Creating Rectangles with Rounded Corners

Rectangles can have rounded corners. You can apply any of several standard corner sizes, or you can create a custom corner. Many interesting shapes can be created with the Custom option.

To create a rectangle with standard round corners

1. Draw your rectangle.

2. Click on the Corners value field on the Object tab to display the .

3. Click the to display the drop-down list and select the corner you want from the list. The corners will change when you make your selection.

To create an object with custom corners

1. Draw your rectangle.

2. Click on the Corners value field on the Object tab to display the .

3. Click the to display the drop-down list and select Custom. Two additional properties—Horizontal Diameter and Vertical Diameter—will appear below Corners.

Fig. 0.1. Creating rounded corners

4. Enter the horizontal and vertical diameters for your corners. They do not have to be the same size but, to create a corner, they must be smaller than the horizontal and vertical dimensions of your object. Neither can be 0.

5. Press or click anywhere on the page to see your result. Your rectangle will now have rounded corners.

6. If the corners don’t look the way you want them to, click on the rectangle again and make ad­justments on the property page as follows:

  • Increase the horizontal diameter to create more curve on the top and bottom.

  • Increase the vertical diameter to create more curve on the sides.

To restore square corners

1. Click on the rectangle to display the object properties.

2. Click on the Corners value field to display the .

3. Click the to display the drop-down list and select Square.