There is more to graphics than just pictures and clipart. Create original lines by using AutoShapes Basic Shapes, Block Arrows or Flowchart symbols.
Creating lines from AutoShapes is easy and your friends and co-workers will want to know where your new clipart came from. Start by Inserting a Basic Shape or flow chart item, from the AutoShapes menu. Change the height and width, fill with one or two colors, or a pattern. Choose a line type, color, style and thickness. There is no end to the combinations. Everyone will be original.
The Process
- Insert lines
- Click on INSERT, Picture, from AutoShapes, click on (any shape), Insert, OK
- When the box comes up that says "Create Your Drawing here," ignore it and draw your line somewhere else, you will move and resize it later
- Format the Lines
- Click on the shape to turn it on
- Click on FORMAT, AutoShape, this will turn on the Format AutoShape dialog box
- Click on the "Colors and Lines" tab
- Click in the Fill Color box, choose a single color or fill effects (bright colors work well)
- Click on the Line color and choose a color or Patterned Lines
- Click in the dashed box and choose a line
- Click on the style and change
- Click on the weight and choose a weight
Grouping Lines
- Draw 3 rounded rectangles
- #1 height of .25 x width of 5 inches
- #2 height of .25 x width of 4 inches
- #3 height of .25 x width of 3 inches
- Go to "Format the Lines" (above) and format each line differently
- Place the lines on top of each other with line #1 in the back and #3 in the front
- Select all 3 lines by clicking on the first line, hold down the CTRL key and click on the other 2 lines
- Now click on Draw (at the bottom left of your screen), click on Align and Distribute, then Align Center, then Align Middle
- While all 3 lines are selected, group them together by clicking on DRAW, Group, turn the grouping off by clicking someplace else in your document
- Now this grouping is 1 line and can be moved and resized
You can also use 1 item instead of 3, try these fun shapes: rounded rectangles, smile face, star, heart, sun, flow chart icons, block arrows. Experiment with different shapes, heights and widths, fill color and line types.
Have fun!
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The copyright of the article Graphics – Create Original Lines in Computer Software is owned by Sharon Koss. Permission to republish Graphics – Create Original Lines in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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