Learn how to use drawings & markups


               

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You can create, insert and edit drawings with Google Drawings.

Create a drawing in Google Docs

  1. On your computer, open a document.
  2. In the top left, click Insert and then Drawing and then New.
  3. Insert shapes, lines or text with the editing tools.

Create a drawing in Google Drive

  1. On your computer, go to Google Drive.
  2. In the top left, click File and then New and then More and then Google Drawings.
  3. Use the editing tool to insert:
    • Shapes
    • Lines
    • Text

Insert a drawing from Google Drive

  1. On your computer, open a document.
  2. In the top left, click Insert and then Drawing and then From Drive.
  3. Click the drawing you want to insert. 
  4. Click Select.

The inserted drawing is linked to the original drawing.

  • Update the drawing: Click the drawing. In the top right, click Update.
  • Unlink the drawing: Click the drawing. In the top right, click Unlink Unlink .

Use the editing tools

You can use the editing tools to add lines, shapes, text boxes and images.

Draw a line
  1. At the top of the page, find and click Select line.
  2. Pick the type of line you want.
  3. Place the line on your drawing:
    • Line, Elbow Connector, Curved Connector or Arrow: Click to start, then drag across the canvas.
    • Curve or Polyline: Click to start, then click at each point you want the line to bend. Double-click or complete the shape to finish.
    • Scribble: Click to start, then drag across the canvas.
  4. Click Select.
Draw a shape
  1. At the top of the page, find and click Shape.
  2. Choose the shape you want to use.
  3. Click and drag on the canvas to draw your shape.
Insert text
  1. At the top of the page, click Insert.
    • To place text directly on the canvas as a shape, click Word Art.
    • To place text inside a box or confined area, click Text Box and click where you want to put it.
  2. Type your text and press Enter.
  3. You can select, resize and format the word art or text box, or apply styles like bold or italics to the text.
Insert an image
  1. At the top of the page, find and click Image.
  2. Follow the instructions to pick or upload an image.
  3. You can move and format the image like any other shape.
    • Move the image: Drag it on the canvas.
    • Resize the image: Drag the blue boxes at the corners.
    • Rotate the image: Drag the blue dot that’s outside of the shape. Hold Shift to rotate 15° at a time.
    • Change border color, line thickness, or border/line style: Use the buttons above the canvas.

Select and format shapes

  1. On your computer, open a drawing in Google Drive.
  2. At the top of the page, find and click Select.
  3. On the canvas, click the shape, line, or text box you want to change.
    • Move a shape: Drag it on the canvas.
    • Resize a shape: Drag the blue boxes at the corners.
    • Rotate a line: Drag the blue dots at the corners. Lines can be rotated this way.
    • Rotate a shape: Drag the blue dot that’s outside of the shape. Hold Shift to rotate 15° at a time.
    • Change fill color, line color, line thickness, or border/line style: Use the buttons above the canvas.
    • Put text inside a shape: Double-click an enclosed shape and start typing.

Copy a shape

To copy a shape, hold Option (on Macs) or Ctrl (on Windows) and drag the copy to a new location.

Change your drawing size

  1. On your computer, open a drawing in Google Drive.
  2. Go to the menu and click File and then Page setup.
  3. Select a size from the dropdown menu. To choose your own size, select Custom.

Hide & show markups

If your document has markups, you can hide and show markups. To hide and show all markups, select an option:

  1. Click View menu and then Show markups Checkmark.
  2. Right click anywhere on the document.
  3. Click Hide all markups .

Tip: On touchscreen devices, you can tap to show or hide all markups.

Delete markups

  1. On your computer, open a document with markups.
  2. To delete a markup:
    1. Right click on the markup.
    2. When the menu shows, click Delete Delete .


Tip: You can use your keyboard to delete a markup. While you select a markup, you can press the Backspace button or Delete button.

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

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