Each illustration is composed of simple shapes such as circles, rectangles, and lines and each of these shapes is an object. Each object is a discrete unit that can be positioned independently of other objects, and each object has its own fill and outline.
Once you have an idea for an illustration, begin creating it by determining which basic shapes you can use as a framework for your drawing. If you want to draw a house, for example, you might start with a few rectangles and an ellipse. It doesn't matter if the shapes you draw aren't perfect because you can edit them later.
When the basic elements of your illustration are in place, you can begin refining them. Each object can be manipulated independently, and you can undo any mistakes, so don't be afraid to experiment. Before you can edit the shape of an object, however, you'll need to know something about an object's structure.
Anatomy of an object
All shapes and lines are constructed from basic elements called paths. A path is the framework that defines the shape of an object. A path has no width or color, but you can give it width and color by adding an outline to it. By default, paths are drawn with a thin black outline. This makes paths visible when you first create them. You can change the default outline style for paths to any outline or no outline at all. A closed path (the start point and the end point of the path meet) can contain a fill. A fill is a color that appears in the enclosed spaces of a closed path.
A path consists of nodes and segments. A node is a point on a path at which the path can change direction. A segment is the portion of a path between two nodes. All paths must start and end with a node. To change the shape of an object, you manipulate its nodes and segments.
Related topics
Drawing basic shapes