Editing Shapes

Adding and removing shapes

Adding shapes

Removing shapes

Changing the shape style

Shape style

Resizing shapes

Changing the line thickness

Applying transparency to shapes

Changing the line type of shapes

Changing the line color of shapes

Changing the shape color

Specifying drop shadows for shapes

Changing rectangle corner shapes

Changing the types of starting and ending points for lines

Resizing arrows

Adding and removing shapes

Adding shapes

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click either of the following buttons to select a shape.
(Crosshair pointer) is displayed.

(Line/Arrow)

Enables you to add lines or arrows

(Rectangle)

Enables you to add rectangles

(Circle/Ellipse)

Enables you to add circles or ellipsis

3. Drag (Crosshair pointer) to specify the size of shape you want to add.
The shape is added in the specified size.

To add a shape with the angle or center point fixed, hold down the Shift or Ctrl key as you drag the crosshair pointer.

Shift key

Line/Arrow

Horizontal line, vertical line or line slanted at a multiple of 15 degrees

Rectangle

Square

Circle/Ellipse

Circle

Ctrl key

All shapes

Shapes (center is the clicked point)

Shift key and Ctrl key

Line/Arrow

Horizontal line, vertical line or line slanted at a multiple of 15 degrees with the clicked point set as the center

Rectangle

Square (center is the clicked point)

Circle/Ellipse

Circle (center is the clicked point)

4. You can freely resize, rotate, or move shapes you added. You can also align a shape with other objects or reorder it within a group of objects. For more information, see "Working with Objects."

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Removing shapes

1. Right-click a shape on the poster and select Delete.
(Otherwise, click the shape and press the Delete key.)

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Changing the shape style

Shape style

In PosterArtist, you can specify the following aspects of the shape style.

Resize Shapes
You can change the size of shapes.

Change Line Thickness
You can change the thickness of shape line.

Change Shape Opacity
You can adjust the shape opacity to apply transparency to shapes.

Change Line Type
You can make the shape line a dashed or dotted line.

Change Line Color
You can change the shape line color.

Change Shape Color
You can change the color of rectangles or circles.

Specify Drop Shadows for Shapes
You can apply a drop shadow to shapes.

Change Rectangle Corner Shapes
You can change the rectangle corner shape to a round or square shape.

Change Types of Line Ends
You can change the line ends into arrows or shapes such as and .

Resize Shapes of Line Ends
You can change the size of the line ends.

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Resizing shapes

1. Click a shape on the poster.
(Resize handle) is displayed on the selected shape.

2. Drag the resize handle () to resize the shape.

The line length can be changed without changing its angle and center point. In addition, rectangles can be resized without changing its aspect ratio and center point. For details, see "Moving, enlarging, reducing, and rotating objects."

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Changing the line thickness

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click a shape on the poster.

3. In Line Thickness, change the value. Enter the value directly or click or at right to increase or decrease the value.

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Applying transparency to shapes

Change the shape opacity to apply transparency.

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click a shape on the poster.

3. In Opacity, specify the opacity (%) of the shape. Enter the value directly or click or at right to increase or decrease the value.

Increase the value to make lines more opaque.

Decrease the value to make lines more transparent.

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Changing the line type of shapes

Change the shape line to a dashed line or dotted line.

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click a shape on the poster.

3. In the Line Type list, select the line type.

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Changing the line color of shapes

Change the shape line color.

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click a shape on the poster.

3. When selecting a rectangle, circle or ellipse, place a checkmark for Line Color.

4. In Line Color, the current shape line color and basic colors are displayed. To use one of the basic colors, click the corresponding button. To use other colors, click Custom and select a color from the Color dialog box.

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Changing the shape color

Fill shapes with color or change the color.

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click a rectangle, circle or ellipse on the poster.

3. Place a checkmark for Fill-in Color.

4. In Fill-in Color, the current shape color and basic colors are displayed. To use one of the basic colors, click the corresponding button. To use other colors, click Custom and select a color from the Color dialog box.

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Specifying drop shadows for shapes

You can add drop shadows of several types to shapes.

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click a shape on the poster.

3. Click (Drop Shadow).
The Set Shadow dialog box is displayed.

4. Place a checkmark for Drop Shadow.

5. To change the shadow color, click Custom and in the Color dialog box, select another color.

6. In Distance, specify the distance between the shape and shadow. Enter the value directly or click or at right to increase or decrease the value.

7. In Angle, set the shadow angle. Enter the value directly or click or at right to increase or decrease the value.

8. In Opacity, specify the opacity (%) of the shadow. Enter the value directly or click or at right to increase or decrease the value.

Increase the value to make shadows darker.

Decrease the value to make shadows lighter.

9. To soften the shadow, place a checkmark for Fade Shadows and in Radius, set the value of softening. Enter the value directly or click or at right to increase or decrease the value.

Increase the value to soften shadows more.

Decrease the value to emphasize shadows.

10. The effect can be checked in Preview. To see how the drop shadow appears under the current settings, click Apply. Continue adjusting the settings and clicking Apply until the drop shadow appears as desired.

11. Click OK.
The Set Shadow dialog box is closed. The drop shadow is applied to the shape.

To cancel drop shadow settings, remove the checkmark from Drop Shadow.

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Changing rectangle corner shapes

Change the rectangle corner shape to a round or square shape.

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click a rectangle on the poster.

3. In the Corner Shape list, select a corner shape.
When selecting the round shape in Corner Shape, set the value of roundness in Radius. Enter the value directly or click or at right to increase or decrease the value.

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Changing the types of starting and ending points for lines

By changing the types at the starting and ending points of lines, you can make lines into arrows and vice versa. You can also select the type of arrows.

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click a line (or arrow) on the poster.

3. In the Start Point Shape list, select the start point shape.

4. In the End Point Shape list, select the end point shape.

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Resizing arrows

You can change the size of the arrow head.

1. In the Edit task, select Shapes.
The Shapes settings panel is displayed.

2. Click an arrow on the poster.

3. In the Size list for the start point, select the size of start point shape.

4. In the Size list for the end point, select the size of end point shape.

Size is only available when an arrow is selected in Start Point Shape or End Point Shape.

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