Drawing an Object

Chapter 9: Drawing an Object

To draw a point object:

1. Choose a point symbol.
2. Select any drawing mode. The cursor appears as a crosshair with a point in the upper right-hand corner.
3. Click a position in the drawing window.
4. The point object appears.

hint To define a specific direction of for the object, click and hold the left mouse button on desired position; then drag to the direction you wish the object to be oriented to. hint The object can be adjusted retrospectively. To do this, select the point object and align it using the Indicate direction of area pattern, point or text object function. video available Drawing point objects

Draw a Line or Area Object

You must select one of the eight drawing modes to draw a line or area object. The cursor appears as a crosshair with the symbol for the selected drawing mode in the lower right-hand corner.

Draw a straight line

draw a straight line

1. To draw straight lines such as streets, power lines or sidewalks, select Straight line mode.
2. Select a line or area symbol from the symbol box.
3. Select Straight line mode.
4. Position the cursor at the point where you want to start the line, then click and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor in the desired direction. The help line provides a preview of the line that has just been drawn.
5. To add a vertex to the straight line, release the left mouse button. Now press and hold the left mouse button once more and drag the cursor in the desired direction. Repeat this process as often as necessary.
6. Click the left mouse button when you have finished drawing and the help line is transformed into the selected line or area symbol.

draw a straight line

video available Drawing straight object

Draw a curve

curve mode

Select Bézier Curve mode to draw flowing or curved lines such as contours or shore lines. Drawing Bézier Curves requires some practice as you need to get a feeling for where the radius or curvature of a flowing or curved line changes. The turning point is where the vertex and its tangents need setting. Once you have mastered this technique, you will be able to draw curved lines and area objects efficiently and precisely.

inflection point of a Bézier curve

1. Select a line or area symbol from the symbol box.
2. Select Bézier-Curve mode.
3. Position the cursor at the point where you want to start the line, click and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor to form the radius you want and release the left mouse button.
4. Position the cursor at the next inflection, click and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor to form the radius you want and release the left mouse button. The help line provides a preview of the curved line that has just been drawn. Repeat this process for each inflection point.
5. Click the left mouse button when you have finished drawing and the help line is transformed into the selected line or area symbol.

draw a Bézier curve

hintIf you are unhappy with the tangent, simply click the Backspace button. The last tangent will be deleted and you can try again. You can delete as many tangents as you like up to the beginning of the line. This is not possible once the object has been completed. hintSinuous lines can be managed easily by placing tangents at the outermost points. outermost inflection point of a Bézier curve

hintYou can force a corner vertex by dragging two tangents from the same vertex point. Curve: Tangents 2 and 3 start at the same point but move in different directions. A corner vertex is created. create a corner vertex in a Bézier curve

video available Drawing curve object

hintYou can draw parts of a line or area object using different drawing modes. Select the appropriate symbol and draw the first part of your object using a drawing mode. Now press the Tab button until the desired drawing mode appears and then continue drawing. draw objects using different drawing modes

hint You can lengthen existing line objects or expand area objects. Simply select the appropriate symbol, press and hold the Shiftshift button and start drawing at the beginning or end of the existing object. Release the Shift shift button once the line or area has been added. video available Continuing existing objects hint To draw horizontal or vertical lines, press and hold the Alt button. The Shift shift and Alt button functions can be combined.

Draw a freehand line

freehand mode

Freehand drawing mode plots the movement of the cursor and converts it into a line. Tracing flowing or curved lines using this mode is not very efficient or precise. Depending on the drawing speed and selected smoothing factor (0, 1 or 2), the line may appear somewhat angular because the vertices are connected using straight lines.

1. Select a line or area symbol from the symbol box.
2. Select Freehand mode.
3. Position the cursor at the beginning of the line, press the left mouse button briefly and trace the line you want using the mouse.
4. Click the left mouse button when you have finished drawing and the help line is transformed into the selected line or area symbol.

	If you draw in freehand mode the same way as in straight mode, normal points will be placed at the corners. Unlike corner points, normal points do not affect dashed lines.

Draw a rectangular area

RectangularMode.JPG

Select Rectangular mode if you want to draw rectangular areas or objects such as buildings or squares. This drawing mode creates a right-angle in every corner and ensures the start and end points of the outline are identical.

1. Select a line or area symbol from the symbol box.
2. Select Rectangular mode.
3. Position the cursor on one of the corners of the longest side of the rectangular area. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor along the longest side to the next corner.
4. When the cursor reaches the corner, release the left mouse button and then press it again. Hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor towards the next corner. The help line provides you with a preview of the straight line that has just been drawn. A broken line shows you what the rectangular object will look like when you have finished. Repeat the above process to draw a line to the third corner.
5. Click the right mouse button to finish the drawing; the help line is then transformed into the selected line or area symbol.

	You should always draw the longest side of a rectangular area first since it is easier to define the rectangular orientation of an area from the longer side. 

draw a rectangular area or line video available Drawing rectangular objects

Draw a rectangular line

rectangular line mode

Select Rectangular line mode if you want to draw rectangular line objects such as sidewalks or stairs. This drawing mode creates a right-angle in every corner. The only difference between Rectangular line mode and Rectangular mode is that the start and end points are not identical when using rectangular line mode.

1. Select a line symbol from the symbol box.
2. Select Rectangular line mode.
3. Position the cursor at the beginning of the rectangular line. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor along the longest side to the next corner.
4. When the cursor reaches the corner, release the left mouse button and then press it again. Hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor towards the next corner. The help line provides a preview of the line that has just been drawn. Repeat this process until you reach the end of the rectangular line.
5. Click the left mouse button when you have finished drawing and the help line is then transformed into the selected line symbol.

	You should always draw the longest side of a rectangular line first since it is easier to define the rectangular orientation of a line from the longer side. 
	
	

Draw a circular object

circle mode

Select Circle mode if you want to draw circular objects such as roundabouts or silos.

1. Select a line or area symbol from the symbol box.
2. Select Circle mode.
3. Position the cursor at the edge of the object, then press and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor to the opposite edge. Release the mouse button. The help line is transformed into the selected line or area symbol.

hint The outline or circular line is drawn as a Bézier curve. hint You can also drag the circle from the center point. Simply press and hold the Shift shift button and drag a radius. hint Clicking the center of the circle with the right mouse button without dragging displays the Draw Circle dialog box. Here you can enter the radius of the circle in mm or m. video available Drawing circular objects