Draw Guide

Chapter 2
Drawing Basic Shapes

CopyrightThis document is Copyright © 2020 by the LibreOffice Documentation Team. Contributors arelisted below. You may distribute it and/or modify it under the terms of either the GNU General
Public License (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html), version 3 or later, or the Creative Commons
Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), version 4.0 or later.
All trademarks within this guide belong to their legitimate owners.

Contributors
To This EditionPeter Schofield

Claire Wood

To Previous Editions
John Cleland

Martin Fox

John A Smith

Peter Schofield

Jean Hollis Weber

Feedback
Please direct any comments or suggestions about this document to the Documentation Team’s
mailing list: documentation@global.libreoffice.org

Note
Everything sent to a mailing list, including your email address and any other personal
information that is written in the message, is publicly archived and cannot be deleted.

Publication date and software version
Published June 2020. Based on LibreOffice 6.4.

Using LibreOffice on macOS
Some keystrokes and menu items are different on macOS from those used in Windows and Linux.
The table below gives some common substitutions for the instructions in this document. For a
more detailed list, see the application Help.
Windows or LinuxmacOS equivalent

EffectTools > Options menu

LibreOffice > Preferences

Access setup options

Right-click

Control+click or right-click
depending on computer setup

Open a context menu

Ctrl (Control)⌘ (Command)

Used with other keys

F5

Shift + ⌘ + F5

Open the Navigator

F11

⌘ +T

Open the sidebar Styles deck

Documentation for LibreOffice is available at http://documentation.libreoffice.org/en/Contents
Copyright..............................................................................................................................2
Contributors................................................................................................................................. 2
To This Edition......................................................................................................................... 2
To Previous Editions................................................................................................................ 2
Feedback..................................................................................................................................... 2
Publication date and software version.........................................................................................2
Using LibreOffice on macOS........................................................................................................2

Introduction..........................................................................................................................4
Drawing basic shapes.........................................................................................................4
Straight lines................................................................................................................................ 5
Arrows......................................................................................................................................... 7
Rectangles or squares.................................................................................................................9
Ellipses or circles......................................................................................................................... 9
Dimension lines......................................................................................................................... 10
Arcs and segments.................................................................................................................... 11
Curves, polygons or freeform lines............................................................................................12
Curves................................................................................................................................... 12
Polygons............................................................................................................................... 12
Polygons 45°......................................................................................................................... 13
Freeform lines....................................................................................................................... 13

Glue points and connectors.............................................................................................13
Glue points................................................................................................................................. 13
Connectors................................................................................................................................ 14

Drawing geometric shapes...............................................................................................14
Basic shapes............................................................................................................................. 15
Symbol shapes.......................................................................................................................... 15
Block arrows.............................................................................................................................. 15
Flowcharts................................................................................................................................. 15
Callouts...................................................................................................................................... 15
Stars and banners..................................................................................................................... 16
3D Objects................................................................................................................................. 16

Adding text..........................................................................................................................16

Drawing Basic Shapes | 3

Introduction
You can create 2D and 3D objects in Draw. This chapter shows how to draw simple 2D objects.
The following chapters describe how to work with and edit such objects. For more information on
3D objects, see Chapter 7 Working with 3D Objects.
All shapes, whether they are lines, rectangles, or more complicated shapes, are called objects.
This is common notation in vector drawing software.
The drawing tools are found on the Drawing toolbar (Figure 1). This toolbar is normally located at
the bottom of the workspace. If you do not see it, you can activate it by going to View > Toolbars
on the Menu bar.
As with all the components of LibreOffice, you can undock the Drawing toolbar and place it
wherever you want to on the Draw workspace as a floating toolbar. You can also configure toolbars
by adding, moving, hiding, or deleting toolbar icons. See Chapter 1 Introducing Draw for more
information.
When you draw a shape, select an object for editing or add text to the drawing, the information
field in the Status bar (Figure 2) changes to reflect the action taken or in progress. See Chapter 1
Introducing Draw for more information on the Status bar.

