Getting Started with LibreOffice Draw: Creating Diagrams and Technical Drawings

Welcome to the next part of our LibreOffice series! In this post, we’ll explore LibreOffice Draw, the vector graphics and diagram tool within the LibreOffice suite. Whether you’re designing flowcharts, technical diagrams, posters, or network layouts, Draw provides a range of tools to help you create complex visuals with ease.

By the end of this post, you’ll know how to create shapes, use connectors for diagrams, work with layers, and export your drawings in different formats.

Step 1: Opening LibreOffice Draw

Before we start creating drawings, let’s first open LibreOffice Draw:

1. Launch LibreOffice:
   • Open LibreOffice from your desktop or applications menu.
2. Open Draw:
   • In the Start Centre, click on Drawing to open a blank canvas. Alternatively, you can launch Draw directly from your system’s application menu.

Step 2: Exploring the Draw Interface

LibreOffice Draw’s interface is designed to help you easily create and manipulate objects on your canvas. Here’s an overview of the main areas:

1. Page Pane:
   • On the left, you’ll see the Page Pane, which displays thumbnails of all the pages in your drawing. You can use this to navigate between pages or add new ones.
2. Main Drawing Area:
   • The centre of the screen is the Drawing Area, where you’ll create your shapes, diagrams, and drawings.
3. Sidebar:
   • On the right, the Sidebar contains panels for object properties, layers, and styles. This is where you can adjust the size, position, and appearance of objects.
4. Toolbars:
   • At the top, you’ll find toolbars with icons for common tasks like New Document, Save, Undo, and specific drawing tools like Rectangle, Ellipse, and Line.
5. Status Bar:
   • At the bottom of the screen, the Status Bar displays important information, such as the current zoom level and the position of your mouse cursor.

Step 3: Drawing Basic Shapes

LibreOffice Draw offers a variety of predefined shapes such as rectangles, circles, arrows, and more. Let’s start by creating a few basic shapes.

Step-by-Step: Creating Shapes

1. Select a Shape Tool:
   • In the Drawing Toolbar, click the Rectangle or Ellipse tool to start drawing basic shapes.
2. Draw the Shape:
   • Click and drag on the canvas to draw the shape. You can hold the Shift key while dragging to create a perfect square or circle.
3. Resize or Move the Shape:
   • Click on the shape to select it. You can resize it by dragging the corners or move it by clicking and dragging the entire shape.
4. Change Fill Color and Border:
   • In the Sidebar, go to the Properties panel to change the Fill color and Line (border) color, style, and thickness.

Step 4: Using Connectors for Diagrams

Connectors are a great way to link shapes, especially for creating flowcharts and diagrams where relationships between elements need to be visually represented.

Step-by-Step: Adding Connectors

1. Select the Connector Tool:
   • In the Drawing Toolbar, click the Connector tool. There are different types of connectors (e.g., straight, curved, angled).
2. Connect Two Shapes:
   • Click on the first shape to start the connection, then click on the second shape to finish it. The connector will automatically attach to both shapes, even if you move them around.
3. Customise the Connector:
   • You can adjust the appearance of the connector by selecting it and using the Properties panel in the Sidebar to change its color, line style, or arrowheads.

Step 5: Working with Layers

Layers in Draw allow you to organise your drawing by separating different elements. For example, you could have one layer for the background, another for the main content, and a third for annotations.

Step-by-Step: Using Layers

1. Open the Layers Panel:
   • In the Sidebar, click on the Layers panel to see the default layers (e.g., Layout, Controls, Dimension Lines).
2. Create a New Layer:
   • Right-click in the Layers panel and choose Insert Layer. Name the new layer (e.g., Background) and click OK.
3. Assign Objects to a Layer:
   • When you draw a shape, it will automatically be added to the active layer. To move objects to a different layer, right-click the object, choose Move to Layer, and select the desired layer.
4. Hide or Lock Layers:
   • To hide a layer, uncheck its visibility box in the Layers panel. You can also lock a layer to prevent changes by checking the lock icon next to the layer name.

Step 6: Creating Custom Shapes

While LibreOffice Draw provides many predefined shapes, you can also create your own custom shapes using the Bezier Curve and Freeform Line tools.

Step-by-Step: Creating Custom Shapes

1. Select the Curve Tool:
   • In the Drawing Toolbar, click on the Bezier Curve tool.
2. Draw the Curve:
   • Click on the canvas to create the starting point, then click again to define the curve. You can continue clicking to create multiple points, and double-click to finish the shape.
3. Edit the Curve:
   • To adjust the curve, click on the shape to select it. Use the control points (small squares) to drag and reshape the curve.
4. Convert to a Polygon (Optional):
   • If you want to fill your custom shape, right-click the shape, select Convert > To Polygon, and then adjust the fill and border colors in the Properties panel.

Step 7: Inserting Text and Images

Draw is not just for shapes—it also allows you to add text and images to your drawings.

Adding Text

1. Insert a Text Box:
   • Go to Insert > Text Box. Click on the canvas where you want the text to appear, then start typing.
2. Format the Text:
   • Highlight the text and use the Properties panel in the Sidebar to adjust the font, size, alignment, and color.

Inserting an Image

1. Insert an Image:
   • Go to Insert > Image and select the image file from your computer.
2. Resize and Move the Image:
   • Click on the image to resize it by dragging the corners, or move it by dragging the image itself.

Step 8: Exporting Your Drawing

Once your drawing is complete, you can save it in various formats or export it for use in other applications.

Saving the Drawing

1. Save the File:
   • Go to File > Save As. Choose a file name and location, then select the format (ODG for LibreOffice Draw’s native format).

Exporting to PDF

1. Export as PDF:
   • Go to File > Export As > Export as PDF.
2. Customise Export Settings:
   • Adjust the PDF export settings (e.g., image compression, page range), then click Export to save the file as a PDF.

Exporting to Other Formats

1. Export as PNG, JPG, SVG, etc.:
   • Go to File > Export and choose the desired format from the dropdown (e.g., PNG, JPG, SVG).
2. Adjust Export Options:
   • Customise the resolution or other export settings as needed, then click Save to export the drawing.

Step 9: Using Draw for Advanced Diagrams

LibreOffice Draw is ideal for creating complex diagrams like flowcharts, UML diagrams, network layouts, and more. Here are a few tips to help you get started with advanced diagrams:

Using Flowchart Symbols

1. Insert Flowchart Shapes:
   • Go to the Drawing Toolbar and select Flowchart Symbols to insert shapes like decision diamonds, terminators, and processes.
2. Use Connectors:
   • Use connectors to link the symbols, ensuring the flow of your diagram is visually clear.

Adding Dimensions

1. Insert Dimension Lines:
   • Use Dimension Lines from the Drawing Toolbar to show measurements for technical diagrams.
2. Customise Dimensions:
   • Adjust the properties (e.g., units, line style) in the Sidebar to make your dimensions accurate and easy to read.

Final Thoughts

LibreOffice Draw is a versatile tool that enables you to create professional-looking diagrams, drawings, and technical illustrations. Whether you’re designing flowcharts, creating posters, or drafting technical blueprints, Draw’s powerful features will help you get the job done efficiently.

In the next post, we’ll explore LibreOffice Math, where you’ll learn how to create and format complex mathematical equations.

Stay tuned for more!