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Note: The stroke’s shape (defined by its control points) and open/closed state can be
modified in the Canvas or Inspector. Because a stroke is a shape, it can be edited like any
other shape, using the methods described in How to Edit Shapes.
After you select the Paint Stroke tool in the toolbar and before drawing the stroke in the
Canvas, you can define the color and other attributes of the stroke in the Paint Stroke
Tool HUD. In the HUD, you select a preset shape style to use as your brush source.
There are several ways to set the style of a paint stroke:
• Select a preset shape style in the Paint Stroke Tool HUD before drawing a stroke. If no
preset shape is selected before drawing a stroke, a basic solid stroke (outline) is created.
• Modify a paint stroke created with the Paint Stroke tool using the Shape Style pop-up
menu in the Style pane of the Shape Inspector.
• Select the Outline checkbox in the Shape HUD or the Style pane of the Shape Inspector,
then modify the outline of a shape (circle, rectangle, and so on) using the Outline
parameter controls.
• Drag a shape style (in the Shape Styles category) from the Library to the paint stroke
layer in the Layers list. The style of the shape from the Library is applied to the paint
stroke.
Depending on the effect you want, you may achieve better results using a stylus and
tablet with the Paint Stroke tool. Many styles and brushes take advantage of the pen
pressure and speed applied when creating the stroke using a graphics tablet. You can
apply the pressure or speed to different stroke parameters, such as width, opacity, and
spacing. For example, choosing Width from the Pen Pressure pop-up menu in the Paint
Stroke Tool HUD results in wider strokes when you apply more pen pressure.
Using the Write On parameter, you can record a stroke so it “draws” over time. In this
case, a Write On Shape behavior is applied to the stroke using as its settings the time it
took to draw the stroke and the speed at which each section of the stroke was created.
These settings can be modified after the stroke is created. A Write On behavior can also
be applied after a paint stroke is created. For more information on using the Write On
behavior, see Write On.
To make a paint stroke
1 Select the Paint Stroke tool (or press P).
The Paint Stroke tool HUD appears. (If it doesn’t appear, press F7.)
1127Chapter 20 Using Shapes, Masks, and Paint Strokes