<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Drawing a Straight Line</span>
</h3>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>
Let's begin by painting a straight line. The easiest way to create a
straight line is by using your favorite <a class="link" href="gimp-tool-painting.html" title="3.2.  Painting Tools (Pencil, Paintbrush, Airbrush)">painting tool</a>, the mouse and
the keyboard.
</p>
<div class="procedure">
<a id="id2598520"></a>
<p class="title">
<b>Procedure 7.1. 
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">Drawing a Straight Line</span>
</b>
</p>
<ol type="1">
<li>
<div class="figure">
<a id="gimp-using-straightline1"></a>
<p class="title">
<b>Figure 7.35. 
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The dialog shows a new image, filled with a white background.
</span>
</b>
</p>
<div class="figure-contents">
<div class="mediaobject">
<img src="../images/using/straightline1.png" alt="The dialog shows a new image, filled with a white background." />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br class="figure-break" />
<p>
Create a <a class="link" href="gimp-file-new.html" title="5.2.  New">new image</a>.
Select your favorite <a class="link" href="gimp-tool-painting.html" title="3.2.  Painting Tools (Pencil, Paintbrush, Airbrush)">painting tool</a> or use the
<a class="link" href="gimp-tool-pencil.html" title="3.5.  Pencil">pencil</a>, if in doubt.
Select a <a class="link" href="gimp-toolbox-areas.html#gimp-toolbox-color-area" title="7.1.  Color Area">foreground
color</a>, but be sure that the foreground and background
colors are different.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<div class="figure">
<a id="gimp-using-straightline2"></a>
<p class="title">
<b>Figure 7.36. 
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The dialog shows a new image, with the first dot which
indicates the start of the straight line. The dot has a
black foreground color.
</span>
</b>
</p>
<div class="figure-contents">
<div class="mediaobject">
<img src="../images/using/straightline2.png" alt="The dialog shows a new image, with the first dot which indicates the start of the straight line. The dot has a black foreground color." />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br class="figure-break" />
<p>
Create a starting point by clicking on the <a class="link" href="gimp-image-window.html#imagewindow-display">image display</a> area
with the left mouse button. Your canvas should look
similar to <a class="xref" href="gimp-using-simpleobjects.html#gimp-using-straightline1" title="Figure 7.35.  The dialog shows a new image, filled with a white background.">Figure 7.35, “
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The dialog shows a new image, filled with a white background.
</span>
”</a>.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<div class="figure">
<a id="gimp-using-straightline3"></a>
<p class="title">
<b>Figure 7.37. 
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The screenshot shows the helpline, which indicates how the
finished line will look.
</span>
</b>
</p>
<div class="figure-contents">
<div class="mediaobject">
<img src="../images/using/straightline3.png" alt="The screenshot shows the helpline, which indicates how the finished line will look." />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br class="figure-break" />
<p>
Now, hold down the <span class="keycap"><strong>Shift</strong></span> button on your
keyboard and move the mouse away from the starting point you
created. You'll see a thin line indicating how the line will
look.
</p>
</li>
<li>
<div class="figure">
<a id="gimp-using-straightline4"></a>
<p class="title">
<b>Figure 7.38. 
<span lang="en" xml:lang="en">
The line created appears in the image window after drawing the
second point (or end point), while the
<span class="keycap"><strong>Shift</strong></span> key is still pressed.
</span>
</b>
</p>
<div class="figure-contents">
<div class="mediaobject">
<img src="../images/using/straightline4.png" alt="The line created appears in the image window after drawing the second point (or end point), while the Shift key is still pressed." />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br class="figure-break" />
<p>
If you're satisfied with the direction and length of the line,
click the left mouse button again to finish the line. The
<acronym class="acronym">GIMP</acronym> displays a straight line now. If the
line doesn't appear, check the foreground and background
colors and be sure that you kept the <span class="keycap"><strong>Shift</strong></span>
key pressed while painting. You can keep creating lines by
continuing to hold the <span class="keycap"><strong>Shift</strong></span> key and creating
