{"id":2864,"date":"2025-11-21T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/?post_type=knowledge-base&#038;p=2864"},"modified":"2025-11-21T10:58:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T10:58:00","slug":"using-the-outline-shapes-digitizing-tool","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/using-the-outline-shapes-digitizing-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"Using the Outline Shapes Digitizing Tool with Context Menu"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Outline <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-insert-and-customize-ready-made-shapes\/\">Shapes<\/a><\/strong> tool is a primary digitizing function in DRAWings PRO XII, allowing you to manually create embroidery objects by plotting points. This guide explains how to use the tool in &#8220;Context Menu&#8221; mode to create curves, corners, and multi-section shapes.<\/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_54264\"  width=\"1290\" height=\"725\"  data-origwidth=\"1290\" data-origheight=\"725\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QnJurbphd9k?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\/QnJurbphd9k\/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. Locating the Tool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-the-outline-shapes-digitizing-tool\/\">Outline Shapes<\/a> tool within the <strong>Digitize<\/strong> section of the Tools bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the icon is not immediately visible, hover your mouse cursor over the Digitize section to expand it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select the <strong>Outline<\/strong> tool from the dropdown.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Drawing Basic Shapes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the tool is active, you can begin digitizing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Left-click<\/strong> on the workspace to draw points.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By default, the software connects these points with a <strong>curve<\/strong>. The curve is automatically calculated to look natural based on the points you define.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Click and drag<\/strong> while drawing to manually adjust the curvature of the segment immediately.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Creating Corner Points (Straight Lines)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-combine-and-break-apart-tools\/\">combine<\/a> curved segments with straight lines, you need to create &#8220;Corner Points.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hold down the <strong>Shift<\/strong> key on your keyboard.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click to place your next point.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Release Shift to return to curve mode.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Visual Guide:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Round Nodes:<\/strong> Indicate a curve point.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Square Nodes:<\/strong> Indicate a corner point.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Managing Sections and Objects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A single embroidery object can consist of multiple separate &#8220;sections&#8221; (parts that are embroidered together with connecting stitches).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using the Right-Click Context Menu<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To control how your shape ends or continues, <strong>right-click<\/strong> to open the Action Menu:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Finish Section:<\/strong> Finalizes the current part (section) but keeps the tool active within the <em>same<\/em> object. Use this to create a separate shape that belongs to the same embroidery object (connected by a jump stitch).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Close Section:<\/strong> Automatically connects your last point to your starting point to create a closed shape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>End Shape:<\/strong> Finalizes the entire object. Any new points drawn after this will start a completely new, separate object.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using Keyboard Shortcuts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also finalize shapes using the keyboard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Press Enter or Esc (Once):<\/strong> Acts as &#8220;Finish Section.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Press Enter or Esc (Twice):<\/strong> Acts as &#8220;End Shape&#8221; (Finalizes the whole object).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>To Release the Tool:<\/strong> Click the &#8220;Rectangle Selection&#8221; tool or press <strong>Esc<\/strong> again after the shape is finalized.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Editing and Corrections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can make adjustments while you are still in the digitizing process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Delete a Mistake:<\/strong> Press the <strong>Backspace<\/strong> key to delete the last inserted point.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Extend an Open Section:<\/strong> If you have an open section, hover your mouse over the start or end point until the cursor changes. Click and draw to add new points to that specific line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Advanced Features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grid Snapping<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have the Grid View enabled, the cursor will naturally snap to the grid lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Toggle Snapping:<\/strong> Hold the <strong>Alt<\/strong> key to temporarily reverse the snapping behavior.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If Snapping is <strong>On<\/strong>: Holding Alt turns it <strong>Off<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If Snapping is <strong>Off<\/strong>: Holding Alt turns it <strong>On<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creating Holes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To create a hole inside an object (e.g., a donut shape):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Draw the outer shape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Before finalizing the object (&#8220;End Shape&#8221;), draw a closed shape inside the boundaries of the first shape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The software automatically interprets the interior shape as a hole.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Summary of Useful Shortcuts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Action<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Shortcut \/ Command<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Corner Point<\/strong><\/td><td>Hold <strong>Shift<\/strong> + Click<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Delete Last Point<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Backspace<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Toggle Grid Snap<\/strong><\/td><td>Hold <strong>Alt<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Finish Section<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Enter<\/strong> or <strong>Esc<\/strong> (x1)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Finalize Object<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Enter<\/strong> or <strong>Esc<\/strong> (x2)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide explains how to use the tool in &#8220;Context Menu&#8221; mode to create curves, corners, and multi-section shapes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2865,"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-2864","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\/using-the-outline-shapes-digitiz-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\/2864","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\/2865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"categories-kb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories-kb?post=2864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}