Mathematica Tutorial

Drawing Tools

To Open the Graphics Palette:

Type Ctrl+D or choose Graphics ► Drawing Tools.

For more information on each tool, click the words pointing into the palette.

To Select a Tool:

Do one of the following:

Click a tool icon on the palette.

With a graphic selected, type one of these letters: o, p, f, l, s, a, g, c, q, m, t

Persistence of Tools

Do one of the following:

Click a tool button to use a tool once. After the single use, the tool will automatically revert to the Selection tool.

Double-click a tool button to keep using the tool.

Tools

New Graphic Tool

Do one of the following:

Type Ctrl+1.

Click the New Graphic button on the palette.

Choose Graphics ► New Graphic.

A blank drawing area with a bounding box appears.

Selection Tool

You can use the Selection tool to select a graphics primitive as a whole. The selection is indicated by a frame with handles. You can scale the selection by dragging a handle. To scale equally in both directions, Shift+drag a handle. You can move an object by dragging it. You can remove or add an object to a selection with Shift+click. Drag out a rectangle to select all the objects within it. When an object is completely underneath another one, dragging makes it visible. You can then drag it by dragging its highlight. For more information on how to use the Selection tool, see "Interactive Graphics: Selecting".

Draw Arrow Tool

Click the Draw Arrow tool and drag the pointer (

) to draw an arrow. Hold down the Shift key to draw the arrow horizontally or vertically.

Draw Freehand Tool

Click the Draw Freehand tool button and drag the pointer (

) to draw a curve.

Double-click the Draw Freehand tool to draw multiple curves.

Draw Line Tool

Click the Draw Line tool and drag the pointer (

) to draw a single line. Hold down the Shift key to draw a horizontal or vertical line.

You can set line styles with the Graphics Inspector palette.

Draw Line Segments Tool

Click the Draw Line Segments tool and drag the pointer (

) to draw a multi-segment line. You get a new segment after each click. To stop, double-click the last point or single-click the first point.

You can set the line style with the Graphics Inspector palette.

Draw Point Tool

Click the Draw Point tool and then click to draw a point.

You can set point styles with the Graphics Inspector.

Place Text Tool

You can place text in a graphic with the Place Text tool.

Place TraditionalForm Text Tool

You can place TraditionalForm text in a graphic with the Place TraditionalForm Text tool.

Draw Rectangle Tool

Click the Draw Rectangle tool and drag the pointer (

) to draw a rectangle. Hold down the Shift key to draw squares.

You can set face and edge styles with the Graphics Inspector palette.

Draw Polygon Tool

Click the Draw Polygon tool and drag the pointer (

) to draw a polygon. You get a new segment after each click. To stop, double-click the last point or single-click the first point.

You can set face and edge styles with the Graphics Inspector palette.

Draw Circle Tool

Click the Draw Circle tool and drag the pointer (

) to draw a circle, ellipse, or disk.

Hold down the Shift key to draw circles.

You can draw both filled and unfilled circles, depending on the currently selected fill and edge attributes.

Graphics Inspector

Click the Graphics Inspector button to display the Graphics Inspector palette. The Graphics Inspector palette lets you interactively set the style of a graphics object.