Lesson video

Hello, everyone, welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Mrs. Jenkins, and I can't wait to learn with you today.

Let's get started.

Hello, welcome to today's lesson.

It is called Manipulating Objects, and it is taken from the unit Introduction to Vector Graphics.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to group objects to make them easier to work with.

We have got four keywords to look at today.

These words will appear throughout today's lesson, so it's really important we know what they mean before we get started.

So our four words are copy, paste, duplicate, and group.

Copy means to make a new version of an object.

Paste is to place a copied object into your drawing.

Duplicate is to make a copy of an object and paste it in one step.

And group is to link two or more objects together so they move and change as one.

So keep an eye out for these words throughout today's lesson.

Okay, we have three learning cycles today in our lesson, Manipulating Objects.

The first is duplicate drawing objects, and then group and ungroup objects, and reuse a group of objects to develop my drawing.

So we're going to begin with duplicate drawing objects.

Let's get started.

Alex has asked us, "What can I do to make the drawing process quicker?" Great question, Alex.

If we were adding our flower one petal at a time and drawing each of these, it would take us quite a long time, but you could copy and paste or duplicate objects that are the same and are repeated many times.

"What is duplicating?" That's a great question, Alex.

Duplicate, this action copies and paste an object in one single step, often placing the duplicate immediately near the original.

It is faster and ideal for quickly repeating objects.

Copy and paste, this involves two separate steps, copying the object first and then pasting it.

It gives you more control over where the pasted object is placed, but it takes slightly longer.

So Sam's saying, "But how do I duplicate?" So to duplicate, you can use copy and paste.

So you could Control and C on your keyboard, which will copy an object.

Then use Control and V on your keyboard to paste it somewhere else on the page, and you can paste that object as many times as you would like.

Or you can use the Duplicate option, which is to click on your shape, click Edit at the top, and then click Duplicate.

Or use the keyboard shortcut, Control and D.

Duplicating objects copies and pastes in one step, so it's much quicker.

Which shortcut can you use to copy objects in Google Drawing? A, Control add V, B, Control add Z, C, Control add C, and D, Control add P.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, which shortcut can you use to copy objects in Google Drawings? A, Control add V, B, Control add Z, C, Control and C, and D, Control and P.

The answer is Control and C.

So you have to hold the two keys down at the same time, and that will copy an object.

When duplicating, dragging the mouse over a section will select all the objects in that section.

It allows you to temporarily work with all the objects as one, but every part needs to be selected each time.

Multiple objects can be selected at once and then grouped.

This treats all the selected shapes as one.

To make the flower easier to move, resize, or change colour, select all the shapes and then choose Group.

It is also possible to use the right-click of a mouse and choose Group there.

To ungroup, the process is the same.

Just select Ungroup.

So I've got a video here that just shows what I have just explained to you.

Once you've done that group, the flower moves as one.

If the objects are grouped together, they can be moved together.

It is easier to copy and paste and reuse, and there is less chance of something getting left behind.

True or false? Grouping objects lets you move them as one object.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, true or false? Grouping objects lets you move them as one object.

The answer is true.

Great job.

When we group objects, we can move them as one object.

Okay, we're gonna go onto task A now.

You're going to open Google Drawings and use the shape tool to build one flower.

Then I'd like you to select and group the flower and duplicate it to make a bunch of flowers.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you to open Google Drawings and then use the shape tools to build one flower.

Select and group the flowers and duplicate to make a bunch of flowers.

So here's my bunch of flowers.

I hope you've managed to make one too.

Great job.

We're gonna move on to learning cycle two now, which is called group and ungroup objects.

Sometimes part of a group might need to be changed.

This might mean having to ungroup.

For example, you might want to change one or two petal colours or sizes.

This will give you some more interesting designs of flower.

Sam says, "How do I ungroup?" Select the grouped objects, right-click and choose Ungroup, or use the Arrange menu.

Once they're ungrouped, each shape can be changed on its own.

It is important to be careful because all the objects can now be moved around on their own.

They can be grouped together again when the changes have been made.

What does ungrouping allow you to do? A, add more shapes, B, move everything at once, C, change individual parts of a grouped object, or D, change the background colour.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, what does ungrouping allow you to do? A, add more shapes, B, move everything at once, C, change individual parts of a grouped object, or D, change the background colour.

