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The Shape tool and its objects in DMD are far more versatile than they might seem at first glance. We recommend that you experiment and play with them to master their use. Think of unexpected ways to mix shapes, tweak shapes, mask out shapes, and so on. With these tools, you can:
After you click an object to choose it, tabs in the Properties drawer show and sort all of that object’s properties — both editable and uneditable. Various properties apply to various object types.
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Style Tab |
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Size Tab |
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You can adjust the density of any object on your canvas. However, the visual impact from this setting might be relative to other attributes of your design.
For example, this figure compares four possible scenarios where black text is stacked under a red shape (with a white outline), on an all-white canvas.
Compare the four variants from left to right.
When you choose to fill a shape with a gradient between two colors, we show two color tools () on the Style tab in the Properties drawer. Each of these color tools represents one extreme end of your gradient. Their effect differs when your choose whether the gradient itself should be horizontal or vertical.
These figures illustrate how the two gradient color tools function differently with horizontal and vertical gradients.
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Step 1 Click Shapes on the toolbar.
Step 2 Choose whether the new shape should be a rectangle, an oval, or a line.
DMD drops the new shape object onto your canvas.
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Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
While an object is locked, you cannot edit or delete it.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Click the Unlocked check box.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Click Delete (
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Note The deletion occurs immediately. DMD does not prompt you to confirm this action.
Tip You can restore an object that was deleted accidentally. Simply choose Edit > Undo immediately afterward. The object returns to its previous state.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Click its Edit icon in the Object drawer, enter its new name, and then click OK.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can change the size and proportions of an object on your canvas.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Tip When you check the Constrain Proportions check box, you can change either the width or the height manually, and then DMD adjusts the other one automatically. This convenience ensures that your object’s basic shape does not change.
DMD applies theese new dimensions to the selected object.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can move an object on your canvas.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Tip X measures pixel offset from the left canvas edge. Increase it to nudge your object toward the right edge.
Y measures pixel offset from the top canvas edge. Increase it to nudge your object toward the bottom edge.
DMD moves to the selected object to its new coordinates.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can rotate an object on your canvas.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Click the large handle on the object’s right edge.
Tip Do not click a corner handle.
Step 3 Drag the
symbol left or right.
DMD applies the new rotation angle to the selected object.
Step 4 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can set a shape’s fill to any one, solid color that you choose.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 On the Style tab in the Properties drawer:
a. Choose Color from the Fill list.
b. Find the fill color tool (
) under the Fill list.
DMD reveals a related control () when your pointer hovers over the fill color tool.
DMD fills the selected object with the new color.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can set a shape’s fill to be a gradient between any two colors that you choose.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 On the Style tab in the Properties drawer:
a. Choose Gradient from the Fill list.
b. Choose whether the gradient should be horizontal or vertical.
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c. Find the two gradient color tools (
).
DMD reveals a related control () when your pointer hovers over either of the gradient color tools.
d. Do one of the following with the higher of the two gradient color tools.
e. Repeat the previous step — but this time, use the lower of the two gradient color tools.
DMD fills the selected object with the new gradient.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can set a shape’s border to any color that you choose.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Adjust attributes on the Style tab in the Properties drawer.
a. Check the Border check box (
).
b. Find the color tool (
) on the Style tab in the Properties drawer.
DMD reveals a related control () when your pointer hovers over the border color tool.
Click to open a standard color picker.
Then, do any of the following, as needed.
DMD outlines the selected object with the new color.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can set a shape’s border to any thickness in the range from 0 to 40 pixels.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Adjust attributes on the Style tab in the Properties drawer.
a. Check the Border check box (
).
b. Use the Border Thickness spinner to change the border’s weight in pixels.
Tip We support border thickness weights in the range from 1 to 40 pixels.
You can operate this spinner in various ways.
DMD applies the new border weight to the selected object.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can set the outline of a rectangle or ellipse to a style that you choose.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Adjust attributes on the Style tab in the Properties drawer.
a. Check the Border check box (
).
b. Choose a style from the Border Style list.
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The canvas is WYSIWYG for these border styles. You can rely on what it shows you. |
The canvas is not WYSIWYG for these border styles. |
DMD applies the new border style to the selected object.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
Visual density causes an object to be transparent, translucent, or opaque.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Find the Object Opacity slider (
) on the Style tab, in the Properties drawer.
Tip When you push the slider left or right, a tooltip () appears above the slider’s handle. This tooltip tells you the object’s current percentage of density.
Step 3 Push the slider left or right to control your object’s density.
DMD applies the new density to the selected object.
Step 4 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can blunt any combination of a rectangle shape’s right-angle corners on your canvas.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Adjust attributes on the Style tab in the Properties drawer.
a. Find the Rounded Corners sliders (
).
b. Push the sliders left or right to blunt your rectangle’s corners.
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Tip When you push the slider left or right, a tooltip appears above the slider’s handle. This tooltip tells you the respective corner’s current rounding in pixels.
DMD applies the new rounding values to corners of the selected rectangle shape.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can change a line’s length.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Adjust attributes on the Size tab in the Properties drawer.
a. Use the Length spinner to change the line’s length in pixels.
Tip The maximum supported line length varies according to the size of your canvas. The minimum length is 1 pixel.
You can operate this spinner in various ways.
DMD applies the new length to the selected object.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.
You can set apply a drop shadow to a shape object on your canvas.
Step 1 Select the object that should change. You can:
Step 2 Adjust attributes on the Style tab in the Properties drawer.
a. Check the Drop Shadow check box (
).
b. Find the drop shadow opacity slider (
) under the Drop Shadow check box.
Tip When you push the slider left or right, a tooltip () appears above the slider’s handle. This tooltip tells you the drop shadow’s current percentage of density.
c. Push the slider left or right to control your drop shadow’s density.
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DMD applies the new drop shadow to the selected object.
Step 3 Stop. You have completed this procedure.