How to Paint and Draw on the Computer

Painting and Drawing tools can really enhance your classroom. Here are a few reasons why:

• Valuable tool for artistic communication • Fun! • Computer art projects can add a new look to your program • Appreciate the robust features of computer art and the power the user

has to modify them General Terms:

• Paint Programs work by using PIXELS (little squares displayed on the screen). A cursor which has been assigned a particular color or pattern, moves across the screen, painting each square it passes over. Microsoft Paint is provided as an accessory in the Windows operating system. It is basic, but free, and worth using.

• Draw Programs allow the user to create geometrically based objects.

These programs are better suited to projects that are more graphically oriented with text included as an important element and generally not suited for someone who wants to create a "free-hand" drawing or painting. An example program is Microsoft Word.

Using Microsoft Paint

To gain access to the Microsoft Paint, choose the Start Menu/Programs/Accessories.

Commonly Used Tools for Painting:

Marquee Tool

Use this tool to select a rectangular portion of the screen

Airbrush Tool

Use this tool to spray a mist of the currently set foreground color

Paintbrush Tool

Use this tool to paint straight or irregular lines

Eraser Tool

Use this tool to erase an area of the image (Note: make sure your background color is appropriate since this feature "erases" in the background color)

Pencil Tool

Use this tool to draw

Type Tool

Use this tool to create text on an image

Line Tool

Use this tool to draw straight lines at any angle

Paint Bucket Tool

Use this tool to fill an area with the currently selected foreground color

Using Microsoft Word To gain access to the Microsoft Word, choose the Start Menu/Programs/Word. In order to draw, the drawing toolbar must be present. Choose the View File/Toolbars/Drawing. Now create a drawing object, which can be an autoshape, curve, line, and WordArt.

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Printing Pictures from Paint or Word

To print a picture, on the File menu, click Print.

Note:

To see how the printed picture will look before you print, click the File menu, and then click Print Preview.

To set margins or change orientation, click the File menu, and then click Page Setup.

Draw and Painting Tutorials ~ www.quasar.ualberta.ca/edpy202/tutorial/drawpaint/drawpaint.htm