Using the Pen Tool

[ LiB ]

Although the Paint Brush tool you used earlier allowed you freedom in drawing by emulating a real paintbrush, the Pen tool is more like a drafting tool, drawing straighter, more distinctive lines. You can use the Pen tool to draw polygons and other similar objects as well as draw freehand.

When you're working with the Pen tool (along with a few other tools), the Tool Options toolbar is broken into two separate bars. Most computer screens and resolutions aren't large enough to display all the tools, so Paint Shop Pro hides a portion of the available options.

Drawing Lines

You can easily create straight lines, thick lines, thin lines, and even lines with arrows by using the Pen tool and the Line Segments option.

NOTE

To constrain your lines and make them perfectly straight or at 45-degree angles, hold down the Shift key while you're drawing the line.

Drawing Contiguous Lines

If you want to draw polygons or lines that are connected, you need to have the contiguous lines option selected.

Drawing Freehand

Drawing freehand with the Pen tool is similar to using the Paint Brush tool except that the Pen tool lines appear slightly more crisp and sharp than with the Paint Brush tool.

[ LiB ]