What’s the Big Deal about Rulers? A problem I see with whatever straightedge tool that other drawing programs use is that all the lines created look exactly the same; about the only varia- tion between lines is their length. There’s usually no character to the simple, fixed-width lines drawn. I feel the idea of using a virtual ruler while working is a very big thing. It gives you that much more feeling like you’re working with real-world tools in a virtual space because you can treat the rulers just like you would with the real thing. Actually, you can do even more with virtual rulers — you can squash, stretch, grow, and shrink them to fit your needs. Most importantly, you can create any type of line you want with virtual rulers. Dotted or dashed, thin or thick (or all of the above!), you have the control to create the lines you want on the page, instead of settling for the ones the program gives you. Keeping It Simple: Using the Line and Shape Tools Before you start using the ruler tools, you should first become familiar with the simplest method to create lines and curves in Manga Studio: the Line and Shape tools. Okay, okay, I know I just spent a half a page raving about how you don’t need to use these tools when you can just create your own rulers. However, learn- ing and understanding how these tools work can help you later when it comes time to create rulers, because you create your virtual rulers using the Line and Shape tools. The Line tool If you aren’t looking for anything special in the lines you want for your techni- cal and background work, using the Line/Curve/Polyline tool (Line tool, for short) is the simplest method. The Line tool (and its variant Curve and Polyline functions) puts down a basic, no-frills line, curve, or freeform polygonal shape at any length or size you need. To use this, click the Line tool icon, located on the Tools palette. To change the default options, use the Tool Options palette, shown in Figure 8-1. (If the Tool Options palette isn’t open, you can open it by pressing F3.) 138 Part II: Roughing It 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 138 Basic line tools Here’s how the basic Line tool options break down: ߜ Shape: This is where you can choose whether you want to create a line, curve, or polyline shape. To switch from one tool to another, click the tool’s corresponding icon. Alternatively, you can adjust the type of Line tool you want to use by holding down the Line tool button for a few seconds until the curve and polyline options pop up. ߜ Create Rulers on Current Layer: When you activate this button, anything you draw with this tool draws rulers instead of inked lines. (I explain this option in the “Rulers on an image layer” section, later in this chapter.) ߜ Line Size: This sets the thickness of the line you create. ߜ (Taper) In: This sets how much the starting point tapers out to the main thickness of the line. You can enter a value in the text box from 0 to 20 mm, or you can use the slider bar (activated by clicking the black trian- gle to the right of the text box) and adjusting that until you reach your desired taper length. ߜ (Taper) Out: This sets how much the line created tapers to its endpoint. You can enter a value in the text box from 0 to 20 mm, or you can use the slider bar (activated by clicking the black triangle to the right of the text box) and adjusting that until you reach your desired taper length. ߜ Opacity: This adjusts how transparent the line is when you draw it. You can enter a value between 0% (completely transparent) and 100% (com- pletely opaque) in its text box, or you can use the slider bar (activated by clicking the black triangle to the right of the text box) and adjusting that until you reach your desired opacity. ߜ Absorption: Used on a Vector Layer, the endpoints of the lines or curves become “magnetized,” in which they join any other lines or shapes in close proximity. You can adjust the absorption strength (Weak, Medium, or Strong) by selecting from the Absorption dropdown list. Advanced Line tool options Clicking the Open Menu Icon at the top of the Tool Options palette and select- ing Advanced Options brings up an additional group of settings to adjust, which you can see in Figure 8-2. Figure 8-1: The Line Tool Options palette in Basic mode. 139 Chapter 8: You Can’t Draw a Straight Line without a (Virtual) Ruler 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 139 Here’s how the Advanced Options break down: ߜ Thickness: You can adjust the roundness or flatness of the line shape by entering a value between 0 and 100 percent in the Thickness text box. ߜ Direction: Entering a value between 0 and 360degrees in the Direction text box sets the angle the brush will lay at. This is useful only if you’ve changed the thickness of the line shape in any way. ߜ Fixed Direction: Selecting this option keeps the line angle fixed, regard- less of the angle you start drawing the line. ߜ Lock at 45 Degrees: Selecting this option keeps the lines created locked within 45 degree intervals. The Shape tool Like the Line tool, the Rectangle/Circle/Polygon tool (what I call the Shape tool for short — it’s much easier to type) creates a simple, no-frills shape to an image layer. If you aren’t looking to add anything special to the line work, this is a very easy and quick means to add whatever shapes you need. If you want to use the Shape tool, click its button on the Tools palette. When you activate the Tool Options (F3 on your keyboard) you see something simi- lar to Figure 8-3. Basic shape tools Here’s how the basic Shape tool options break down: ߜ Shape: You can choose whether