- Introduction
- Changing Drawing Settings
- Drawing with the Line Tool
- Drawing with the Pencil Tool
- Drawing Shapes with the Rectangle and Oval Tools
- Using the Polystar Tool
- Selecting Strokes with the Arrow Tool
- Selecting Strokes and Fills with the Arrow Tool
- Making Selections with the Lasso Tool
- Zooming In and Out with the Magnifying Glass
- Moving Around with the Hand Tool
- Displaying Rulers
- Using Grids and Guides
- Modifying Grid and Guide Settings
- Using Snap Align
- Changing Stroke and Fill Colors
- Creating Custom Colors
- Editing Strokes with the Ink Bottle
- Editing Fills with the Paint Bucket
- Editing Strokes and Fills with the Eyedropper
- Creating Gradients
- Using the Fill Lock
- Using Paint Brush Modes
- Drawing with the Pen Tool
- Drawing Curves with the Pen Tool
- Modifying Shapes with the Arrow Tool
- Modifying Shapes with the Sub-Selection Tool
- Using the Free Transform Tool
- Using Transform Options for Shapes
- Cutting and Pasting Graphics Between Layers
- Working with Graphics on Different Layers
- Distributing Graphics to Layers
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Drawing with the Pencil Tool
Use the Pencil tool for freeform drawing. When you draw with the Pencil tool you are creating strokes. It works the same way as a real pencil with options for smoothing and straightening. Depending upon which mode you choose, Flash makes corrections to the drawn line. Smooth mode softens the curve of the line you draw while Straighten mode transforms the line into a series of straight-line segments and standard curves. Additionally, Flash performs shape recognition to the lines you draw so that if it detects something approximating a simple geometric shape such as a rectangle, oval, or triangle, it converts your drawing into whichever shape it detects. To bypass these modifications, select Ink mode. This mode allows for the most freeform drawing with minimal correction by Flash.
Use the Pencil Tool in Straighten Mode
Click the Pencil tool in the Toolbar.
The pointer becomes a pencil. The Pencil tool options appear at the bottom of the Toolbar. The default mode is Straighten.
Timesaver
Press Y to select the Pencil tool.
Draw on the Stage with the Pencil, and then release the mouse.
A rough preview of the line appears as you draw. In Straighten mode, Flash transforms the line into a series of straight-line segments and standard curves.
)
Figure
3.3Did You Know?
Flash converts rough shapes into clean, geometric shapes. If you draw a rough rectangle in Straighten mode, Flash converts your shape into a clean rectangle with straight sides. It does the same for other shapes, such as ovals and triangles. Set the tolerance level of shape recognition in the Editing preferences.
){kind=small}
Figure
3.4Use the Pencil Tool in Smooth Mode
Click the Pencil tool in the Toolbar.
The pointer becomes a pencil. The Pencil tool options appear at the bottom of the Toolbar.
Click the Pencil mode popup in the Options area of the Toolbar, and then click Smooth.
Draw on the Stage with the Pencil, and then release the mouse.
A rough preview of the line appears as you draw. In Smooth mode, Flash smoothes the line you draw into curved line segments.
)
Figure
3.5Did You Know?
You can disable straightening and smoothing. Click the Pencil mode popup in the Options area of the Toolbar, and then click Ink mode to yield a line closest to the line you've drawn with minimal corrections performed by Flash.
){kind=small}
Figure
3.6