09

Press the Option key as you click Shapes in the toolbar, and then choose a shape from m
the pop-up menu; the pointer changes to a crosshair. Drag across the sheet to create
a shape the size you want. To constrain the shape’s proportions (for example, to keep
triangles equal on all sides), press the Shift key as you drag.
Drag the new shape wherever you want it on a sheet. To change the shape’s contours,
you must rst make the shape editable; see “Editing Shapes” on page 203.
To learn about manipulating and aligning shapes, and changing their general object
properties, such as color, border style (stroke), size, orientation, shadows, and more, see
“Manipulating, Arranging, and Changing the Look of Objects” on page 212 .
Adding a Custom Shape
You can use the Draw tool to create your own shapes.
To create a custom shape:
1 Click Shapes in the toolbar, and then select the Draw tool (or choose Insert > Shape >
“Draw with Pen”).
The pointer changes from an arrow to a small pen tip.
2 Click anywhere in your document to create the rst point of the custom shape.
3 Click to create more points.
Each point you add is connected to the preceding point. To delete a segment you’ve
just created, press the Delete key. You can press Delete multiple times.
4 To stop drawing and close the shape (add a solid line between the last and rst
points), click the rst point.
To stop drawing and leave the shape open (no line between the last and rst points)
so that you can work with the shape again later, press the Esc (Escape) key or double-
click the last point created.
5 To close or add points to a shape that you previously left open, click once in the shape
to select it, and then click it a second time to show its points.
202 Chapter 9 Working with Shapes, Graphics, and Other Objects