Resizing a Figure Proportionally

TouchDraw 2 provides several features for resizing shapes when you are working with figures in a drawing. If a bounds handle is dragged to a location within the Drawing Canvas without using application features for constraining proportions, the shape is resized to that specific location. The Shift Key on your keyboard may be used to constrain proportions as you drag to ensure the original shape is maintained.

For example, a simple drag of the bounds handle without this feature enabled can result in a perfect square becoming a rectangle or a circle becoming an oval, but by using this feature, the shape will remain as a square or circle and only change in size, not proportions. The example below shows what the puzzle piece from the Stencil Library would look like if the bottom right bounds handle is moved upward without using the Shift Key.

This tutorial will show you how to use the Shift Key to alter the size of a figure while constraining its proportions to maintain the original shape. We will be using the Puzzle Piece (as in the above example) from the Stencil Library to demonstrate how this feature can be used to easily constrain proportions when resizing shapes in a drawing.

View the Libraries section of the Sidebar and then select the Shapes category in the library menu to locate this stencil.

You will see the puzzle piece as an available selection. Click on the stencil and drag it into your drawing. The stencil will appear as shown below once it has been inserted into a drawing.

Proportions are not constrained for a resized shape when the Shift Key is not used. When the Shift Key is pressed during figure drawing, TouchDraw 2 makes certain that the proportions are constrained during shape resizing to maintain the original shape.

For example, the puzzle piece will remain as a puzzle piece as a bounds handle is dragged and only change in size. This feature can be used for any of a shapes bounds handles.

Follow the steps below to learn how to use the Shift Key to constrain proportions while resizing a shape.

Step 1: Select the shape in your drawing by clicking on the figure. Bounds handles will appear around the chosen figure once it has been selected.

Step 2: Next, you will need to hold down the Shift Key on your keyboard to constrain proportions during shape resizing. Click and Drag (without releasing the Shift Key) on a bounds handle to begin resizing the shape. In this example, the bottom right bounds handle is selected and drug inward toward the shape.

Step 3: The puzzle piece becomes smaller in size, but retains its shape as its proportions are constrained. Release the Shift Key once resizing is completed

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