Figure 1: Drawing toolbar

Figure 2: Status bar

Drawing basic shapes
Basic shapes, including text, are treated as objects in Draw. The standard set of tools available fordrawing basic shapes on the Drawing toolbar are shown in Figure 1. Click on the small triangle on
the right of the Drawing toolbar, then select Visible Buttons from the drop down menu to open alist of available tools (Figure 3).
The tools that are already placed on the Drawing toolbar are indicated by a check mark (✓) next to
the icon in the Visible Buttons list, for example Select, Line and so on. The tools without a check
mark (✓), for example To Curve, To Polygon, and so on, are not installed on the Drawing toolbar.
Please note that some of the icons on the Drawing toolbar will change shape according to the lasttool used from the selection of available tools. The icons that have a small triangle to the right of
the icon indicates that more tools are available. See “Drawing geometric shapes” on page 14 for
information on the available shapes.

4 | Drawing Basic Shapes

Figure 3: Drawing toolbar - Visible Buttons

Note
When you draw a basic shape or select one for editing, the information area at the left
side in the status bar changes to reflect the present action: for example Line created,
Text frame xxyy selected, and so on.

Straight lines
A straight line is the simplest element or object in Draw to create.
1)

Use one of the following options to start drawing a line:•

Click the insert Line icon in the Drawing toolbar.

•

Click the small triangle on the right of the Lines and Arrows icon in the Drawing
toolbar and select the Insert Line icon from the drop down list.

•

Click the Insert Line icon in the Lines and Arrows section of the Shapes deck on the
Sidebar.

Figure 4: Line
starting point

Drawing basic shapes | 5

2)

Place the cursor at the point where you want to start the line (Figure 4) and drag the mouse
while keeping the mouse button pressed.

3)

Release the mouse button at the point where you want to end the line. A selection handle
appears at each end of the line, showing that this object is the currently selected object.
The selection handle at the starting point of the line is slightly larger than the other selection
handle.

4)

Keep the Ctrl key pressed while drawing a line to enable the end of the line to snap to thenearest grid point.

Note
This is the default behavior of the Ctrl key. However, if the Snap to Grid option on
the View > Grid menu has been selected, the Ctrl key deactivates the snap to grid
activity.
5)

Keep the Shift key pressed while drawing a line to restrict the drawing angle of the line toa multiple of 45 degrees (0, 45, 90, 135, and so on).

Note
This is the default behavior of the Shift key. However, if the option When creating or
moving objects in the Constrain Objects section of Tools > Options > LibreOffice
Draw > Grid has been selected, the action of the Shift key is the opposite. Lines willautomatically be drawn at a multiple of 45 degrees unless the Shift key is pressed.
6)

Keep the Alt key pressed while drawing a line to cause the line to extend outwards
symmetrically in both directions from the start point. This lets you draw lines by startingfrom the middle of the line.

When a line is drawn, it uses default attributes. To change any of these attributes, select a line byclicking on it, then use one of the following methods to change the properties:•

Go to the Properties deck on the Sidebar and open the Line pane (Figure 5).

•

Right-click on the line and select Line from the context menu to open the Line dialog(Figure 6).

Figure 5: Line section in Properties deck on
Sidebar6 | Drawing Basic Shapes

Figure 6: Line dialog - Line page

Figure 7: Line and Filling toolbar•

Go to Format > Line on the main menu bar to open the Line dialog (Figure 6).

•

Use the controls in the Line and Filling toolbar (Figure 7). If the Line and Filling toolbar is
not visible, go to View > Toolbars on the main menu bar and select Line and Filling fromthe drop down menu.

ArrowsArrows are drawn like lines. Draw classifies arrows as a subgroup of lines, that is lines witharrowheads. Hovering the mouse cursor over each of the type of arrows available will tell you thetype of line endings each icon will draw.

Note
The icon for the tool used most recently will already be selected on the Drawing
toolbar to make it easier to use the same tool again.
The line endings available are lines, arrows, circles, squares, dimension lines and 45 degree lines.
The information field on the Status bar shows them only as lines.
1)

Use one of the following options to start drawing an arrow:•

Click the Lines and Arrows icon in the Drawing toolbar to draw the type of arrow
indicated by the icon.

•

Click the small triangle on the right of the Lines and Arrows icon in the Drawing
toolbar and select the type of arrow you require from the drop down list (Figure 8).

•

Click the icon of the type of arrow you require in the Lines and Arrows section of the
Shapes deck on the Sidebar (Figure 10).
Drawing basic shapes | 7

Figure 8: Lines and Arrows

Figure 9: Shapes deck in Sidebar
2)

Place the cursor at the point where you want to start the arrow and drag the mouse while
keeping the mouse button pressed. The arrowhead is drawn at the end point of the arrow
when you release the mouse button.

