Interface Terms and Definitions:

• Stage – where you draw and manipulate images
• Timeline – organize content into layers and frames
• Panels – on the right, depends what’s showing
• Toolbar – tools to select, create and modify your images (If a Tool isn’t responding or showing you its Options, select another Tool and then go back to the Tool you want to use.)
• Fly-Out Menu – menu which appears when you click and hold a tool
• Stroke – line thickness
• Fill – color filling your image

The two drawing choices:

Object Drawing – creates a grouped shape

• Properties panel shows Drawing object
• select it using the Selection Tool (V) and a rectangle appears around the object
• creates different layers for each new shape when you’re drawing and can be positioned with this in mind

Merge Drawing – creates one shape

• Properties panel shows Shape
• selecting it will create a dotted texture
• double-click it to select both its Stroke and Fill before moving
• you can click and drag a rectangular outline over a portion of your image and then pull that portion away
• all drawing occurs on one layer
• all shapes that overlap will combine into one shape

Both create shapes.

While creating a merge or object drawing:

• Shift constrains the image while drawing.
• Option makes the center of the shape originate from where you start drawing it.
• Shift-Option constrains and centers the image from where you start drawing it.
• To de-select anything – Click in the grey pasteboard area.
• Double-click to edit an image’s Properties.

When you choose a Tool to draw with – you can Toggle between whether you want it to act as Merge or Object by pressing J. Or use its little button which only appears on the Toolbar when a drawing Tool is selected for use – a dark grey background on the button means Object Drawing is selected (see below):

The Selection Tool (V) allows you to select, move and modify your shapes.

Hover with the Selection Tool (V) and a curved or corner line appears (see below):

– click and drag to change your shape (see below):

– your shape fills after you pull (see below):

In the FILL AND STROKE panel check the Hinting box, if you can, so that the anchor points stay on exact pixels. (If you’ve created an anchor point between two pixels while using Merge Drawing you’ll get a blurry line.)

In the RECTANGLE OPTIONS panel you can decide how rounded your corners will be. The lock next to the slider will make each corner’s roundness value independent.

If you draw using the Rectangle/Oval Primitive Tool – you can change their options after you’ve drawn your image.

In the OVAL OPTIONS panel you can decide the angles of the start and end points of your oval and also add in inner radius.

In the PolyStar TOOL SETTINGS panel you can decide whether you want a polygon or a star.

Any questions?

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