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The sections or segments of a line are marked by small black point handles. You can
drag, add and delete these handles to manipulate the shape of the line or outline.
Some objects such as quickshapes, rectangles, ellipses, and text have to be converted
into editable shapes before you can use the
SHAPE EDITOR TOOL on them. Select the
"ARRANGE" > "CONVERT TO EDITABLE SHAPE" menu ("Ctrl + Shift + S") to do this.
To draw a straight line segment
Using the SHAPE EDITOR Tool, start a straight line:
1. Click where you want to start the line. You can start a line at either end; you
don’t have to work left to right, or top-to-bottom. This creates a point handle,
and is displayed as a red square to indicate that it is the selected handle.
2. If necessary select the MAKE LINE button on the InfoBar ("L"). This ensures the
next click will draw a straight line segment.
Either click where you want the next point
handle to be, or click and drag, and then
release the mouse button when the line is
correct. This creates a line segment and
selects the new end point handle.
Mixing curved and straight lines
To create an object which is a mixture of straight and curved segments, just switch
between the
MAKE CURVE and MAKE LINE buttons as you create the object (you can
also press "L" or "C" on the keyboard.)
Note: You can also use the keyboard shortcut "X" to create a Cusp Join or "S" to
create a Smooth Join while using the
SHAPE EDITOR TOOL. These affect the way two
line segments come together. A Cusp Join creates 2 independent Bezier control
handles that you can edit separately. With a cusp join, you can create a sharp angle. A
Smooth Join creates a symmetrical join that works like a see saw. If you drag one
Bezier control handle down, the opposing control handle goes up.
To draw a curved line segment:
This is similar to starting a straight line (described above).
1. Click where you want to start the line.
2. If necessary select the MAKE CURVE button (shortcut "C".)