Exploring Other Paint Options

In addition to the modifying tools you learned about in the last lesson, Paint provides you with even more options for changing and enhancing the appearance of your drawings. In this lesson, you will learn how to apply special effects to drawings and how to add text.

Using Special-Effects Options

Paint’s Image menu offers a number of special effects options, including the following:

q Flip/Rotate. Use this option to flip the selected object horizontally or vertically or rotate it 90, 180, or 270 degrees.

q Stretch/Skew. This option allows you to stretch and shrink your selection horizontally and vertically (you specify the percentage). You can also skew (distort) your selection horizontally and vertically (you specify the number of degrees).

q Invert Colors. This option changes the color of the selected object to the color opposite its position on the RGB color wheel. For example, black becomes white, and white, becomes black.

To use these special effects, first select an object with either the Select tool or the Free-Form Select tool. Then choose the desired option from the Image menu. If you choose the Flip/Rotate or Stretch/Skew, Paint opens a dialog box to allow you to choose among further options. Remember, if you want to reverse the special effect you applied, just use the Undo command.

Step – By – Step 6.1

1. Start Paint and open the Gala Flier Paint file you created in the previous lesson. Save the file as Gala Flier Enhanced lastnameinitial to the Assignments folder for this class and to My Documents. Select the text block containing the standard school header using the Select tool; if necessary, reposition the text block to the bottom of the project.
2. Rearrange the star arrangement currently on your screen:
1. Use the Select tool to draw a selection rectangle around the star on the right.
2. Drag the cutout so that it is just below and to the right of the star on the left, as shown in Figure 6-1.

3. Resize and create a copy of the star arrangement currently on your screen:
1. Use the Select tool to draw a selection rectangle around both stars.
2. Drag the cutout to the top-left corner of the screen.
3. With the cutout still selected, reduce the size of the object by about one-quarter and position as necessary.
4. With the cutout still selected hold down the Ctrl key and drag a copy of the object near the top right of the screen.
4. Flip the object horizontally:
1. With the object still selected, choose Flip/Rotate from the Image menu. The Flip and Rotate dialog box appears as shown in Figure 6-2.

2. Make sure Flip horizontal is selected, and then click OK. The object “changes direction” from left to right.

5. Move the object into the top-right corner of the screen if necessary. Your screen should resemble Figure 6-3. Save the file and leave it on-screen for the next Step-by-Step.

Changing Image Attributes

While you will usually want to use Paint’s default settings for color, measurement, and screen size, particular projects may require you to change these settings. You can do so by choosing Attributes from the Image menu. Paint displays the Attribute dialog box shown in Figure 6-4. Here you can change screen size, unit of measurement, and whether Paint uses colors or a black and white palette. To restore the original settings, click the Default button.

Working with the Text Tool

The Text tool allows you to add text to any drawing. Paint considers text to be an object just like a line or shape, so once you have completed your text, you can select it and move it just as you would any other object. When creating a text block for a drawing, you might find it easier to create the text block elsewhere on the screen and then move it into place as you would move any other object.

To use the Text tool:

q Select the Text tool in the toolbox.

q Position the crosshair where you want your text to begin; then drag diagonally down and to the right to create a text frame. The insertion point will blink in the upper-left corner of the frame and the Fonts dialog box shown in Figure 6-5 appears. If the Fonts dialog box does not open, select the Text Toolbar from the View menu.

q Key the text. Click outside the text frame to complete the entry.

You may change the appearance or specifications of the text type, but you must do so before you complete the text entry. You change the font, style, or size of the text by using options on the Text toolbar. Select font and size from the drop-down lists and click the appropriate buttons to change the style. As you make selections from the Text toolbar, the text immediately changes to reflect your choices. Once you click outside the text frame or choose another tool, you can no longer edit your text.

A text block can have only one font, size, and style. If you want text to show different fonts, styles, or sizes, create a series of text blocks and then drag them into place.

Hot Tip: If these fonts are not available on your system, select a comparable font.

Step – by – Step 6.2

1. Add text to your flier:

a. Select the Text tool from the toolbox.

b. Draw a text frame at the top center of the screen, between the two sets of stars, about 1 inch high.

c. Choose Text Toolbar from the View menu, if the Text toolbar does not automatically appear.

d. Select Times New Roman, 24, and B on the Text toolbar. Select a foreground color other than black from the color box.

e. Click in the text frame, Key Children’s Hospital and then click elsewhere on the drawing to close the text frame.

f. Select the text block using the Select tool; if necessary, reposition the text block to center it between the stars and under the Children’s Hospital heading.

2. Using the instructions above, create three more text blocks containing the following information. Create each block below the stars and move it into place at the top of the flier between the two sets of stars.

New Year’s Benefit Gala

[Set in Times New Roman, 18, Bold, Italic]

Special Guest Appearance by:

[Set in Times New Roman, 14, Bold]

The Starlight Quartet

[Set in Book Antiqua, 18, Italic]

3. Create a final text block to be positioned below the stars, using the font, size and style of your choice:

December 31 8:00 pm Addiston Ballroom R.S.V.P.

4. Change the colors of the stars by using Fill With Color tool.

5. Your drawing should resemble Figure 6-6. Save the drawing to the Assignments folder for this class and to My Documents. Make sure that you still have a standard school header on it.