# Drawing on the map
Last updated:
October 13, 2026
\| 3 minutes read
With a data source selected, you can draw points, lines and areas straight onto the map and reshape them with handles.
## Step by step[](#step-by-step "Direct link to Step by step")
### Draw an area[](#draw-an-area "Direct link to Draw an area")
1. Select a data source in **Available Layers › Data Sources Layers › CUSTOM** (see [Data sources](/docs/guides/map-studio/data/data-sources.md)). If it is empty, click **Create on map**.
2. Click **Polygon** under "Drawing tools".
3. Click on the map at each corner of the area.
4. Press `Enter`, or right-click, to finish. The tool is put down and the new area is selected.
5. Click **Save** in the panel.
### Change the shape of a line or an area[](#change-the-shape-of-a-line-or-an-area "Direct link to Change the shape of a line or an area")
1. With no tool in hand, click the feature on the map to select it.
2. Drag a big circle to move a corner, or a small circle (halfway along an edge) to add a corner there.
3. To move the whole feature, drag it by its body.
4. Click **Save**.
## The drawing tools[](#the-drawing-tools "Direct link to The drawing tools")
**The drawing tools. This source holds points, so Polyline and Polygon are disabled.**
Click **Point**, **Polyline** or **Polygon** to pick it up, and click it again to put it down. While a data source is selected, clicks on the map draw or edit instead of opening the layer popup.
A data source holds one kind of feature, so once it has features only that kind's tool is offered. To draw another kind, create another data source.
* **Point**: each click places a point. The tool stays in hand for the next one.
* **Polyline and Polygon**: each click adds a corner. Press `Enter` or right-click to finish. A line needs at least two corners and an area three; with fewer, the panel says so and the shape stays unfinished.
**An area in progress. You can already drag its circles before finishing.**
Finishing a line or an area puts the tool down and selects the new feature, so the next click edits it rather than starting another one.
## Editing a feature[](#editing-a-feature "Direct link to Editing a feature")
With no tool in hand, click a feature on the map to select it; its card opens in the panel (see [Features and their properties](/docs/guides/map-studio/data/data-sources.md#features-and-their-properties)). A selected line or area shows handles:
* **Big circle, on a corner**: drag to move that corner.
* **Small circle, halfway along an edge**: drag to add a new corner where you let go. Very short edges show no small circle.
* **The feature's body**: drag to move the whole feature. This works only on a feature that is already selected; dragging an unselected one pans the map.
A point has no handles; drag the point itself.
A drag ends when you release the mouse button, even outside the map. `Esc` also ends it; the shape stays where it is. There is no undo for drawing: to put a shape back, drag it back, or click **Discard** to return to the last saved version.
## Keys[](#keys "Direct link to Keys")
* `Enter` or right-click on the map: finish the line or area being drawn.
* `Esc`: end a drag.
* Arrow keys and `Shift+Plus` / `Shift+Minus`: pan and zoom the map while you draw, when the map has focus (see [The map, settings and history](/docs/guides/map-studio/editing/map-settings-and-history.md)).
See also: [Data sources](/docs/guides/map-studio/data/data-sources.md) · [Keyboard shortcuts](/docs/guides/map-studio/reference/keyboard-shortcuts.md)