1.4 Drawing with the Grease Pencil

Drawing a line on the computer screen using the Grease Pencil is said to be Drawing a Stroke.

The term Stroke is used since, when drawing in the 2D Animation Workspace, a line is made up

of two components, a Line and a Fill.

Note: This is only applicable to the 2D Animation Workspace. The fact is mentioned at this point

to explain the use of the term Stroke.

Figure 1.4 opposite shows the controls and procedures for drawing a simple Stroke. To clarify

what is shown in the diagram the procedure is set out as follows:

1.

From the 3D Vewport Editor Tool Panel select (click LMB) the Annotation Tool

(highlights blue) and the Mouse Cursor changes from an Arrow icon to a Pen icon.

2.

Click LMB in the 3D Viewport Editor. A small blue dot will appear where you clicked and

the Annotation Tool Controls will display in Header.

The blue dot is the start of the Stroke to be drawn.

3.

Holding the LMB depressed and dragging the Mouse draws a Stroke in the 3D Viewport

Editor.

4.

Stroke properties may be adjusted in the Header.

Click on the color swatch and select a different color.

Click where you see Note in the Header to change the Stroke Thickness (Figure 1.3).

Placement determines how the Stroke is drawn i.e. selecting Surface in the Placement

Menu causes the Stroke to be drawn on the surface of an Object which is selected in the

3D Viewport Editor.

Note: Properties selected in the Header are applied to all Strokes drawn on a Layer. You

may add Layers in the Note button in the Header.

Figure 1.3

Click to add a

Stroke Layer

Stroke Layer:

Note

Stroke Layer:

Note.001

Stroke Thickness

5.

To erase a Stroke, mouse over on the Annotation Tool in the Tool Panel. Hold LMB to

display tool options and select Annotation Eraser. The Mouse Cursor displays as an

eraser. Click, hold and drag the eraser circle over a Stroke to erase.

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