you want to create a rectangle, ellipse, or polygon here. To switch to a different shape, click its corresponding icon. Figure 8-2: The Line Tool Options palette in Advanced mode. 140 Part II: Roughing It 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 140 ߜ Create Rulers on Current Layer: When you activate this button, any- thing you draw with the Shape tool draws rulers on the image layer instead of inked lines. (See the “Rulers on an image layer” section, later in this chapter.) ߜ Line Size: This sets the thickness of the line you create. ߜ Absorption: Used on a Vector Layer, rectangle or elliptical tool becomes “magnetized,” in which it joins to any other lines or shapes in close proximity. You can adjust the absorption strength (Weak, Medium, or Strong) by selecting from the Absorption drop-down list. ߜ Opacity: This adjusts how transparent the line is when you draw it. You can enter a value between 1% (totally transparent) and 100% (completely opaque) in its text box, or you can use the slider bar (activated by clicking the black triangle to the right of the text box) and adjusting that until you reach the desired opacity. Advanced Shape tool options Clicking the Open Menu Icon at the top of the Tool Options palette and select- ing Advanced Options brings up an additional group of settings to adjust, as shown in Figure 8-3. Here’s how the Advanced Options break down: ߜ Thickness: You can adjust the roundness or flatness of the line shape by entering a value between 1 and 100 percent in the Thickness text box. ߜ Direction: Entering a value between 0 and 360 degrees in the Direction text box sets the angle the line will lay at. This is useful only if you’ve changed the thickness of the line shape in any way. Figure 8-3: The Shape Tool Options palette in Advanced mode. 141 Chapter 8: You Can’t Draw a Straight Line without a (Virtual) Ruler 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 141 ߜ Fixed Direction: Selecting this option keeps the brush angle fixed, regardless of the angle you start drawing the shape. ߜ Keep Aspect Ratio: This option helps you keep a specific width-height ratio, regardless of how you draw the shape. Enter the ratio in the corre- sponding Width and Height text boxes. ߜ Start from Center: If selected, any shape you draw starts from the center, as opposed to a corner, of the shape. ߜ Rotate after Size is Decided: If you select this option, you can choose to rotate it along its center point, after you draw the shape. Additionally, you can choose to lock the rotations at iterations of 45 degrees by selecting the Lock at 45 Degrees check box. ߜ Fill Inside: Selecting this check box fills the entire shape with the fore- ground color. Drawing a line or shape Drawing with either the Line or Shape tool is all about endpoints; specifying where the line or shape begins and ends on the canvas is all you need to do. To get started, follow these steps: 1. Select either the Line or Shape tool from the Tools palette. 2. Create a starting point with your mouse or stylus on the canvas. 3. Drag the mouse or stylus to the ending point and release to create the line or shape. If you’re drawing a curve, you need to set the bend by dragging the line until you reach the desired point and then click the canvas. If you’re working with the Polyline tool, continue dragging and clicking endpoints. To complete a shape, simply click the starting point again. To create a perfectly circular, square, or polygonal shape, hold down the Shift key when using the Shape tool. You Can’t Use Rulers until You Make Rulers It would probably be difficult to work with the virtual rulers of Manga Studio if you don’t exactly know how to create them. Here’s some good news — cre- ating rulers is very easy to do. All you need to do is decide whether you want 142 Part II: Roughing It 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 142 the rulers localized to one image layer, or on their own ruler layer, which can be used by all image and selection layers on the page. The ruler layer If you’re looking to create rulers that all the image layers on your page will use, place them on a ruler layer. Like image layers, you can create as many ruler layers as you want. So, if you’d like to work with one layer containing nothing but ellipses, another with straightedges, and another with your oddly-shaped rulers, you can. There are two ways you can create a new ruler layer: ߜ From the main menu, choose Layer➪New Layer. When the New Layer dialog box pops up, choose Ruler Layer from the Layer Type drop-down list. All the other options will become unavailable (except for the Layer Name text box, should you decide to rename the new layer). ߜ On the Layers palette, click the icon next to the Rulers header. Clicking that brings up the New Layer dialog box with Ruler Layer already selected. You can enter the name of the ruler layer in the Layer Name text box and click the OK button to finish. Rulers on an image layer If you’re looking to limit the rulers to a particular image layer, thereby keep- ing them limited to the layer you’re working with, you can do that in Manga Studio. You can place them on a localized ruler layer, or you can use them directly on the image layer itself. Both do exactly the same thing — it’s really a matter of taste regarding which method you like to use. To set up your localized rulers for an image layer, highlight the image layer you want to add rulers to. (If the Layers palette isn’t showing, press F4 to bring it up.) From here, you have two ways you can lay down your rulers: ߜ If you’d like to have the rulers on their own layer, you set that on the Layer Properties palette. (Press F7 to bring up the Layer Properties palette). Simply select the Convert to Layer check box. Now, when you look at the Layers palette, you see a ruler layer directly underneath the image layers, as shown in Figure 8-4. 