# Drawing Simple Objects

In this section, you will learn how to create simple objects in GIMP. It's pretty easy once you figure out how to do it. GIMP provides a huge set of Tools and Shortcuts which most new users get lost in.

## Drawing a Straight Line

Let's begin by painting a straight line. The easiest way to create a straight line is by using your favorite brush tool, the mouse and the keyboard.

Drawing a Straight Line

- A new image

  The dialog shows a new image, filled with a white background.

  Create a new image. Select your favorite brush tool or use the pencil, if in doubt. Select a foreground color, but be sure that the foreground and background colors are different.

- The start of the straight line

  The dialog shows a new image, with the first dot which indicates the start of the straight line. The dot has a black foreground color.

  Create a starting point by clicking on the image display area with the left mouse button. Your canvas should look similar to .

- The helpline

  The screenshot shows the helpline, which indicates how the finished line will look.

  Now, hold down the Shift button on your keyboard and move the mouse away from the starting point you created. You'll see a thin line indicating how the line will look.

- The line after the second click

  The line created appears in the image window after drawing the second point (or end point), while the Shift key is still pressed.

  If you're satisfied with the direction and length of the line, click the left mouse button again to finish the line. GIMP displays a straight line now. If the line doesn't appear, check the foreground and background colors and be sure that you kept the Shift key pressed while painting. You can keep creating lines by continuing to hold the Shift key and creating additional end points.

## Creating a Basic Shape

- GIMP is not designed to be used for drawing.

  Try out e.g. for this purpose.

  However, you may create shapes by either painting them using the technique described in or by using the selection tools. Of course, there are various other ways to paint a shape, but we'll stick to the easiest ones here. So, create a new image and check that the foreground and background colors are different.

- Creating a rectangular selection

  The screenshot shows how a rectangular selection is created. Press and hold the left mouse button while you move the mouse in the direction of the red arrow.

  Basic shapes like rectangles or ellipses, can be created using the selection tools. This tutorial uses a rectangular selection as an example. So, choose the rectangular selection tool and create a new selection: press and hold the left mouse button while you move the mouse to another position in the image (illustrated in figure ). The selection is created when you release the mouse button. For more information about key modifiers see selection tools.

- Rectangular selection filled with foreground color

  The screenshot shows a rectangular selection filled with the foreground color.

  After creating the selection, you can either create a filled or an outlined shape with the foreground color of your choice. If you go for the first option, choose a foreground color and fill the selection with the bucket fill tool. If you choose the latter option, create an outline by using theStroke selection menu item from the Edit menu. If you're satisfied with the result, remove the selection.

Line Drawing a straight line
Tutorials Drawing a straight line
Rectangle Drawing a rectangle
Tutorials Drawing a rectangle