a different style shadow.



Now that you know how to use the basic drawing tools you can draw the Ionic column.

Next: Starting the Column
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