Line Tool Properties
The Line tool allows you to quickly draw a line segment by dragging the mouse from its starting point to its end point.
- In the Tools toolbar, select the Line tool.
The tool's properties are displayed in the Tool Properties view.
Pencil Properties
Just like other shape tools, this tool creates pencil lines. Hence, its tool properties are similar to the ones of the Pencil tool and it can be used with pencil presets.
Tool Name | Description |
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Preview Area |
The Preview area lets you see a preview of the stroke your drawing tool will make.
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Pencil Properties Dialog |
The arrow button right of the preview area opens the Pencil Properties dialog.
While the Tool Properties view only gives you access to a few of the pencil properties, a list of pencil presets and other drawing options, the Pencil Properties dialog gives you access to all the available options for your pencil's shape and texture. For more information on the Pencil Properties dialog, see the Pencil Properties Dialog section below. |
Size |
Defines the width of the pencil line used to draw the line. |
Shape |
You can adjust the start, end, and join style of a pencil line.
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Pencil Presets
These options allow you to select, create and manage pencil presets.
Icon | Property | Description |
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Presets list |
Storyboard Pro provides a You can export the pencil presets that you have created and import those that others have created. This is a good way for you and project collaborators to keep a consistent look for the project. |
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New Brush Preset |
Creates a new preset based on the current tool properties. |
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Delete Brush Preset |
Deletes the currently selected preset. |
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Brush Presets Menu |
Open a menu that contains the following options:
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Drawing Options
These options affect the way your drawing strokes are added to your artwork.
Icon | Tool Name | Description |
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Draw Behind |
When enabled, your brush strokes will appear behind the existing artwork.
NOTE Your brush stroke will temporarily appear over your artwork as you draw it, until you release the mouse cursor or tablet pen.
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Snap to Contour |
When enabled, while you're drawing, the mouse cursor will automatically snap to the nearby contours of existing artwork, allowing you to draw shapes that connect with other parts of your drawing.
NOTE If you draw a line with the Line tool and make its tip snap to a contour or another control point in your artwork, they will be locked together. You can then manipulate both simultaneously using the Contour Editor tool. You can also separate two drawing strokes that have been snapped together by selecting one of them with the Select tool and moving it away.
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Snap and Align |
When enabled, while you're drawing, the mouse cursor will automatically align with the edges of strokes and shapes in your artwork, allowing you to draw shapes that align with parts of your drawing.
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Auto-Flatten Mode |
By default, when drawing
NOTE
Using the Select tool, you can use select and remove a segment of flattened pencil lines. Overlapping pencil lines drawn with the Auto-Flatten mode are essentially cut into segments by the overlap and can be treated as individual lines. |
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Auto-Close Gap |
When enabled, small gaps between the pencil lines you draw will be closed by an invisible stroke to make sure your shapes are closed and that they can be filled with the Paint tool. When drawing contours with pencil lines, the centreline is used to determine whether or not the contour is closed, but the visible tips of the pencil line will extend a bit beyond the tips of its centreline, making it possible to have shapes that appear closed, but are not really. This can prevent the shape from being filled with the Paint tool. Enabling this option when drawing with the Pencil or Line tool will prevent you from leaving invisible gaps in your contours.
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Pencil Properties Dialog
Since the Line tool draws pencil lines, you can use the Pencil Properties dialog to customize the type of lines it draws. To open the Pencil Properties dialog, click on the arrow button right of the stroke display area.
Property | Description |
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Maximum Size | Defines the maximum size of the pencil line. If the tool is used with a pressure sensitive pen tablet, the width of the stroke will vary between its maximum size and minimum size depending on the amount of pressure used. If used with a mouse, the width of the stroke will always be its maximum size. |
Minimum Size |
Defines the minimum size of your stroke as a percentage of the maximum size. If you do not have pressure sensitivity from a pen table, the minimum size value will be ignored. |
Smoothing | Defines the number of control points added to the centre line. The fewer the control points the smoother (but less faithful) the line. |
Contour Smoothing | Defines the number of points on the contour share of your stroke. This will smooth out the bumps and waves on tour contour shape of your brush strokes. |
Shape |
You can adjust the start, end, and join style of a pencil line.
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