Creating paint strokes – Apple Motion 3 User Manual
Page 1012
1012
Chapter 12
Using Shapes and Masks
3
Once the shape is created, press S or Esc to select the Select/Transform tool to exit line-
drawing mode.
The Shape HUD appears.
Note: Rectangles and circles can be converted into paint strokes by selecting the
shape’s Outline checkbox and choosing a different brush type in the Inspector. By
default, a line is an outline. For more information, see “
Using a Shape Outline as a Paint
Creating Paint Strokes
Unlike a freehand Bezier or B-Spline shape that is drawn one point at a time, a paint
stroke is created with one continuous movement.
Note: The Paint Stroke feature is a design and graphics tool, not a retouching or
rotoscoping tool.
There are two ways to create a paint stroke:
 Use the Paint Stroke tool in the Toolbar and draw a stroke in the Canvas using a
stylus and tablet (or a mouse).
 Create a shape (paint stroke, line, rectangle, or circle) in the Canvas, select the Outline
checkbox, and modify the outline in the Style pane of the Shape Inspector.
To access additional paint stroke controls in the Stroke and Advanced panes of the
Shape Inspector, the Brush Type parameter in the Style pane must be set to Airbrush or
Image.
Note: This section discusses creating a paint stroke using the Paint Stroke tool in the
Toolbar. For information about converting a shape to an editable paint stroke, see
“
Using a Shape Outline as a Paint Stroke
The Paint Stroke tool creates a shape outline that is comprised of dabs. Dabs—
analogous to the cells of a replicator or particle emitter—define the appearance of the
stroke. While particle cells emit a a variety of different particle types, paint has only a
single dab type. The dabs can be very close together or spaced widely apart along the
stroke. The dabs’ color, opacity, spacing, scale, angle, and so on can be modified once a
stroke is created in the Inspector.
For more information on modifying a paint stroke after the stroke is created, see
“
Shape Parameters in the Inspector
Paint strokes can be animated using behaviors or by keyframing. In addition to Basic
Motion, Simulation, and Parameter behaviors, shapes have their own category of
behaviors that includes a behavior that allows you to sequence effects over the length
of the stroke. For more information on using the Shape behaviors, see “