Note
After drawing the line, you can change the arrow style by opening the Line dialog(Figure 6) and going to the Arrow Styles page. Here you will find a larger selection ofline endings to use in your drawing.

8 | Drawing Basic Shapes

Note
You can also select the arrow style using the left or right drop down list in the Linesection on the Properties deck (Figure 5). The left drop down list places an arrowheadat the start of a line. The right drop down list places an arrowhead at the end of a line.

Rectangles or squares•

Drawing a rectangle or a square is similar to drawing a straight line using one of thefollowing methods:•

Click on the Rectangle icon in the Drawing toolbar (Figure 1 on page 4).

•

Select Rectangle icon in Basic Shapes on the Shapes deck in the Sidebar (Figure 10
on page 8).

•

Select the icon for the type of rectangle or square from the Legacy Rectangles toolbar(Figure 11). To display the Legacy Rectangles toolbar, go to View > Toolbars on themain menu bar and select it.

Figure 10: Legacy Rectangles
toolbar•

As you draw the rectangle with the mouse cursor, the rectangle appears with its bottom
right corner attached to the cursor.

•

Squares are rectangles with all sides of equal length. To draw a square, click on the
Rectangle icon and hold down the Shift key while you draw a square.

•

To draw a rectangle or square from its center rather than the bottom right corner, position
your cursor on the drawing, press the mouse button and then hold down the Alt key whiledragging with the cursor. The rectangle or square uses the start point (where you firstclicked the mouse button) as the center.

Note
If the option When creating or moving objects has been selected in the Constrain
Object section of Tools > Options > LibreOffice Draw > Grid, the action of the Shift
key is reversed: the Rectangle tool draws a square. To draw a rectangle, press the
Shift key. This Shift key reversal also applies when drawing ellipses and circles.

Ellipses or circles•

Draw an ellipse (also called an oval) or a circle using one of the following methods:•

Click on the Ellipse icon in the Drawing toolbar (Figure 1 on page 4).

•

Select Ellipse icon in Basic Shapes on the Shapes deck in the Sidebar (Figure 10 on
page 8).

•

Select the icon for the type of ellipse or circle from the Legacy Circles and Ovals
toolbar (Figure 11). To display the Legacy Circles and Ovals toolbar, go to View >Toolbars on the main menu bar and select it.

Drawing basic shapes | 9

Figure 11: Legacy Circles and Ovals toolbar•

As you draw the ellipse with the mouse cursor, the ellipse or circle appears with its bottom
right corner attached to the cursor.

•

A circle is an ellipse with both axes the same length. To draw a circle, click on the Ellipse
icon and hold down the Shift key while you draw a circle.

•

To draw an ellipse or circle from its center, position the cursor on the drawing, press themouse button and then hold down the Alt key while dragging with the cursor. The ellipse
or circle uses the start point (where you first clicked the mouse button) as the center.

Tip
To quickly insert a line, rectangle, ellipse, or text, press and hold down the Ctrl key
and then click on one of the icons for Line, Rectangle, Ellipse, or Text and a standard
sized object is drawn automatically in the work area. The size, shape, and color are allstandard values. These attributes can be changed later, if desired. See Chapter 4
Changing Object Attributes for more information.

Dimension lines
Dimension lines display a measurement of an object in the drawing (Figure 12). The dimension line
does not belong to the object itself, but it is usually placed close to it. An object can have as many
dimension lines as necessary to indicate measures of its sides, edges, and distances.

Figure 12: Measuring an object
with dimension lines
You can control the display of a dimension line components and appearance by selecting it, rightclicking, and choosing Dimensions in the context menu to display the Dimension line dialog(Figure 13).
1)

Use one of the following options to start drawing a dimension line:•

Click the small triangle on the right of the Lines and Arrows icon in the Drawing
toolbar and select Dimension Line from the drop down list (Figure 9 on page 8).

•

Click the Dimension Line icon in the Lines and Arrows section of the Shapes deck on
the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).

10 | Drawing Basic Shapes

Figure 13: Dimension lines setting dialog
2)

Place the cursor at the point where you want to start the dimension line and drag themouse while keeping the mouse button pressed. The dimension line is drawn andautomatically calculates and displays the linear dimension.

3)

To adjust the settings of a dimension line, right click on the dimension line and selectDimension from the context menu to open the Dimension Line dialog (Figure 13).

