Draw a Circle

Although there are many ways to draw a perfect circle, some work better than others in certain situations. Here are a few techniques; you pick your favorite!

Steps

Tracing a round object

  1. Find a perfectly round object that is the desired size. The outermost edge should be smooth and without any bumps or little lumps. The surface area must be flat.
  2. Put the object above the spot you want it on your paper and hold it down firmly with one hand while you trace it with your other.
  3. If you cannot draw a circle, for your first time, try using a tracer. When you get use to it, remove the tracer. Don't be nervous, just use an 'invisible' tracer...

Using a compass

  1. Secure a sharp pencil in the clamp of a compass so the point of the compass and the point of the pencil are level when the compass is closed.
  2. Adjust the angle of the arms so that they span the full desired radius.
  3. Put the sharp end of a compass down firmly wherever you want the middle of your circle to be. Put the pencil point gently down on the paper. Keep the compass upright and hold the compass at the top. Turn the compass so that the pencil draws a circle.

Using string

  1. Tie a piece of string low down around a pencil. Hold the string the length of the radius away from the pencil with your finger.
  2. Hold the string down against the paper where you want the center of the circle to be. Draw around the center while keeping the string tight and the pencil upright.
    • A variation of this technique is to tie the string to 2 pencils, placing one in the center of the circle, and moving the other one around the center. Tying the knots so that the pencils can rotate in the loop will ensure that the string does not start to wrap around the pencil.

Using your hand

  1. Hold a pencil between your thumb and index finger. Stretch your little finger on the paper where you want the center of the circle to be. Bring the pencil on to the paper.
  2. Press down hard with your little finger and turn the paper in a circle. This may not work if you don't have a steady hand.

Using your wrist

  1. Hold the pencil normally, but keep your fingers still. Move your wrist to make the pencil move in an arc movement.
  2. Use a lot of little movements to make a big circle and fewer, bigger ones to make a smaller circle. Turn the page as necessary.

Using a protractor

  1. Place a protractor on the paper.
  2. Draw a curved line around the protractor using it as a template.
  3. Turn the protractor 90 degrees so there is a line around half of the protractor.
  4. Draw another line using the protractor as a template again.
  5. Turn the protractor another 90 degrees and complete the circle.

Using a center point

  1. Mark a center point on the paper.
  2. Use a ruler, or some other means of measurement, to make points equally distant from the center point. You can choose how many to make, bigger circles will require more points to have a close approximation.
  3. Now just connect the dots. Short curved strokes are recommended, and even rotating the paper for better results.

Using A Pin

  1. Find a piece of paper, an empty cardboard box, a pin and a rubber band.
  2. Put the paper on top of the cardboard box.
  3. Push the pins into the cardboard and into the paper.
  4. Put the rubber band into the pin.
  5. Put the pencil in the other part.
  6. Stretch the rubber band and keep the rubber (elastic) band to draw a circle.



Tips

  • Make sure that you hold your hand steady, no matter which method you use, if you don't it won't turn out quite right. It helps if you line up your fingers and keep them firmly together.

Warnings

  • Compasses are sharp objects that have the potential to seriously hurt you. Keep this in mind, and exercise caution.
  • Pins are sharp objects that have the potential to seriously hurt you. Keep this in mind, and exercise caution.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pen/Pencil
  • A perfectly round object
  • A compass(If you have one)
  • Rubber band (sometimes called an elastic band)
  • Protractor
  • Ruler
  • Pin
  • Empty cardboard box

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