143 Chapter 8: You Can’t Draw a Straight Line without a (Virtual) Ruler 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 143 Unlike working with normal ruler layers, where you can create as many layers as you want, you’re limited to only one ruler layer per image layer. ߜ If you don’t care about creating a separate layer for your rulers, you can create them directly on the image layer. All you need to do is click the Create Rulers on Current Layer button on the Line or Shape Tool Options palette. (Press F3 to make this palette appear.) The Line or Shape tools can now draw rulers on an image layer. You can create all the rulers you want on that layer. If you want to hide them, simply click Hide on the Properties palette for that image layer. ߜ To hide a localized rulers layer, simply click the Eye icon located to the left of the layer on the Layers palette. Creating rulers with the Line and Shape tools Here’s where figuring out how the Line and Shape tools work (discussed ear- lier in this chapter) pays off. These are the tools you use to create the rulers. In fact, they’re the only ones you can use on a ruler layer, because none of the other drawing tools will work. Follow these steps to create rulers with these tools: 1. Create a starting point with your mouse or stylus on the canvas. 2. Drag the mouse or stylus to the ending point of your ruler and release. If you’re drawing a curve, you need to set the bend by dragging the line until you reach the desired point and then clicking the canvas. If you’re working with the Polyline tool, continue dragging and clicking endpoints, finishing the shape by clicking the starting point. Figure 8-4: Selecting Convert to Layer on the Layer Properties palette creates a localized ruler layer. 144 Part II: Roughing It 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 144 The only thing limiting your ability to create rulers is your imagination. Just like you would use the Line and Shape tools to create any kind of line or shape you want, you can use them to draw up any kind of ruler you need. Check out Figure 8-5 for some examples of the various types of rulers you can make. Deleting rulers One of the best things about creating and working with any type of ruler you want is that you can simply delete them when you’re done! To delete a ruler, follow these steps: 1. Select the Object Selector tool from the Tools palette. 2. Holding down the Ctrl key ( Ô on the Mac), click the ruler with your mouse or stylus. 3. Press Ctrl+Alt+D on your keyboard ( Ô+Option+D on the Mac). Alternatively, you can use the main menu and choose Ruler ➪Delete Selected Points. Adjusting and Transforming Rulers You’re going to need to become very familiar with two tools vital to working with rulers in Manga Studio: the Object Selector and the Ruler Manipulator. Figure 8-5: You can create all kinds of shapes to use as rulers. 145 Chapter 8: You Can’t Draw a Straight Line without a (Virtual) Ruler 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 145 These tools are the ones you’ll need to use to make any kind of adjustments or transformations to your rulers. The Object Selector Any kind of specific adjustments you want to make to rulers involves using the Object Selector tool, located on the Tools palette. (Chapter 7 discusses the Object Selector in depth.) You use the Object Selector to manipulate the endpoints and sides of a panel ruler. The same idea applies here as well — you use the Object Selector to select and move around the endpoints and sides of your ruler until it matches exactly what you need. Using the Object Selector is easy enough. All it involves is selecting a side or endpoint with your mouse or stylus and then dragging that selection across the canvas until you’re happy with the new shape, as shown in Figure 8-6. Then, repeat with another endpoint or side as necessary. The Ruler Manipulator The Ruler Manipulator is a great all-in-one tool to work with your rulers; you use it to scale, move, or rotate a ruler however you’d like. Actually, you can use this on as many rulers (or an entire ruler layer) as you want, all at once! To use the Ruler Manipulator, choose Ruler ➪Show Ruler Manipulator from the main menu. Or you can press Ctrl+Shift+1 (one) on your keyboard ( Ô+Shift+1 [one] for the Mac). You should now see the tool as well as a small cross on your workspace, as shown in Figure 8-7. Figure 8-6: The Object Selector helps to make specific adjustments to a ruler. 146 Part II: Roughing It 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 146 As you can see from the figure, each part of the Ruler Manipulator performs a specific task for adjusting your rulers. The cross serves as the focal point for the Ruler Manipulator. All rulers rotate and scale in relation to wherever you place the focal point. For example, say you’re using a ruler to draw focal points on a panel. If you were working on a regular piece of paper, you would draw a small dot, or place a pin in the middle of the panel to use as your focal point for your ruler. Using the Ruler Manipulator’s focal point works the same way. Using the focus lines example again, you place the focal point in the middle of the panel and place the ruler upon it just like you would on paper. Then, when you use the Ruler Manipulator, the ruler rotates around the focal point. Keyboard shortcuts If you don’t want to use the Ruler Manipulator to adjust the rulers, Manga Studio provides a series of keyboard shortcuts that perform the same func- tions. You still need to use the Object Selector to initially select the ruler or rulers you want to adjust. The keyboard shortcuts are listed in Table 8-1. Table 8-1 Keyboard Shortcuts for Adjusting Rulers Shortcut Key Function Q Place focal point (where cursor is on page). X Reduce ruler size. Z Enlarge ruler size. A Rotate ruler counterclockwise. S Rotate ruler clockwise. Figure 8-7: The Ruler Manipulator tool and focal point. 