What it does
Draws parametric shapes. Choose the shape from the button's flyout: Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, Star, Donut. The toolbar icon shows the current one.
The flyout also has, below a separator, Motion Path and Mask Path. These are not drawn: each is added to the selected shape layer in a group of its own.
How to use it
- Press Q, or click the Shapes button. Press Q again to cycle Rectangle → Ellipse → Polygon → Star → Donut.
- Drag in the viewer.
- ⇧ constrains a rectangle (or polygon, star, donut) to equal width and height.
- The Ellipse tool draws a circle by default; hold ⇧ to draw a free oval.
- ⌥ (Alt or Ctrl) draws from the centre.
- Modifiers can be pressed or released mid-drag; the preview updates straight away.
- The shape snaps to guides while you drag.
Options bar
| Name | What it does | Default/range |
|---|---|---|
| Fill | Fill colour for the next shape (or the selected layer). Click Fill to turn it off/on. Eyedropper available in the picker. | White |
| Stroke | Stroke colour. Click Stroke to turn it off/on. | Black |
| Width | Stroke width. | 2; 0–10000 |
| Sides / Points | Sides for Polygon, Points for Star. | 5; 3–64 |
| Target | New Layer: each drag makes a new shape layer. Add to Layer: drags add a shape to the selected shape layer. | New Layer |
The last-used paint is remembered between sessions.
Shortcuts
| Action | Mac | Windows/Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Shape tool / cycle shape type | Q | Q |
| Square / free oval | ⇧-drag | Shift-drag |
| Draw from centre | ⌥-drag | Alt-drag or Ctrl-drag |
| Switch fill / stroke target | X | X |
| Swap fill and stroke | ⇧X | Shift+X |
See also Fill and Stroke.