You can create drawings with PageStream's drawing tools, but you cannot create bitmapped pictures or EPS illustrations within PageStream. You can print a page to a picture or EPS file and import it later.
PageStream has two types of drawing tools: shape and path tools. The shape tools are used to draw geometric shapes such as lines, boxes, ellipses and polygons. They provide a simple way to create common shapes. The path tools are used to draw complex shapes (paths) such as irregular polygons and sketches.
Shapes and paths can be used separately, grouped together for convenience, or combined together to make a drawing. When combined into a drawing, the result is identical to importing a drawing created with an illustration program.
Shapes can be converted to paths with Convert to Path from the Object menu. Select a shape and choose this command. You can now edit the shape as a path but you can never edit it as a shape again. For example, after converting an ellipse to a path it will be a path of four curve segments. You will no longer be able to set the radius of the ellipse.
To draw a basic shape: Choose a shape tool. Some tools are combined in flyout tool groups, to select one of these click on the tool icon and drag out. Some shapes are drawn from a corner to a diagonally opposite corner, while others are drawn from the center to the outside edge.
Some of the drawing tools can be customized to draw different shapes.
To change the defaults for the drawing tools: Choose Preferences from the File menu to display the Preferences dialog box and click on the Toolbox tab. Change the defaults for the desired tools. Click Save to make your changes permanent or click Use to change them temporarily.
| Tool | Options |
| Column | Background (opague (solid white) or clear), number of columns, gutter space. |
| Box | Corner radii. |
| Arc | Starting and ending angles. |
| Polygon | Number of sides, pre-rotation angle, alternate point radius and deflection angle. |
A path is a series of any number line and curve segments. It is called a path because an imaginary pen follows a path to draw the lines and curves. A path with two points would have one segment connecting them, a path with three points would have two segments, and so on.
PageStream uses BÈzier curves to generate smooth curves. Each curve has two BÈzier control points which define the shape of the curve. Each control point is represented by a round curve handle.
Points are connected by two types of joins:
Paths can be either open or closed. Open paths are a series of segments with two end points that are not connected. Closed paths are a series of segments without endpoints; the first and last points are the same.
Select the Pen tool to begin drawing a path. The mouse pointer will change to a crosshair shape. Now you must establish which point you will add line and curve segments to. You can set the current point by starting a new path or by extending an existing open path.
To start a new path: Position the crosshair at the desired start point of the new path and click the mouse. A point handle will appear to indicate that this is now the current point.
To extend an existing open path: Position the crosshair over the endpoint of a path. A handle will appear when you are within range of an endpoint. Click the mouse button to set this as the current point.
To draw a line segment from the current point, position the crosshair at the end of the new segment and click the mouse button. The new point will now become the new current point. If you hold down Shift before clicking the mouse, PageStream will constrain the line to horizontal, vertical or 45 line segments.
Note: When drawing a line segment after a curve segment, you must click on the current point before drawing the line. This is because a curve handle for this segment was placed with the previous curve. Clicking on the current point will retract this curve handle and prepare for drawing a line segment.
To draw a curve segment from the current point to another point:
1. Drag out the first curve handle.
Position the crosshair over the current point. The handle will change to indicate that you are within range. Press and hold the mouse button. Drag the mouse in the direction of the curve to drag out the first curve handle.
Note: Hold down Option (Alt) as you drag out the curve handle if you are connecting to an existing segment and you want a smooth join; otherwise you will get a corner join.
2. Drag out the second curve handle.
Now move the crosshair to the desired position of the curve. Drag away from this position to shape the curve. Release the mouse button when the curve is the desired shape.
Note: Hold down Control as you drag out from the end of the curve to drag out the second curve handle of the current segment instead of the next segment's first curve handle.
3. Continue the path.
The first curve handle of the next curve segment is automatically placed to create a smooth join. If you want to continue by adding a curve connected by a smooth join, just repeat step 2.
If you want to continue by adding a curve connected by a corner join, repeat from step 1 and do not hold down Option (Alt).
If you want to continue by adding a line, click on the current point to retract the next curve handle and then draw a line segment.
You can leave a path open or closed when you end it. Ending a path without closing it will leave two unattached endpoints. Closing the path will make it a continous series of segments.
To close a path: Move the crosshair over the other endpoint and click. If you were drawing a line segment, the path would be closed with a line. If you were drawing a curve segment, the path would be closed with a curve connected to the endpoint by a corner join. To close the path with a curve tangent which is tangent to the first segment at the endpoint, move the crosshair over the other endpoint and drag out a curve handle.
To end a path without closing it: Press the Esc key or the space bar or select a tool from the toolbox. AmigaOS and Windows users may press the right mouse button.
Freehand paths are identical to regular paths once you have finished drawing them, but they are drawn in a very different way. The Freehand tool allows you to sketch out your ideas and then PageStream smooths your sketch. You do not need to set a current point or worry about endpoints and handles like you do with the Pen tool.
To draw with the Freehand tool: Select the Freehand tool. The mouse pointer will change to a crosshair shape. Position the mouse pointer at the desired start point. Drag the mouse to draw a path. Release the mouse button to end the path. When you release the button, PageStream will smooth the path.