4)

Change the dimension settings using the various options in the Dimension Line dialog,
then click OK to save your changes and close the dialog.

Arcs and segments
If you regularly draw arcs or segments (partial circles or ellipses), then you can use the optional
Legacy Circles and Ovals toolbar (Figure 11 on page 10). Go to View > Toolbar on the main
menu bar and select Legacy Circles and Ovals to open the toolbar.
•

When you hover the cursor over an icon on this toolbar, the name of the object you areselecting is displayed.

•

Click on the required icon in the Legacy Circles and Ovals toolbar. As you draw yourobject with the mouse cursor, the object appears with its bottom right corner attached to thecursor.

•To draw an object from its center, position the cursor on the drawing, press the mousebutton and then hold down the Alt key while dragging with the cursor. The object uses thestart point (where you first clicked the mouse button) as the center.

An arc or segment is drawn as follows:1)

Select the appropriate icon in the Legacy Circles and Ovals toolbar (Figure 11 on page10), then click and drag with the cursor to start creating your arc or segment.

2)

Release the mouse button then move the cursor to the position where you want the arc or
segment to start and click to start drawing the arc or segment. The status bar indicates theangle in degrees.

Drawing basic shapes | 11

3)

Release the mouse button then move the cursor to the position where you want the arc or
segment to finish. The status bar shows the angle in degrees.

4)

When you have drawn the arc or segment you require, click again to complete the arc or
segment.

Curves, polygons or freeform lines
Use one of the following options to start drawing a curve, polygon or freeform line. Moving themouse cursor over one of the icons shows a tooltip giving the type of curve, polygon or freeformline:•

Click the small triangle on the right of the Curve and Polygons icon in the Drawing toolbar
and select the type of curve, polygon or freeform line from the drop down list (Figure 19).

•

Select and click the type of curve, polygon or freeform line in the Curve and Polygons
section of the Shapes deck on the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).

Notes
The icon for the tool used most recently is shown on the Drawing toolbar to make iteasier to use the same tool again.

Figure 14: Curves andPolygons toolbar

Curves1)

Click and hold the left mouse button to create the starting point of the curve, then drag fromthe starting point drawing a line. Release the mouse button and continue to drag the cursor
to bend the line into the required curve shape.

2)

Click to set the end point of the curve and fix it on the page.

3)

Continue dragging the cursor to draw straight lines at the end of your curve. Each mouseclick sets a corner point and allows you to continue drawing another straight line from thecorner point.

4)

Double-click to end the drawing of your curve and lines.

Notes
A filled curve automatically joins the last point to the first point to close off the object
and fills it with the selected fill color. A curve without filling will not be closed at the endof the drawing.

Polygons
1)

Click and draw the first line from the start point while holding down the left mouse button.
As soon as you release the mouse button, a line between the first and second points isdrawn.

2)

Move the cursor to draw the next line. Each mouse click sets a corner point and allows you
to draw another line.

3)

Double-click to end the drawing of your polygon.

12 | Drawing Basic Shapes

NotesA filled polygon automatically joins the last point to the first point to close off the figureand fills it with the selected fill color. A polygon without filling will not be closed at theend of the drawing.

Polygons 45°
Like ordinary polygons, these are formed from lines, but the angles between lines are restricted to
45 or 90 degrees. If required, hold down the Shift key as you draw the line so that the line isdrawn at an angle other than 45 or 90 degrees.

Freeform lines
Using the freeform line tools is similar to drawing with a pencil on paper.
1)

Click and drag the cursor to the line shape you require.

2)

Release the mouse button when you are satisfied with your freeform line and the drawing iscompleted.

3)

If Freeform Line Filled is selected, the end point is joined automatically to the start point
and the object is filled with the selected color.

Glue points and connectors
Glue points
All Draw objects have glue points, which are not normally displayed. Glue points become visible
when the Connectors icon is selected on the Drawing toolbar (Figure 1 on page 4) or when an
icon in the Connectors section on the Shapes deck in the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).
Most objects have four glue points (Figure 15). You can add more glue points and customize them,using the Glue Points toolbar (Figure 16). Go to View > Toolbars > Glue Points to open the
toolbar.
Glue points are not the same as the selection handles of an object. Selection handles are formoving or changing the shape of an object. Glue points are used to fix or glue a connector to an
object so that when the object moves, the connector stays fixed to the object. For a more detailed
description on the use of glue points, see Chapter 3, Working with Objects and Object Points andChapter 8, Connections, Flowcharts, and Organization Charts.

