This article describes how to use the CPM Canvas application designed as a virtual whiteboard.
If eWorkspace is enabled on your eBook, choose any problem within your CPM eBook.:
- Just below each problem at the far right of eWorkspace, click "New Entry".
- Then click "Canvas".
- To cancel, click the red x at the far right.
- The floppy disk icon at the upper left corner generally means to save your work. However, it saves and sends a copy to your teacher. Be certain before clicking it, that you are ready to send your work to your teacher.
- Clicking the trash can icon will clear any work you have on the board. Alternatively, select specific items on the board and use the delete key or the trash icon at the bottom left of the attribute tray.
The background color by default is white as indicated by the hex code: ffffff .
Choose either a white or black background.
Choose a colored background
- Select the white square to the left of the "#" symbol.
- Select from the palette shown.
Alternatively, choose a color from the following palettes by typing in the hex code listed below each color into the box after the "#" symbol.
Use this tool to select objects created on the canvas.
- Once an object is selected, a dashed rectangle appears about the object with handles on the corners and mid sections. Move the object by selecting the object and dragging. Drag the handles to resize.
- Change any attribute on the object by selecting and choosing from the attribute tray on the left.
- When using the tool to select an object on the canvas, select on a solid portion of the object. If the middle is transparent, it will not select.
Use the Rectangle tool to draw rectangular shaped objects on the canvas. Change the look and
with the options on the attribute tray:
- Select the Rectangle tool. Then click and drag on the canvas to make the size rectangle desired. If necessary use the Select tool to the left of the Rectangle tool to select the object again to choose the line color, background color and shading, the line thickness, stroke style, the sloppiness of the drawing, the corner edges, and opacity.
- The middle rectangle is shaded with a hatch fill with a hand drawn look.
- The rectangle is selected as noted by the dashed rectangle about it. The small circle above the dashed outline allows for the shape to rotate.
Use the Diamond tool to draw diamond shaped objects on the canvas. Change the look and layering with the options on the attribute tray:
- You can copy a shape by the key strokes cmd (control) "c". Then paste by the key stokes cmd (control) "v". Move the cloned shapes about the board to create a different shape or to tesselate.
- Once a shape is created, you can change the attributes.
Use the Oval tool to draw ovals, circles, or other curved objects. Use the layers attribute to show a shape behind another shape. Change the look and layering with the options on the attribute tray:
- The figure below on the canvas was created by duplicating one shape 4 times and changing the attributes on each.
- The larger gray oval was layered behind the eyes.
- Be sure to have a solid fill on an object in order for it to show above a layer.
Layering:
The orange circle in the image below was behing both the blue and green circles. Select the orange circle and click on the layering palette "Bring Forward" to place the orange circle between the blue and green circles. The choices are to bring forward, backward or to the front or to the back.
Use the Arrow tool to point to objects, to show the direction an object is moving, to draw number lines, and more.
- Create arrows with arrows at either end, no end, or both ends. You can also have a perpendicular line at either end or a point at either end. To get the various ends, click on one of the arrows in the tray under arrowheads.
- Arrows can bend about images. In this case the edges were selected as curved. To create the curve, click, release, & move the mouse, click, release, & move the mouse. To finish, double click and the entire arrow will be selected. If you click and drag, the shape will end after the drag.
Use the Line tool to draw straight or curved lines, geometric shapes, tables, graphs, and more.
Create straight or curved lines:
- Select the line tool so that you can draw on the canvas and view the attribute tray.
- Select attributes either before or after creating the object.
- Then, click, release, & move the mouse, click, release, & move the mouse. (Note: DO NOT DRAG by clicking and holding the click while moving the mouse.) Double click or press "Escape" or "return/enter" to end the line.
Create a filled custom shape:
- Select the line tool and choose your background color for the fill and choose any of the other attributes.
- Then, click, release, & move the mouse, click, release, & move the mouse. (Note: DO NOT DRAG by clicking and holding the click while moving the mouse.) Start and end at the same place for your object to fill. Double click or press "Escape" or "return/enter" to end the custom shape.
- To edit your shape, double click on the shape with the Select tool. Then you can move the critical points shown as circles, to a new location. Here you can see the purple shape has been modified. Click out to finalize the shape.
Use the Free Draw tool to draw objects by hand on the canvas.
- Be sure to set your attributes before drawing.
Continuous drawing using the same tool:
After selecting the Free Draw tool (or any of the tools), click on the lock. Then you can continue drawing multiple items without selecting the tool each time.
Use the Text tool to label objects or to explain your ideas.
- Select the size and font of the text.
- If you want to reposition the text, be sure to select the text with the Select tool.
Use the Lock tool to keep a selected tool active allowing multiple creations of the tool without going back and forth to select between each object.