3.9. Ink

Figure 13.71. The Ink tool in Toolbox

The “Ink” tool in Toolbox

The Ink tool uses a simulation of an ink pen with a controllable nib to paint solid brush strokes with an antialiased edge. The size, shape and angle of the nib can be set to determine how the strokes will be rendered.

3.9.1. Activating the Tool

You can find the Ink tool in several ways :

  • In the image-menu through: ToolsPaint ToolsInk.

  • By clicking on the tool icon: in Toolbox,

  • or by using the K keyboard shortcut.

3.9.2. Key modifiers (Defaults)

Ctrl

This key changes the nib to a Color Picker.

3.9.3. Options

Figure 13.72. Ink Tool options

Ink Tool options

Normally, tool options are displayed in a window attached under the Toolbox as soon as you activate a tool. If they are not, you can access them from the image menu bar through WindowsDockable WindowsTool Options which opens the option window of the selected tool.

Mode; Opacity
See the Common Paint Tool Options for a description of tool options that apply to many or all paint tools.
Adjustment
Size

Controls the apparent width of the pen's nib with values that ranges from 0 (very thin) to 20 (very thick).

Angle

This controls the apparent angle of the pen's nib relative to horizontal.

Sensitivity
Size

This controls the size of the nib, from minimum to maximum. Note that a size of 0 does not result in a nib of size zero, but rather a nib of minimum size.

Tilt

Controls the apparent tilt of the nib relative to horizontal. This control and the Angle control described above are interrelated. Experimentation is the best means of learning how to use them.

Speed

This controls the effective size of the nib as a function of drawing speed. That is, as with a physical pen, the faster you draw, the narrower the line.

Type and Shape
Type

There are three nib shapes to choose from: circle, square, and diamond.

Shape

The geometry of the nib type can be adjusted by holding button 1 of the mouse on the small square at the center of the Shape icon and moving it around.