Creating rectangles

The Rectangle tool has four drawing modes available. The Push/Pull mode is available in 3D views for instantly extruding the rectangle after creation.

Rectangle_modes.png 

Mode

Description

Corner to Corner

Defines the rectangle by clicking two diagonal points

Center to Corner

Defines the rectangle by the distance from the center to one corner

Midpoint to Corner

Defines the rectangle by the distance from the midpoint of one side to an opposite corner

Three Point Rotated

Creates a rectangle that is rotated by a specified angle

Push/Pull

(3D views only)

Instantly extrudes the rectangle after creation; see Push/Pull mode of planar tools

Push/Pull Combine

(available with Push/Pull mode)

When the shape to be extruded is drawn on the face of a solid object, combines the two objects into a single solid addition or solid subtraction; when this submode is disabled, the new extrude remains a separate object, and the existing solid object remains unchanged

To create a square (1:1 rectangle), press and hold the Shift key while drawing. To create a rectangle with golden ratio proportions (approximately 1:1.618), press and hold Ctrl+Shift (Windows) or Cmd+Shift (Mac) while drawing.

The Ratio field in the Object Info palette displays square, golden, or the ratio of the sides of an unconstrained rectangle.

Creating a rectangle by corner to corner

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Shortcut

Corner to Corner

Rectangle_CornerToCorner_mode.png 

Rectangle

rectangle_tool.png 

Basic

4

To create a rectangle by corner to corner:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.Click at the rectangle’s start point; this point becomes one corner of the rectangle. Move the cursor to the opposite corner until the desired size is previewed.

3.Click to set a corner point on the rectangle.

Shapes100030.png 

Creating a rectangle by center to corner

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Shortcut

Center to Corner

Rectangle_CenterToCorner_mode.png 

Rectangle

rectangle_tool00033.png 

Basic

4

To create a rectangle by center to corner:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.Click at the rectangle’s start point; this point becomes the center of the rectangle. Move the cursor to a corner until the desired size is previewed.

3.Click to set a corner point on the rectangle.

Shapes100034.png 

Creating a rectangle by midpoint to corner

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Shortcut

Midpoint to Corner

Rectangle_MidpointToCorner_mode.png 

Rectangle

rectangle_tool00037.png 

Basic

4

To create a rectangle by midpoint to corner:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.Click at the rectangle’s start point; this point becomes the center of one of the rectangle’s sides. Move the cursor to an opposite corner until the desired size is previewed.

Press the Alt key (Windows) or Option key (Mac) to orient the rectangle vertically.

3.Click to set a corner point on the rectangle.

Shapes100038.png 

Creating a three point rotated rectangle

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Shortcut

Three Point Rotated

Rectangle_ThreePointRotated_mode.png 

Rectangle

rectangle_tool00041.png 

Basic

4

Rotated rectangles are rectangles that are rotated at a specified angle.

To create a three point rotated rectangle:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.Click to set the start of the rectangle. Move the cursor to set the angle of rotation.

3.Click to set the rotation angle. Move the cursor until the desired size is previewed.

4.Click to create the three point rotated rectangle; the bounding box position indicator in the Object Info palette matches the rotation of the rotated rectangle. (If multiple rotated rectangles are selected, the box position indicator matches the rotation of one rectangle.)

Shapes100042.png 

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Creating rounded rectangles

 

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