Watch this video to learn how to draw and customize basic shapes or follow the written instructions below.
1. Draw a rectangle or square
Drag diagonally with the Rectangle tool to draw a rectangle. Hold Ctrl as you drag to draw a perfect square.
- Double-click the Rectangle tool to draw a rectangle the same size as the page
2. Draw shapes at an angle without rotating
The 3-Point Rectangle tool lets you draw a baseline and then click to set your shape’s height. This way, you can create a rectangle at an angle without rotating it afterward.
3. Round, scallop, or chamfer your corners
You can change your rectangle’s corners right from the property bar.
- Drag a corner handle with the Shape tool to adjust corners manually
- Use the padlock icon to apply changes to all corners at once, or turn it off to edit corners individually
4. Draw an ellipse or circle
Same principles, different tools and shapes. Drag diagonally with the Ellipse tool to create an ellipse or hold Ctrl to constrain it to a perfect circle.
The 3-Point Ellipse tool works the same way as its rectangle counterpart, letting you draw at an angle in one motion.
5. Create arcs and pie shapes
Turn any ellipse or circle with an outline into an arc or a pie shape with the Ellipse tool. You can also use the tool to draw new ones.
- Use the Change Direction button on the property bar to flip a selected arc or pie shape
6. Set your own defaults to create faster
Drawing the same type of shape over and over? Save time by setting your preferred angle, direction, and shape type as the default under Tools > Options > Tools > Ellipse and Tools > Options > Tools > Rectangle.
With just a few clicks and shortcuts, the Rectangle and Ellipse tools give you full control over your foundational shapes, so you can move from blank page to polished layout faster.
Ready to draw your first shape?
Put these tools to work and start your free trial of CorelDRAW Graphics Suite today.