There are two ways to digitize features: point mode digitizing and stream mode digitizing (streaming). You can toggle between point and stream mode by pressing the F8 key or by right-clicking with the Sketch tool active and clicking Streaming from the menu. Point and stream mode digitizing are available either when you’re using a digitizing tablet or when you’re digitizing onscreen with your mouse.

Point mode is the default and most common method of digitizing features that are on paper maps. In point mode, you convert a feature on a paper map by digitizing a series of points, or vertices. ArcMap then connects the vertices to create a digital feature. You generally use point mode when precise digitizing is required—for example, when digitizing a perfectly straight line.

Stream mode digitizing places a point at a given distance as you move the puck. You do not need to click to add each individual vertex.

Using the puck, click the upper leftmost point of the exterior boundary lot line to start digitizing. You’ll notice that the cursor snaps to the edges of the lot lines. For straight segments, you should add a vertex where lot lines intersect. In curved segments, you should click more points to make sure their shapes are defined. When you’re done with your sketch, finish it by clicking the button on your puck that you configured as a double-click.