About the Ellipse Tool
Draw ellipses and circles on top of a picture: a red circle around the detail you want people to notice, an oval around a face, a solid dot to mark a location or a see-through blob that highlights an area. Drag from one corner of the box to the opposite corner, and switch on Perfect circles when you want equal width and height. Choose the colour, outline thickness and fill, draw as many as you like, undo the last one and save a full-size PNG. Your picture is edited in your browser and is never uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Ellipse Tool
- 1Select an image or drop one on the page.
- 2Choose a colour, outline thickness and fill.
- 3Drag on the picture to draw the ellipse. Switch on Perfect circles for equal sides.
- 4Draw more shapes, or press Undo to remove the last one.
- 5Press Download PNG to save the picture with the ellipses.
Why circles and ovals
A circle around a detail is the classic way to say look here. It is gentler than a box, it follows round objects such as faces and buttons and it draws the eye without hiding what is inside. In tutorials, bug reports, product photos and teaching material, circles are the most used annotation after arrows.
Choosing the style
An outline keeps the content visible. A see-through fill adds emphasis without covering anything. A solid fill makes a dot, useful for marking positions on a map or a floor plan. Combine fill and outline in the same colour for a subtle highlight.
- Look here: outline, 4 px, red
- Highlight a face: see-through fill, outline 0
- Mark a spot on a map: solid fill, small
- Group items: large outline, thin
Sizes
Thickness is in picture pixels, so it scales with the picture. The default is about a hundred and fiftieth of the shorter side. For very large pictures, raise it so that the circle still looks bold when the picture is shown on a small screen.
A quick example
Take a photo of a bookshelf and circle the book you recommend. Choose yellow, outline 8 and no fill, then drag around the book. Draw a second oval around the shelf label. Download the PNG and send it.
Making circles look professional
Keep annotations consistent: use one colour and one thickness for the same kind of mark, so viewers learn what they mean. Leave a little space between the circle and the detail it surrounds, so the circle does not touch the content. Do not circle too many things; if everything is marked, nothing stands out. Two or three marks on a picture is usually the limit.
Phone and computer
On a phone, drag with one finger; the page does not scroll while you touch the picture. On a computer, hold Shift for circles. The picture is saved at full size.
Good to know
Shapes are part of the saved PNG and cannot be removed afterwards, so keep your original. For straight lines and arrows use Line Tool, and for boxes Rectangle Tool. For squares and boxes, use the Rectangle Tool, and for text on top use Add Text to Image.
Features
- Ellipses and perfect circles
- Outline, see-through or solid fill
- Any colour and thickness
- Undo and Clear all
- Touch, mouse and pen supported
- Private: runs in your browser
Frequently asked questions
How do I draw a perfect circle?
Switch Perfect circles on, or hold Shift while you drag on a computer. The shape snaps to equal width and height.
How do I circle something without hiding it?
Use outline only. Choose a bright colour and a thickness of 3 to 6 pixels, then drag around the detail.
Can I draw a filled dot?
Yes. Choose Solid fill and a small drag. The thickness setting adds an outline in the same colour.
Can I edit an ellipse after I drew it?
Not yet. Press Undo to remove the last ellipse and draw it again.
What size can the picture be?
Up to about 16 million pixels. The result is saved at the full size of the original.
Is my picture uploaded?
No. Everything stays in your browser.