Draw rectangles and modify stroke options

Select the Rectangle tool

From the toolbar, click and hold the Shape tool () group icon to bring up the various shape tool choices. Select the Rectangle tool.

Adjust the shape properties of the Rectangle tool

In the shape tool options bar, you can set:

• Mode: Set a mode for your Rectangle tool — Shape, Path, and Pixels.
  
• Fill: Choose a color to fill your rectangle shape.
• Stroke: Choose the color, width, and type of your shape stroke.
• Stroke width: Manually set width for your rectangle stroke.
• Stroke type: Select the stroke type for drawing a rectangle.
• Shape W&H: Manually set the width and height of your shape.
• Path operations: Use path operations to set the way your drawn rectangles interact with each other.
  
• Path alignment: Use path alignment to align and distribute your rectangles.
• Path arrangement: Use path arrangement to set the stacking order of rectangles you create.
• Additional shape and path options: Click the gear () icon to access additional rectangle shape and path options to set attributes such as width and color of the on-screen display of your path, and constrain options while drawing rectangles.
• Radius of rounded corners: Manually set the radius for rounding the corners of your rectangle.

Draw a rectangle

Click on the canvas to bring up the Create Rectangle dialog. You can use this dialog to maually set the dimensions, corner radii of your rectangle, and choose to align from centre. Click OK to enable changes. Position your pointer and drag on the canvas to draw a rectangle. This automatically creates a new layer in the Layers panel.

Edit rectangle shape properties

You can easily edit your shape properties directly using on-canvas controls or accessing Shape Properties under the Properties panel. 

Use the Path Selection tool to select the shape whose path you want to modify.

In the Properties panel or the tool options bar, click the Set Shape Stroke Type menu icon to open the Stroke Options panel.

In the Stroke Options panel, do any of the following:

• Choose the type of stroke you want.
• Click the Align icon and choose an option to specify the position of the stroke relative to its path.
• Click the Caps icon and choose a cap style to specify the appearance of both ends of a path:

Butt cap Creates squared ends that abut (stop at) the endpoints.

Round cap Creates semicircular ends that extend half the stroke width beyond the endpoints.

Projecting cap Creates squared ends that extend half the stroke width beyond the endpoints. This option makes the stroke weight extend evenly in all directions around the path.

Note: Keep in mind that the caps are not visible unless the path is opened. Also, cap styles are easier to see at thicker stroke weights.

• Click the Corner icon to the appearance of the stroke at corner points:

Miter join Creates pointed corners that extend beyond the endpoint when the miter’s length is within the miter limit.

Round join Creates rounded corners that extend half the stroke width beyond the endpoints.

Bevel join Creates squared corners that abut the endpoints.

Note: Like caps, miters are easier to see at thicker stroke weights.

Click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Stroke Options panel and choose Copy Stroke Details.

Select the shape you want to modify.

In the Properties panel or tool options bar, click the Set Shape Stroke Type menu icon to open the Stroke Options panel.

Click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the Stroke Options panel and choose Paste Stroke Details.