147 Chapter 8: You Can’t Draw a Straight Line without a (Virtual) Ruler 13_129869 ch08.qxp 11/29/07 11:57 AM Page 147 [...]... Settings option button 4 Select which ruler you want to use as the reference point for alignment by clicking the Swap Base with Moving Line button 151 13_129869 ch08.qxp 152 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 152 Part II: Roughing It Each click on the button cycles through each ruler and aligns the other selected rulers accordingly 5 Click OK when you’re done Parallel by interval The Parallel by Interval function... a ruler in close proximity 153 13_129869 ch08.qxp 154 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 154 Part II: Roughing It When you’ve turned those two buttons on, you’re all set to start using them with your pens and pencils! Simply draw along the rulers like you would with the real thing, and before you know it, you’re creating perfectly straight lines and all the curves and shapes you need for your work, as shown in... on the page, while selections residing outside the new selection are removed from the page 157 14_129869 ch09.qxp 158 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 158 Part II: Roughing It New selection Subtract selection Add selection Multiply selection Figure 9-3: There are four different ways you can create selections in Manga Studio Original selection 4 (EX only) If you want to grow or shrink the selection after it’s... myself looking for that ability when I’m working with a real pencil and paper! (Yeah I need help.) There are several transformation functions that you can choose from, and you can access all of them by selecting Edit➪Move and Transform on the main menu (See Figure 9-20 for examples of each.) ߜ Edit➪Move and Transform➪Scale: Adjusts the size of the selected area ߜ Edit➪Move and Transform➪Rotate: Adjusts... Edit➪Move and Transform➪Free Transform: Adjusts the selected area however you want 14_129869 ch09.qxp 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 173 Chapter 9: Working with Selections and Selection Layers ߜ Edit➪Move and Transform➪Distort: Slides and elongates the selected area in any way you choose ߜ Edit➪Move and Transform➪Perspective: Warps the selected area along a perspective plane ߜ Edit➪Move and Transform➪Flip Horizontally:... created, click the Rotate After Size is Decided check box 159 14_129869 ch09.qxp 160 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 160 Part II: Roughing It Optionally, you can limit the shape rotation to 45- degree increments by clicking the Lock at 45 Degrees check box Using the Marquee tool all comes down to clicking and dragging Specifically, you click the starting point for your selection and drag along the page until the selection... fill in a selection in Manga Studio: ߜ Select the Fill tool in the Tools palette and click the selection with your mouse or stylus or ߜ Choose Edit➪Fill Selection If you choose Edit➪Fill Selection, the Fill Selection dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9- 15 If you’re using Manga Studio Debut, you see only the option to choose the color you wish to fill the selection with (foreground color, background... Selection in Drawing Color from the main menu, or you can press Ctrl+U on your keyboard (Ô+U on the Mac) 14_129869 ch09.qxp 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 169 Chapter 9: Working with Selections and Selection Layers Figure 9- 15: The Fill Selection dialog boxes for Manga Studio Debut (top) and EX (bottom) Pasting screentones into selections Filling a selection with a solid color can (and will) be useful to... always good to go with what works, right?) However, Manga Studio includes an additional option that not many other art programs offer (if at all): the ability to save or create your selection on a specialized selection layer, which you can then use and reuse as many times as you want! Piqued your curiosity yet? 14_129869 ch09.qxp 156 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 156 Part II: Roughing It In this chapter, I discuss... rulers 14_129869 ch09.qxp 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 155 Chapter 9 Working with Selections and Selection Layers In This Chapter ᮣ Using the Marquee, Lasso, and Magic Wand tools to create basic selections ᮣ Filling in, outlining, and deleting items within a selection ᮣ Creating and editing selection layer selections ᮣ Using Quick Select and Quick Mask functions in Manga Studio EX I f you’re new to the world . curiosity yet? 14_129869 ch09.qxp 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 155 In this chapter, I discuss how to first work with the basic selection tools and functions that Manga Studio provides, as well as go over examples. 11/29/07 11 :57 AM Page 146 As you can see from the figure, each part of the Ruler Manipulator performs a specific task for adjusting your rulers. The cross serves as the focal point for the Ruler. reading this that Manga Studio includes many of the basic selection tools that other drawing programs have. (It’s always good to go with what works, right?) However, Manga Studio includes an