Operation Manual

66 Lines, Curves, and Shapes
Press the Alt key while drawing to
define a "cusp" or sharp corner for the
next segment. This locks the control
handle on the last created node.
Press the Ctrl key while drawing to
adjust the active "off-curve" control
handle length independently of its
partner control handle (belonging to a
separate segment).
For more on line corners, see Changing
nodes and line segments.
Drawing shapes
When a line (or series of line segments) forms a complete, enclosed outline, it
becomes a new closed object called a shape. Because shapes have an interior
region that can be filled (for example, with a solid colour or a bitmap), they have
fill properties as well as line properties.
You can make a shape by closing a curve—extending a freeform line or a
segmented straight line back to its starting point. Shapes have an interior which
is filled with the current default fill (see Setting fill properties on p. 147) when
the shape is closed.