Creating rectangles

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

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.

Rectangle corner to corner

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Shortcut

Corner to Corner

Rectangle

Basic

4

To create a rectangle from corner to corner:

Click the tool and mode.

Click to set the start point; this point becomes one corner of the rectangle. Move the cursor until the desired size is previewed.

Click to set the corner diagonally opposite to the first corner.

 

Rectangle center to corner

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Shortcut

Center to Corner

 

Rectangle

Basic

4

To create a rectangle from center to corner:

Click the tool and mode.

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.

Click to set a corner point on the rectangle.

 

Rectangle midpoint to corner

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Shortcut

Midpoint to Corner

 

Rectangle

Basic

4

To create a rectangle from midpoint to corner:

Click the tool and mode.

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.

Click to set a corner point on the rectangle.

 

Rotated rectangle

Mode

Tool

Tool set

Shortcut

Three Point Rotated

 

Rectangle

Basic

4

To create a three point rotated rectangle:

Click the tool and mode.

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

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

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

Shapes101016.png 

Creating rounded rectangles

 

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