Objectives of this Tutorial

Generally: To use Publisher's drawing tools.

Specifically: On completion of this section, you will be able to:

• Draw lines
• Draw circles, rectangles and squares
• Draw Custom Shapes
• Group and Ungroup objects

Publisher contains a variety of tools that you can use to create your own symbols, drawings and plans. You can create three-dimensional drawing objects, as well as arrows and custom shapes. All drawing objects in Publisher can be moved, resized and layered one on top of the other.

Drawing Lines

To draw lines

• On the Objects toolbar, click Line Tool

New buttons appear on the Formatting toolbar.

• Draw a line by clicking on the page where you want the line to begin and dragging the mouse until the line is of the desired length then release the mouse button

As soon as you have drawn the line, more buttons are added to the Formatting toolbar. Their purpose is to help you customise your line quickly and easily.

You will see that your line has "handles" at either end. This means that it is "selected" and you can apply further formatting to it.

Tip: To draw a line at 45 degree angles, hold down the Shift key as you draw the line.

• To add a left arrow, click Add/Remove Left Arrow

A left arrow is added to the line and it is still selected.

• To add a right arrow, click Add/Remove Right Arrow

The left arrow is removed and the line now has a right arrow.

• To add arrows at both ends of the line, click Add/Remove Both Arrows

The line now has a left and a right arrowhead.

• To change the default line/arrow style, click Line/Border Style

A drop-down menu is displayed.

• Click on More Styles...

The Line dialogue box is displayed.

From the Line dialogue box you can select a variety of formats for your line.

• From the Line thickness panel, select an option by clicking on it
• From the Arrowheads panel Type drop-down list box, select an arrowhead style

Note: If the line does not have an arrowhead already, select one of the options Right, Left or Both to activate the Type: list box.

The effect of your choices is displayed in the Sample panel.

• Click Apply and then OK

Drawing Ovals and Rectangles

To draw ovals and rectangles

• On the Objects toolbar, click Circle Tool or Rectangle Tool
• Click on the page where you want to position the shape
• Press the left mouse button and drag the mouse down towards the right

Tips: Hold down the Shift key while dragging to constrain the shape (make it a circle or a square). Hold down the Ctrl key to draw the object out from its centre (rather than the top-right corner).
You can combine the Shift and Ctrl keys by pressing them both together.

The black handles surrounding the graphic indicate that it is selected.

You will notice that a further button has appeared on the Formatting toolbar. This is the Fill Color button.

• With your shape selected, click the Fill Color button

A colour palette is displayed.

• Select a Scheme colour, or click More Colours... to display a greater range of colours to choose from

Continued...