Learn to use the special sketching interface on Cintiq screens.
When using Alias to sketch in conjunction with a Cintiq tablet, you can access common sketching tools directly on your display without having
to reach for the keyboard.
Pressing a pre-assigned key on the Cintiq (or the Space bar on the keyboard) invokes a hot spots interface on the Cintiq screen,
which is a collection of icons, each referencing a specific tool.
The center wheel consists of tools used to adjust the brush parameters: radius, opacity, aspect, and so on. The top row of
icons lets you choose a brush mode. The bottom row consists of frequently used sketching tools such as color editor and predictive
stroke.
Note
The hot spots interface will only work if the cursor is over a canvas and a Brush tool is selected.
As you drag the mouse over a tool, the tool highlights and a tooltip appears describing the tool.
The tables below list all the icons:
Brush Modes
Icon |
Purpose |
|
paint |
|
erase |
|
hide paint |
|
show hidden paint |
|
smear |
|
blur |
|
sharpen |
|
dodge |
|
burn |
Brush Parameters
Icon |
Purpose |
|
size |
|
min max radius |
|
rotate brush |
|
aspect |
|
color value |
|
opacity |
|
zoom |
|
pan |
Miscellanous Sketching Tools
Icon |
Purpose |
|
reset brush |
|
last brush |
|
open/close color editor |
|
twist canvas |
|
predictive stroke - off |
|
predictive stroke - line |
|
predictive stroke - curvature |
To sketch using the hot spots interface
- Create a canvas
- Choose a brush tool.
- Press and hold the space bar to bring up the hot spots interface. (This key can be re-assigned to a Cintiq key).
- Choose a brush mode by clicking one of the icons along the top bar of the hot spots interface. (The default is ).
- Press the stylus on a tool within the circular area of the hot spots interface to adjust the corresponding brush parameter.
- Slide the stylus left and right (or up and down) to customize a brush parameter or pan/zoom the canvas.
Note
The Brush Min/Max Radius icon adjusts the Minimum Radius with an up or down motion, and the Maximum Radius with a left or
right motion. You have to release the stylus and press down again to change from one to the other (just like the hotkey).
While you adjust a brush parameter, you receive visual feedback showing the result of your action. The current numerical value
of the parameter is displayed both in the window and on the prompt line.
- While still holding the space bar (or Cintiq key), draw a few strokes on the screen to test the new brush settings.
- When satisfied, release the space bar (or Cintiq key) to remove the testing strokes and turn off the hot spots interface.
Note
The hot spots interface will only work if the cursor is over a canvas and a Brush tool is selected.
- Use the tools along the bottom bar of the hot spots interface to perform various other functions such as changing the brush
color, turning on predictive stroke mode, and so on.