How to draw a line of predetermined length

[egm1b]

Hello,

 

I was wondering how can I draw a line and specify a specific length. For example I draw a simple straight line and I would like to set it's length to a specific value and without doing this manually by looking at the guides.

 

Many thanks

[Callum]

Hi Egm1b,

 

If you use the Pen Tool to draw a line of any size then switch to the Move Tool and select it you will be able to specify the exact size of the line in the Transform tab by changing the W and H values :)

 

I hope this helps!

C

[egm1b]

Thanks Callum, that's exactly what I was after!

[Alfred]

If you use the Pen Tool to draw a line of any size then switch to the Move Tool and select it you will be able to specify the exact size of the line in the Transform tab by changing the W and H values :)

 

That works OK for drawing a line which is perfectly horizontal or vertical, but if you want a sloping line you have to rotate it as a separate step. With an arbitrary centre of rotation (i.e. not the end or the middle of the line) you can't rotate by a precise angle because you have to drag on the page instead of entering a value in the Transform panel. :(

[Callum]

Hi Alfred.

 

If you edit both the H and W values you will get a sloping line :)

 

C

[Alfred]

Of course, Callum, but you still have to do that as a separate step. :)

[R C-R]

If you edit both the H and W values you will get a sloping line :)

 

If it is a straight line it has no H value, just a W one, which is its length. If it is not a straight line, its length is not determined by its H & W values, which just define its bounding box.