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Arc and Ellipse

The sketcher provides two curved-shape tools: the arc tool for circular arcs and the ellipse tool for ellipses and circles.

An arc and an ellipse as created by their tools

Arc Tool​

The arc tool (G+A) creates an arc in three clicks:

  1. Click the center point.
  2. Click the start point — its distance from the center sets the radius.
  3. Move the cursor to preview the arc sweeping between the two points and click the end position.

While the preview is active, you can type a number to fix the radius exactly; press Tab or Enter to apply it. Tab before typing toggles magnetic snapping.

Ellipse Tool​

The ellipse tool (G+C) creates ellipses and circles with two clicks: the first sets the center, the second sets the edge point. You can also press at the center, drag, and release at the edge — both gestures work interchangeably.

  • Hold Ctrl to constrain the shape to a perfect circle.
  • Hold Shift to use the start point as the ellipse's center.

Two-Click or Drag​

Like the rectangle tools, the ellipse tool accepts two gestures interchangeably: click the first point, move, and click the second point, or press at the first point, drag, and release at the second. A quick click without movement simply arms the tool and waits for the second point, so stray clicks never leave degenerate geometry behind. While a preview is active, the status bar shows the available modifier keys, and Esc cancels the preview.