Learn how to draw straight lines, connect line segments, and finish a line sketch using a mouse, trackpad, or pen.
What is the Line tool?
You can use the Line tool to draw straight sketch items and connect them to create custom shapes for your model. You can adjust their dimensions as you sketch.
How to use the Line tool
- Define your sketch plane.
- Open the Line tool for your input method:
- Keyboard and mouse/trackpad: Go to Sketch > Line.
-
Touch and pen: Go to Sketch > Line/Arc, open Line Type, and select Line.
For other ways to access tools, visit Accessing tools.
- Draw a straight line:
- Keyboard and mouse/trackpad: Click to place the first endpoint, move your pointer to define the line, then click to place the next endpoint.
- Touch and pen: Draw a line with your pen, then lift the pen to finish it.
- To draw connecting lines:
- Keyboard and mouse/trackpad: Continue moving your pointer and clicking to place additional endpoints.
- Touch and pen: Start drawing the next line from the endpoint of the previous line.
- To finish drawing:
- Keyboard and mouse/trackpad: Press Enter to set the final endpoint, or press Escape to cancel or exit the active endpoint.
- Touch and pen: Lift your pen to finish the current line.
Note: When using a mouse or trackpad, connecting the last endpoint to the first endpoint closes the shape and automatically finishes the current drawing sequence.
History settings
Shapr3D records sketch items created on the same plane in a shared Sketch step in History. Find the Sketch step to review or modify these settings:
- Plane – Select Edit… or Select… to change the plane or face containing the sketch, then select Done.
- Projection – If applicable, select Edit… to modify existing projections in the sketch. For more information, visit Sketch menu: Project as Sketch tool.
When to use the Line tool
- Create straight edges for a sketch – Draw individual straight sketch items that define part of a design.
- Build custom profiles – Connect lines to outline shapes that can be used in later modeling operations.
- Draw open or closed shapes – Create a series of connected lines or connect the final endpoint back to the first to form a closed outline.
Best practices and troubleshooting
- Start from an existing endpoint. To connect a new line to an existing one with a pen, begin drawing at the previous line's endpoint.
- Use the appropriate drawing mode. When drawing with a pen, set Line Type to Line if you want to draw only straight lines.
- Close the outline when needed. Connect the final endpoint to the initial endpoint to create a closed shape.
| Issue | What to check |
|---|---|
| The pen switches to drawing arcs. | Open Line Type and select Line instead of Automatic. |
| Connected lines do not form a closed outline. | Check that the final endpoint connects to the starting endpoint. |
| You want to stop adding endpoints with a mouse or trackpad. | Press Enter to set the final endpoint, or Escape to cancel or exit the active endpoint. |
Read more
- Accessing tools – Understand how tools appear based on what you select in the modeling space.
- Selecting geometry – Master selection techniques for edges, faces, sketches, and bodies.
- Defining and calculating numerical values – Learn how to apply dimensions, enter precise values, and use formulas.
- Keyboard shortcuts, gestures, and hotkeys – View keyboard shortcuts you can use to access tools and speed up actions.
- Variables and expressions – Set up reusable values and expressions to control your design parametrically.