This tool enables you to draw using a brushstroke with hard edges, as with a real pencil.
Click on Pencil on the Tools bar.
In the "Brushes" dialog choose the method of applying the pencil from the following:
Free Hand enables you to draw directly with the current foreground color, the path of the applied color following the movement of the mouse when the button is depressed.
Spline enables you to plot a series of connected curves by clicking at the relevant points. To finish, right-click and the curves are replaced with the foreground color.
Line Drawing enables you to plot a series of connected lines by clicking at the relevant points, which are replaced with the foreground color when you right-click.
Ellipse enables you to draw an ellipse by dragging the mouse till you have the wanted shape and size. On releasing the mouse button the ellipse is converted into the foreground color.
Arc enables you to draw an arc (or incomplete circle). Click on the spot which you want to be the center of the arc and move the mouse (there’s no need to keep the button depressed) till you have the required dimensions. Click once more and use the mouse to move clockwise to reduce the angle of the arc from a full circle or anti-clockwise to increase the angle from zero. Click once more to replace the arc with the foreground color.
Rectangle enables you to draw a rectangle by dragging the mouse till you have the required dimensions. On releasing the button the sides of the rectangle are replaced with the foreground color.
Select a shape and size for the pencil stroke from the Brushes box (see Brushes).
Select a mode in the Mode box (see Brush modes).
Change the degree of transparency in the Opacity box.
Note that Pencil produces a "harder" outline than Paintbrush, which employs a technique called "dithering" to soften the edges of a painted shape. Basically, dithering consists in softening the edges of an area of color by fading it into the surrounding color. This results in a less stepped edge than is produced by Pencil. The effect of dithering becomes more apparent if you increase the size of the image (see Zoom).
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