Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
4.
Point the cursor downward, enter
9
↵ for 9˝, and click this point. Metric users should
enter
23
↵.
5.
Continue drawing the other two sides of the rectangle by using Polar Tracking. After
you've completed the rectangle, press ↵ or the Esc key to exit the Line tool. You should
have a drawing that looks like Figure 3.2.
FIGURE 3.2
A plan view of the
toilet tank
As you can see from the exercise, you can use Polar Tracking to restrain your cursor to hori-
zontal and vertical positions, just as you would use a T-square and triangle. Later, you'll learn
how you can set up Polar Tracking to set the angle to any value you want in a way similar to an
adjustable triangle.
In some situations, you may find that you don't want Polar Tracking on. You can turn it off by
clicking the Polar Tracking tool in the status bar.
Although this exercise tells you to use the Line tool to draw the tank, you can also use the
Rectangle tool. The Rectangle tool creates what is known as a
polyline
, which is a set of line
or arc segments that act like a single object. You'll learn more about polylines in Chapter 17,
“Drawing Curves.”
By using the Snap modes in conjunction with the coordinate readout and Polar Tracking, you
can locate coordinates and measure distances as you draw lines. This is similar to the way you
draw when using a scale. The smallest distance registered by the coordinate readout and Polar
Tracking readout depends on the area you've displayed on your screen. For example, if you're
displaying an area the size of a football field, the smallest distance you can indicate with your
cursor may be 6˝, or 15 cm. On the other hand, if your view is enlarged to show an area of only
one square inch or centimeter, you can indicate distances as small as
1
⁄
1000
of an inch or centime-
ter by using your cursor.