Figure 15: Glue points

Glue points and connectors | 13

Figure 16: Glue points toolbar

Figure 17: Connector between two objects

Figure 18: Connectors toolbar

Connectors
Connectors are lines or arrows whose ends automatically snap to a glue point of an object.
Connectors are especially useful in drawing organization charts, flow diagrams, and mind-maps.
When objects are moved or reordered, the connectors remain attached to a glue point. Figure 17
shows an example of two objects and a connector.
Draw offers a range of different connectors and connector functions. On the Drawing toolbar, clickon the triangle next to the Connector icon to open the Connectors toolbar (Figure 18), or select aconnector from Connectors section in the Shapes deck in the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9). Fora more detailed description of the use of connectors, see Chapter 8, Connections, Flowcharts, andOrganization Charts.

Drawing geometric shapes
The icons for drawing geometric shapes are located on the Drawing toolbar and on the Shapes
deck in the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9). Clicking on the triangle to the right of an icon on the
Drawing toolbar opens a floating toolbar giving access to the tools for that shape.
The use of these tools for geometric shapes is similar to the tool used for drawing rectangles andsquares. For more information, see “Rectangles or squares” on page 9.
The icons used on the Drawing toolbar for drawing geometric shapes always indicates the last tool
used and may not be the same as the icons shown in the following sections.
You can add text to all of these geometric shapes. For more information, see Chapter 11 Advanced
Draw Techniques.

Figure 19: Basic Shapes toolbar
14 | Drawing Basic Shapes

Basic shapes
Click on the triangle to the right of the Basic Shapes icon to open the Basic Shapes toolbar(Figure 20) for drawing basic shapes. This toolbar also includes a rectangle tool identical to theone already displayed on the Drawing toolbar. Alternatively, select the required icon in the Basic
Shapes section in the Shapes deck on the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).

Symbol shapes
Click on the triangle to the right of the Symbol Shapes icon to open the Symbol Shapes toolbar(Figure 21) for drawing symbols. Alternatively, select the required icon in the Symbol Shapes
section in the Shapes deck on the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).

Figure 20: Symbol Shapes toolbar

Block arrows
Click on the triangle to the right of the Block Arrows icon to open the Block Arrows toolbar(Figure 22) for drawing block arrows. Alternatively, select the required icon in the Block Arrows
section in the Shapes deck on the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).

Figure 21: Block Arrows toolbar

Flowcharts
Click on the triangle to the right of the Flowchart icon to open the Flowchart toolbar (Figure 23)
for symbols used in drawing flowcharts. Alternatively, select the required icon in the Flowchart
section in the Shapes deck on the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).
The creation of flowcharts, organization charts, and similar planning tools are further described in
Chapter 8 Connections, Flowcharts and Organization Charts.

Figure 22: Flowchart toolbar

Callouts
Click on the triangle to the right of the Callout icon to open the Callouts toolbar (Figure 24) for
drawing callouts. Alternatively, select the required icon in the Callouts section on the Shapes deckon the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).

Figure 23: Callouts toolbar

Drawing geometric shapes | 15

Stars and banners
Click on the triangle to the right of the Star icon to open the Stars and Banners toolbar (Figure 1)
for drawing stars and banners. Alternatively, select the required icon in the Stars and Banners
section in the Shapes deck on the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).

Figure 24: Stars and Banners toolbar

3D Objects
Click on the triangle to the right of the 3D icon to open the 3D-Objects toolbar (Figure 25) for
drawing 3D objects. Alternatively, select the required icon in the 3D-Objects section in the Shapes
deck on the Sidebar (Figure 10 on page 9).

Figure 25: 3D-Objects toolbar

Adding text
In Draw you can add, insert, and format text to a drawing, objects, and shapes as follows:•

As a dynamic text frame, which is an independent Draw object and expands as you add
more text within the frame.

•

Text within a previously drawn object. This integrates text within the object and is placed
within the boundary rectangle that surrounds an object. This boundary rectangle is not
dynamic and care must be taken so that your text does not go outside of the object
boundaries.

For more information on how to add, insert, and format text in a drawing or drawing objects, see
Chapter 9 Adding and Formatting Text.

16 | Drawing Basic Shapes