Well done.

Ungrouping allows you to change individual parts of a grouped object.

Great job, everyone.

Some changes that might need to be made while not grouped.

One or more petals changing colour or size.

A beak made bigger or a part of the eye moving.

Or maybe one lion from the group facing a different direction to the rest.

True or false? You must group objects before you can change them.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, true or false? You must group objects before you can change them.

The answer is false.

Ungrouping lets you change parts individually.

Great job, everyone.

Okay, we are going to move on to task B now.

I would like you to choose a group that was created in task A.

I would like you to ungroup it, make a change, so maybe resize, change the colour, rotate, and regroup it when done.

Repeat this with a second or maybe third or fourth object.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you to choose a group that was created in task A.

Ungroup it, make a change, so resize, colour, or rotate, regroup it when done, and repeat with a second object.

So here you'll see I have changed some of the sizes of my flowers.

I've changed some of the colours of the petals.

Compare the changes you've made with those in the rest of your class.

Great job.

Well done, everyone.

Okay, we are going to move on to our third learning cycle now.

Reuse a group of objects to develop my drawing.

Sam says, "Why would I reuse a group?" Reusing groups can save time and keep drawings consistent.

It is useful for scenes with repeated features, for example, trees, flowers, and animals.

Andeep has asked, "Can I add a background to my vector drawing?" That's a great question, Andeep, 'cause so far we have just been doing drawings onto a plain background.

Vector drawings can be added to a photo or coloured background.

This can help to add detail, make it realistic, or show the setting.

To continue with Andeep's question, to add a background, choose Insert and Image and choose the image that you have found.

This will add the image to your background.

Would any of your grouped objects work in these backgrounds? By making the flowers a group, it is easy to add them to any background.

So they're added to the first picture, and then they're moved in the same position to a different picture really easily.

You made a lot of flowers.

What is the best way to reuse them in a garden background? A, group them before copying.

B, draw each flower again.

C, use Undo and start over.

Or D, use the eraser to delete them.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, you made lots of flowers.

What is the best way to reuse them in a garden background? A, group them before copying.

B, draw each flower again.

C, use Undo and start over.

Or D, use the eraser to delete them.

The best way to reuse them in a garden backdrop is to group them before copying.

Great job, everyone.

What is wrong with the picture? Okay, so I asked, what is wrong with the picture? The sheep was not grouped when it was moved, so it left its feet or its legs behind.

True or false? You cannot reuse a group in a different drawing.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you, true or false? You cannot reuse a group in a different drawing.

The answer is false.

The reason why, you can copy groups and add them to different drawings.

Great job, everyone.

Sam said, "But how do I add a photo background?" That's a great question, Sam.

We've shown you some photo backgrounds, but you need to know how to do it.

We click Insert and select Image.

From there, we can choose either Upload From Computer or Search the Web.

Then we can click and resize the image on the canvas.

If the image appears on top of drawings that we've already added, we can choose it and send it to the back.

Okay, we are going to move on to task C now.

I would like again to open Google Drawings, choose one of your group's drawings or create a new one, so the flower, a parrot, or a tree, and open a blank canvas and add a photo background or colour the background, and paste and reuse the group in the new scene.

So you can use size, colour, and rotation tools to vary the copies.

Have a go.

Okay, how did you get on? So I asked you to open Google Drawings and to choose one of your group drawings or create a new one, so it could have been something like a flower, a parrot, trees.

Open a blank canvas and add a photo background or colour the background.

Paste and reuse the group in the new scene.

And you can use size, colour, and rotation tools to vary the copies.

Once you are done, you can share your creations with the rest of the class.

Great job, everyone.

You have worked so hard in today's lesson.

Let's summarise what we have learned.

Copy and paste is a two-step process that gives you more control over where the object is placed.

Duplicate is a quicker one-step shortcut that creates a copy and places it near the original.

By grouping objects together, they can be moved together.

It is also easier to copy and paste and reuse, and there is less chance of something getting left behind.

Adding a background helps to add detail, make it realistic, or show the setting.

Great job, everyone.

You've worked so hard in today's lesson.

I hope we get to learn together again soon.