Using the Pencil Tool

Using the Pencil Tool

The Pencil tool has three different tool modes: Freehand, Variable stroke, and Calligraphic pen. Each of these modes creates a different look

Figure 22. Pencil tool modes: Freehand (top), Variable stroke (middle), and Calligraphic pen (bottom).

The Freehand mode is useful for tracing over scanned images. The Variable stroke resembles a brushstroke. The Calligraphic pen resembles the stroke of an angled pen used in calligraphy.

Both Variable stroke and Calligraphic pen are especially effective if you are working with a pressure-sensitive drawing tablet and pen instead of a mouse. These tablets allow you to vary the width of the stroke, depending on how much or how little pressure you exert.

To set the Pencil tool to the Freehand mode:

Double-click the Pencil tool in the Tools panel . This opens the Pencil tool dialog box.

Figure 23. The icon for the Pencil tool, when set for the Freehand mode.

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The icon for the Pencil tool changes depending on the settings in the Pencil tool dialog box.

Choose Freehand as the Tool Operation. This displays the settings for the Freehand mode

Figure 24. The Pencil Tool dialog box set for the Freehand mode.

Set Precision to a high value to have your path follow any minor variables as you drag.

or

Choose a low value to smooth out any minor variables as you drag.

Click OK, which returns you to the page.

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If you drag too quickly, your stroke may not fill in correctly. Check the box for Draw dotted line. This creates a dotted line that follows your path. FreeHand then fills in that line with the actual path.

To draw in the Freehand mode:

Drag the cursor along the path you want to create.

Release the mouse button when you have completed your line

Figure 25. The Pencil tool creates a line that follows the path you dragged.

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As you draw, you can erase part of the path created with any of the Freehand modes by holding down the Cmd/Ctrl key and dragging backward over the path.

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If you want part of the path you are drawing with the Freehand tool to be straight, press the Opt/Alt key as you drag. Release the Opt/Alt key (but not the mouse button) to continue the path

Figure 26. Hold the Opt/Alt key to create straight lines with the Pencil tool in the Freehand mode.

To close a path drawn in the Freehand mode:

Bring the line back to its origin and watch for a little square to appear next to the cursor.

Release the mouse button and the path will be closed.

To set the Variable stroke mode:

Double-click the Pencil tool in the Tools panel. This opens the Pencil Tool dialog box.

Choose Variable stroke as the Tool Operation . This displays the settings for the Variable stroke.

Figure 27. The Pencil tool dialog box set for the Variable stroke mode.

Set Precision to a high value to have your path follow any minor variables as you drag.

or

Choose a low value to smooth out any minor variables as you drag.

In the Min field, enter the size for the thinnest part of your brush stroke (any size from 1 to 72 points).

In the Max field, enter the size for the thickest part of your brush stroke (any size from 1 to 72 points).

Choose Auto remove overlap (slow) to eliminate overlapping parts of the path. This makes it easier to reshape the path and avoid printing problems.

Click OK to return to your work page.

To draw in the Variable stroke mode:

If you have chosen the Variable stroke tool operation in the Pencil dialog box, you should see its icon in the Tools panel

Figure 28. The icon for the Pencil tool, when set in the Variable stroke mode.

Drag to create the path.

If you have a pressure-sensitive tablet, any changes in the pressure you exert will change the thickness of your stroke

Figure 29. Changing the pressure while drawing in the Variable stroke mode (and a pressure-sensitive tablet) changes the thickness of the line created.

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Use the fill color to set the color of the object created in the Variable stroke and Calligraphic pen modes.

To set the Calligraphic pen mode:

Double-click the Pencil tool in the Tools panel. This opens the Pencil tool dialog box.

Choose Calligraphic pen as the Tool Operation . This displays the settings for the Calligraphic pen.

Figure 30. The Pencil tool dialog box set for the Calligraphic pen mode.

Set Precision to a high value to have your path follow any minor variables as you drag.

or

Choose a low value to smooth out any minor variables as you drag.

Set the Width to Fixed to have a single width for the stroke.

or

Set the Width to Variable to be able to set a minimum and maximum width for the stroke.

If you have chosen a Fixed width, use the slider or type in the amount in the field.

or

If you have chose a Variable width, use the slider for the Min field to enter the size for the thinnest part of your brush stroke (any size from 1 to 72 points). In the Max field, enter the size for the thickest part of your brush stroke (any size from 1 to 72 points).

Use the Angle wheel or type in the field to set the angle that the stroke uses for its calligraphic lines.

Click OK to return to your page.

To draw with the Calligraphic pen tool:

If you have chosen the Calligraphic pen tool operation in the dialog box, you should see its icon in the Tools panel

Figure 31. The icon for the Pencil tool, when set in the Calligraphic pen mode.

Drag to create the path.

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As you change the direction of the path the angle determines the shape of the path . Pressure-sensitive tablets such as the Wacom IntuosT will also respond to the changes in the angle that you hold the pen as you draw.

Figure 32. Changing the angle for the Calligraphic pen changes the shape of the curves.