{"id":2829,"date":"2025-11-07T17:28:39","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T17:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/?post_type=knowledge-base&#038;p=2829"},"modified":"2025-11-07T17:28:42","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T17:28:42","slug":"how-to-use-the-outline-shapes-digitizing-tool","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-the-outline-shapes-digitizing-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use the Outline Shapes Digitizing Tool"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the <strong>Outline <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-insert-and-customize-ready-made-shapes\/\">Shapes<\/a> Digitizing tool<\/strong> in DRAWings PRO XII, focusing on the default &#8220;DRAWings&#8221; operating mode. This tool is fundamental for creating custom vector shapes that will be converted into embroidery.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_17298\"  width=\"1290\" height=\"725\"  data-origwidth=\"1290\" data-origheight=\"725\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5qVzdbQW05c?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"YouTube player\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/5qVzdbQW05c\/maxresdefault.jpg\" title=\"\"><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Basic Drawing: Placing Points<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most basic function of the tool is creating shapes point by point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Activate the Tool:<\/strong> Select the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/using-the-outline-shapes-digitizing-tool\/\">Outline Shapes tool<\/a> from the toolbar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Place Points:<\/strong> Use a <strong>Left-Click<\/strong> to place nodes (points) on the design area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Default Behavior:<\/strong> By default, the software connects these points with a natural-looking curve. The curve&#8217;s path is influenced by all the points you place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Key Concept: Objects vs. Sections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding the difference between Sections and Objects is essential for controlling how your design embroiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Object:<\/strong> An &#8220;Object&#8221; is the entire design component, which can be made of one or many parts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Section:<\/strong> A &#8220;Section&#8221; is a single, continuous part of an object.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Why this matters:<\/strong> If you want two (or more) separate-looking shapes to be embroidered together with connecting stitches, they must be created as <em>multiple sections of the same object<\/em>. If they are created as separate objects, they will embroider as independent items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Creating and Finalizing Shapes (Controls)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You have precise control over finalizing a section (stopping one part) and finalizing an object (completing the whole design).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Create a Multi-Section Object<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Draw the First Section:<\/strong> Use <strong>Left-Click<\/strong> to place the points for your first shape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Finalize the Section:<\/strong> When the first part is complete, do a <strong>single Right-Click<\/strong> (or press <strong>Enter\/Esc<\/strong><em>once<\/em>).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tip:<\/strong> This finalizes the section, but the Outline tool remains active.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Draw the Second Section:<\/strong> Immediately begin drawing your next shape by <strong>Left-Clicking<\/strong> to place new points.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Finalize the Object:<\/strong> When you have finished all parts, do a <strong>double Right-Click<\/strong> (or press <strong>Enter\/Esc<\/strong> <em>twice<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both sections now belong to the same object and will be connected by stitches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Create a New, Separate Object<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After you finalize an object (with a double right-click), the tool remains active. Any new shape you start drawing will automatically be a new, separate object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Release (Deactivate) the Tool<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you are completely finished drawing and want to exit the tool:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Finalize your current object (double right-click or Enter\/Esc twice).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do <em>one<\/em> of the following:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Right-click one more time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Press <strong>Enter<\/strong> or <strong>Esc<\/strong> one more time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the <strong>Rectangle Selection<\/strong> tool.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Advanced Drawing Controls and Hotkeys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use these controls to refine your shapes as you create them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Create Corner Points (Straight Lines):<\/strong> To place a sharp corner instead of a curve, <strong>hold the SHIFT key<\/strong> while you left-click.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tip:<\/strong> In node editing, curve nodes are round, while corner nodes are square. This allows you to easily <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-combine-and-break-apart-tools\/\">combine<\/a> curved and straight segments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create Closed Shapes:<\/strong> To create a filled shape (or a closed outline), simply <strong>left-click on the very first point<\/strong> you placed (the starting node) as your final point.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Delete the Last Point:<\/strong> If you make a mistake, press the <strong>Backspace<\/strong> key to delete the last point you placed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Edit Curves While Drawing:<\/strong> As you place a point, you can <strong>click and drag<\/strong> it to manually adjust the shape of the incoming curve before releasing the mouse button.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add to an Open Section:<\/strong> If an object is finalized but has an open end, you can add to it. Place your mouse over the start or end node until the cursor changes, then left-click to begin drawing from that point.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create Holes:<\/strong> To create a hole inside a shape, first create your main closed shape. Then, while the object is still active (before finalization), draw another <em>closed shape section<\/em> completely on top of the first one. This second shape will become a hole.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Using Grid Snapping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the &#8220;View Grid&#8221; and &#8220;Snap to Grid&#8221; options are enabled, your drawing will be very precise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Default Snap:<\/strong> Your cursor will automatically &#8220;snap&#8221; to the nearest grid intersection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Temporarily Toggle Snapping:<\/strong> You can temporarily override the snap setting by <strong>pressing and holding the ALT key<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If Snapping is <strong>ON<\/strong>, holding <strong>ALT<\/strong> temporarily turns it <strong>OFF<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If Snapping is <strong>OFF<\/strong>, holding <strong>ALT<\/strong> temporarily turns it <strong>ON<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Outline Shapes Digitizing tool in DRAWings PRO XII, focusing on the default &#8220;DRAWings&#8221; operating mode. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2830,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":""},"categories-kb":[333],"class_list":["post-2829","knowledge-base","type-knowledge-base","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categories-kb-how-to-training"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"categories-kb":[{"value":333,"label":"How to Training"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/maxresdefault1-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"DRAWings Embroidery Software","author_link":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/author\/drawings\/"},"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-base\/2829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-base"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/knowledge-base"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"categories-kb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories-kb?post=2829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}