- 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
- Understanding Selections
- 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
- Transforming Gradient Fills
- Cutting and Pasting Graphics Between Layers
- Working with Graphics on Different Layers
- Distributing Graphics to Layers
- Working With Object Drawing
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. If you are using the Pencil or Brush tools with Smooth mode, you can specify
the degree of smoothness (
). 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.
FL8DS-4.2A
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.
)
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Use 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.
- In the Property Inspector, click the Smoothing popup, and then click a value from 0 to 10 ().
The default value is set to 5. The greater the smoothing value, the smoother the resulting line.
TROUBLE? To display the Property Inspector, click the Window menu, and the click Properties.
- 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.
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For Your Information
Smoothing Curves Another Way
You can also smooth curves by optimizing the shape. Optimizing a shape refines curved lines and fill outlines by reducing
the number of curves used to define the shape (). To optimize a shape, click it, click the Modify menu, point to Shape, click Optimize, specify a smoothing level, select
additional options (select Use Multiple Passes to repeat the smoothing process until you can’t anymore, and select Show Totals
Message to display an alert when smoothing is complete), and then click OK.