You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Preview.app: draw onto existing shape

When drawing using markup tool I can not draw shapes like an "E" letter

When I draw the vertical line I can not start horizontal lines from this vertical line - when I hover over an existing line pointer turns into a hand and I can't draw


This behavior makes me struggling every time I make notes in pictures or pdfs


Is there any way to reject selecting of existing shapes when drawing?

Maybe I should keep some hotkey pressed or so...

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Nov 25, 2021 2:43 PM

Reply
3 replies

Nov 25, 2021 3:58 PM in response to d.k.Brazz

If you are entering a letter E comprised of four line segments:

  1. Create the vertical line segment and then click out in white space to set that line segment.
  2. From the Shapes palette, select another line segment, rotate it horizontally, and make it as long as you need for the horizontal members of the letter E. Move it into place at the bottom of the E.
    1. With the horizontal member selected, copy it to the clipboard, and then paste again. It will be the same length as the original, and you just need to move it into its horizontal placement on the letter E.
    2. Paste again, and finish the letter E.
  3. Use the arrow keys to position your line segments.



Unlike a proper vector graphics tool, you cannot select all members of the shapes artwork and then group them so that it moves as a single graphic, nor can you save it in some image format.

Preview.app: draw onto existing shape

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.