Need help drawing a straight line, circle, ellipse, or curve? These guides can be found in the toolbar.
- Ruler
- Curved Ruler
- Ellipse
- French Curve (only in Sketchbook Pro on desktop)
Did you know you don't have to draw directly over a ruler or guide? Drawing anywhere in the canvas draws a stroke along the edge of an active ruler or guide.
Ruler
Tap 
, then 
to access the ruler.
How to use the ruler
Sketchbook Pro for desktop
- To pivot the ruler, tap-drag an end handle
. - To move the ruler, tap-drag the center handle
. - To snap the ruler to 0º or 90º, double-tap an end handle .
- When finished using the ruler, tap
to exit the ruler.
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.
to exit the ruler. Sketchbook for mobile devices
- Rotate the ruler with two fingers. The ruler will snap to 0º and 90º.
- To move the ruler horizontally and/or vertically without changing its rotation, tap-drag with one finger.
- To reset the ruler’s position, double-tap with one finger.
- When finished using the ruler, tap the
icon again to disable it or tap 
.
.Curved Ruler
Tap , then 
to access the curved ruler.
Use for customizable curves. Adjust the curvature of this bendable ruler through direct manipulation. Draw curved lines anywhere on the canvas, as your strokes will snap to the ruler.
Sketchbook Pro for desktop
- To scale the ruler, click-drag
. - To rotate the ruler, click-drag and rotate
. - To move the ruler, click-drag .
- To move a ruler handle, click-drag a handle .
- To exit the ruler, click .
- To reset the ruler to the center of the canvas, double-click a handle .
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.Sketchbook for mobile devices
- To change the shape of the ruler, tap-drag a handle with one finger.
- To scale the ruler, pinch with two fingers within the ruler.
NOTE: If you pinch or expand outside the ruler, you will zoom in or out of the canvas. - To reset the ruler to its original size and position, double-tap within the ruler (not on a handle).
- To retain the curvature, but fit the ruler within the view, double-tap a handle.
Ellipse
Tap , then 
to access the ellipse guide.
Use to create ellipses, curves, and draw circles in perspective. As you rotate an ellipse, the minor axis is displayed to line it up with your vanishing lines. Both the rotation and degree of the ellipse are displayed in the readout at the bottom of the screen.
Sketchbook Pro for desktop
- To move the ellipse, tap-drag .
- To rotate the ellipse, tap-drag .
- To scale the ellipse, tap-drag .
- To non-proportionally scale the ellipse, tap-drag
. - To change the ellipse to a circle, double-tap either to create a circle the size of the major axis, or to create a circle the size of the minor axis.
- When finished, tap the to exit the Ellipse tool.
.Sketchbook for mobile devices
- To move the guide horizontally and/or vertically without changing its rotation, tap-drag within the ellipse with 1 finger.
- To change the rotation, within the ellipse and rotate with 2 fingers within the ellipse, or use the rotation
handle. - To proportionally scale the ellipse, pinch or expand within the ellipse with 2 fingers.
NOTE: If you pinch or expand outside the ellipse guide, you will zoom in or out of the canvas. - To change the dimensions in one direction, drag the dimension
handle. - To reset the ellipse to the default size and position, double-tap within the ellipse with 1 finger.
- To change the degrees of the ellipse, making it a circle, double-tap the dimension handle.
- To reset the rotation to zero degrees, double-tap the rotation handle.
handle.
handle.French Curve
Only available for Sketchbook Pro on desktop
Tap , then 
to access the French Curve tool.
- To move the French curve, tap-drag .
- To rotate the French curve around its center, tap-drag .
- To equally scale the French curve in all directions, tap-drag .
- To flip the French curve, tap-drag
. - To cycle through different French curves, tap
, 
, or 
.
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, 
, or 
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