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.

Watch this video to see this in action:

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.

• Holding Alt and dragging creates an ellipse from the middle point.
• Holding Ctrl and dragging creates a circle.

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.

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

• Value X - Creates an ellipse at current dragged height but with set width
• Value Y - Creates and ellipse at current dragged width but set height
• Value W Value H - Creates an ellipse with set width and height

Examples

• 1 x Current dragged height with width (X) of 1
• 1 y Current dragged width and height (Y) of 1.

To edit an existing ellipse:

• 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.

This tool can be used in both the 2D and 3D View.

2D View offers a more direct way to view your vectors while the 3D view offers more flexibility to work with Vectors in 3D Designs and to make use of the Edit Boxes.

When in the 2D view, a number of the forms tools will be driven by options in the form only.

• Middle - Move the vectors (Hold Alt and move the selected objects in one axis)
• Middle - Click a second time to switch to Rotational center. Click and drag the Rotational Anchor to reposition the Rotational Center of the current selection.
• Corner (White) - Scale the vectors proportionally (Hold Alt for scaling non-proportionally, Shift to scale around the centre)
• Edges (White) - Scale the vector in one axis (Hold Shift for scaling proportionally)
• Corner (Black) - Rotate the vectors (Hold Alt to Rotate in 15° increments) about the Rotation Center.

In the 3D view, there is an expanded number of handles to directly edit the vector within the view, without needing to use the creation form on the left.

In the 3D View, the Handles are:

• Middle - Move the vectors (Hold Alt to Move the selected objects in one axis)
• Middle - Click a second time to switch to Rotational center. Click and drag the Rotational Anchor to reposition the Rotational Center of the current selection.
• Corner (White) - Scale the vectors proportionally (HoldAlt for scaling non-proportionally, orShift to scale around the centre)
• Edges (Black) - Scale the vector in one axis (Hold Shift for scaling proportionally)
• Rotation Arrow (Top Black) - Rotate the vectors (Hold Alt to rotate in 15° increments)
• White circles are properties unique to this tool to allow direct mouse editing of values in the tool form from within the view.

When you select a Transform Handle, it will activate the appropriate Edit Box for that Handle.

If you need an exact value for a field while dragging it, release the mouse button and type in the desired value, followed by Enter to accept the new value.