How to Add and Customize Rectangle Shapes in

This guide will walk you through the process of adding rectangle shapes to your design, customizing their properties, and editing them using the software’s built-in tools.

Step 1: Select the Rectangle Tool

1. Locate the Shapes section on your tool panel.
   • Note: The icon for this section will display the last shape tool you used.
2. Place your mouse cursor over the Shapes icon to expand the full list of available shapes.
3. Click on the Rectangle shape tool to activate it.

Step 2: Draw Your Rectangle

1. Click and hold the left mouse button on your design area.
2. Drag the mouse to define the desired position and size of your rectangle.
3. Release the mouse button to finalize the shape.

• Useful Tip: To draw a perfect square, hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard while you click and drag.

Step 3: Adjust Properties (While Tool is Active)

After you create your rectangle, the tool remains active in case you want to draw more.

1. Look at the Tool Options bar (this usually appears at the top or side of your screen when a tool is active).
2. You can immediately adjust the roundness of the corners for the rectangle you just created using the options available in this bar.

Step 4: Exit the Rectangle Tool

When you are finished drawing rectangles, you can exit the tool in one of two ways:

• Right-click anywhere on the design area.
• Click on the Rectangle Selection Tool (the standard pointer/arrow tool).

Step 5: Edit an Existing Rectangle’s Properties

Even after exiting the tool, you can easily edit a rectangle’s properties.

1. Select the rectangle shape you wish to edit.
2. In the properties panel, you will still see the option to adjust the roundness percentage for its corners.

Step 6: Edit Using the Node Editor

For more advanced adjustments, you can use the Node Editor.

1. Select the rectangle.
2. Activate the Node Editor.
3. You will see several “special nodes” on the shape. These nodes have specific functions for shape objects:
   • Corner Node: Use this node to interactively adjust the roundness of the corners.
   • Sizing Node: This node allows you to change the size and proportion of the rectangle, just like when you first drew it.
   • Center Node: Click and drag this node to easily reposition the entire rectangle.

Step 7: Convert to Curves for Manual Editing

If you need to manually change the fundamental shape of the rectangle (e.g., move one side, add a new point, or curve a straight line), you must first convert it.

1. Select the rectangle.
2. Find and apply the “Convert to Curves” option (often found by right-clicking the object or in an “Arrange” or “Object” menu).

• IMPORTANT: Once you convert the shape to curves, the special nodes for roundness, resizing, and repositioning will no longer be available. The shape will become a standard outline object with regular nodes that you can move individually.