Rectangle Tools

Rectangle Tool
The Rectangle tool allows you to draw rectangles. Two methods of drawing are available: corner-to-corner and along-the-middle.

In the tool's dialog, select the method of drawing.

You also have the choice of single or double diagonal lines.

For corner-to-corner drawing, click and drag in the drawing. You may tab into the Edit Window to set the width and height in the process of drawing. You may use the Option key to draw the rectangle from the center.

For along-the-middle drawing, place the cursor in the drawing area at a location that will represent the starting point of the line down the middle of the rectangle. Press the mouse button. Drag away from the starting point. You may use the Shift key to constrain the angle of the line. In the process of drawing, you may tab into the Edit Window to edit the length and angle of this line. Release the mouse button to complete this line.

Move the mouse to the side of the line (shown in gray) to expand the width of the rectangle. You may tab into the Edit Window to edit the width. Click the mouse to complete the rectangle. The rectangle will be placed in the drawing.

Converting Objects to Rectangles
The Rectangle tool can be used to convert an ellipse or rounded rectangle to a rectangle, or a rotated ellipse to a rectangle. This includes Parallel Objects of the same base type. To do this, press and hold down the Shift and Option keys. The cursor will change to a Yin-Yang cursor. Click on the object in the drawing. The object will be converted.

Rotated Rectangle Tool
The Rotated Rectangle tool allows you to draw rectangles at any angle.

You may use the Option key to draw from center. You may tab into the Edit Window in the process of drawing to set the size of the rectangle.

Rounded Rectangle Tool
The Rounded Rectangle tool allows you to draw rectangles with rounded corners.

Converting Objects to Rounded Rectangles
As described above for the Rectangle tool, this tool can be used to convert an ellipse or rectangle to a rounded rectangle. This includes Parallel Objects of the same base type.

Slot Tool
The Slot tool allows you to draw slots consisting of two semicircular arcs and two lines that are placed as a group or as a single Bézier.

Two methods of drawing the slots are provided.

In the tool's dialog, choose whether the tool will be constrained (cross) or unconstrained (diagonal line) to snap angles. Choose whether the radius will be set interactively with the mouse (arrow) or to a fixed dimension (equals sign). If the radius is fixed, you may type the radius--the standard PowerCADD math functions and mixed dimensional units may be used. Choose if a Bézier or a group of lines and arcs is placed.

To draw with an interactive radius, draw a line and then move the mouse to establish the radius.

To draw a slot with the radius set to a fixed dimension, draw a line along the center of the slot.

Picture Frame Tool

With modern color printers you can add a framing mat around the photo, and print both the photo and the framing mat at the same time.  This is the purpose of this tool, but it should be quickly obvious that you can use these frames for presentation drawings and maybe even for drawing stepped gradations for raised panel and window muntins—if you really want to dress up a drawing.

In the tool’s dialog, you have color pickers for the framing mat and also for the core, which is where the framing mat is typically cut at an angle, revealing the interior color of the mat material. 

You have a choice of adding a shadow and also whether you have a core or not. 

You have the option of one or two ruled lines on the mat, and if no core is selected, then these choices apply to simple gold framing lines.

You have a choice of a number of styles of mats, cores and framing.

The first two color pickers use colors that are commonly used for picture framing, and they are often pastel colors.  These may not be the best choices for frames, but the third color picker offers more appropriate options.

You can save and delete favorites in the dialog by using the plus and minus buttons, and you click on a favorites button to select it.

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