Draw Ellipse

Ellipse / ovals can be created interactively with the cursor and Quick Keys or by entering the exact coordinates for the center point, height and width with typed input.

Note: Pressing the Space-bar re-opens the last vector creation form you used. This is very useful when using other forms in between each shape you create.

Interactive - Cursor

The quickest and simplest way to draw an ellipse is:

Click and drag the left mouse button in the 2D View to begin drawing the ellipse from its corner.
While holding the left mouse button, drag to the required size.
Releasing the left mouse button.

Note:

Holding Alt and dragging creates an ellipse from the middle point.

Holding Ctrl and dragging creates a circle.

Quick Keys

Instead of releasing the left mouse button when you have dragged your shape to the required size, you can also type exact values during the dragging process and set properties precisely.

Left-click and drag out your shape in the 2D View.
With the left mouse button still pressed, enter a quick key sequence detailed below.
Release the left mouse button.

Default

By default, two values separated by a comma, will be used to set width and height of your ellipse. One value will create a circle with the given diameter. While you are dragging out the ellipse, type Width Value,Height ValueEnter or Diameter,Enter to create an ellipse with the specified dimensions.

Example

Keys	Result
`2.5,1Enter`	Creates ellipse with a width of 2.5 and a height of 1.

Specifying Further Properties

By using specific letter keys after your value, you can also indicate precisely which property it relates to.

Quick Keys	Result
`ValueX`	Creates an ellipse at the current dragged height, but with the width set to the entered value.
`ValueY`	Creates an ellipse at the current dragged width, but with the height set to the entered value.
`ValueWValueH`	Creates an ellipse with a specified width (W) and height (H).

Examples

Keys	Result
`1X`	Current dragged height with width (X) of 1.
`1Y`	Current dragged width and height (Y) of 1.
`1W2H`	A width (W) of 1 and height (H) of 2.

Note: These key combinations must be pressed whilst dragging with the mouse to create the ellipse.

Exact Size

Accurate ellipses can also be drawn by entering the required XY origin point with the Width and Height of the oval. Click Apply to create the ellipse.

Edit

Select the ellipse to modify and open the Draw Ellipse form.
The selected shape is displayed as a dotted magenta line.
Edit the Width and Height values.
Click Apply to update the ellipse.

To modify another ellipse without closing the form hold a Shift key down and select the next ellipse.

Close the form

To finish drawing with the tool, you can:

Click Close on the form
Press the Esc key
Click with the Right-mouse button in the 2D View