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# Drawing a Polygon

Use the Polygon object tool to create a series of connected lines that form a closed or open object. You can specify how the vertices of the polygon should be connected by selecting one of the options from the Polygon Mode box.

To draw a polygon:

1. In the Graphics menu, click Add.
2. Select the Polygon tool in the Object Tools window.

   The Polygon menu appears.

   (a) Polygon Mode box(b) Sides field

3. Select an option from the Polygon Mode box to set the type of curve used to join the vertices of the polygon.

   Select: |  | To:
   --- | --- | ---
   Linear |  | Use straight lines to join the vertices of the polygon.
   Cardinal |  | Use a smooth curve that passes through the vertices of the polygon.
   Bspline |  | Use a very smooth curve that passes on the inner side of the vertices of the polygon.
   Bezier |  | Use Bezier curves. Each vertex of the polygon has a tangent with two tangent handles. In Edit mode, you can move the tangent handles to adjust the slope of the polygon. See Editing a Bezier Curve.

   The minimum number of vertices for a polygon depends on the type of interpolation used. A polygon should have at least three vertices when using Linear interpolation, or four when using Cardinal or Bspline interpolation. The maximum number of vertices is 255. A polygon can be concave.

4. To create an open-ended polygon, click Opened Shape.
5. Position the cursor at one vertex of the polygon, and click to anchor that point on the image.
6. Release the cursor and move it to where you want the next vertex of the polygon. You can continue to adjust the positioning of the next vertex until you press down on the cursor. Press to anchor the point on the image.
7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each vertex.
8. To close the polygon, press anywhere outside the canvas.

   The polygon is drawn on the image.

Rubber Banding

Rubber banding is the default setting for drawing polygons and lines. This means that a vertex is added to the polygon only when you press and release the cursor.

To draw a polygon with multiple vertices, disable the Rubber Banding button in the Setup menu. When you drag the cursor while drawing a polygon or line, vertices are drawn on the image.

(a) Rubber Banding button

Drawing Regular Polygons

Draw regular polygons using the Sides field and the E key. A polygon can have three or more sides. This enables you to draw a triangle or a square based on the centre point of the object.

To draw a regular polygon:

1. In the Graphics menu, click Add.
2. Select the Polygon tool in the Object Tools window.
3. Enter the number of sides for the polygon in the Sides field.
4. Press E.
5. Position the cursor over the image and press down.

   This is the centre of the polygon.

6. Drag the cursor away from the centre point. The polygon is drawn on the image. You can continue to adjust the size of the polygon as long as you press down on the cursor.
7. When the polygon is the correct size, release the cursor.

   The polygon is drawn on the image.