3.11. Ink

Figure 14.87. The “Ink” tool in Toolbox

The Ink tool uses a simulation of an ink pen with a controllable nib to paint solid brush strokes with an antialiased edge. The size, shape and angle of the nib can be set to determine how the strokes will be rendered.

3.11.1. Activating the Tool

You can find the Ink tool in several ways :

• In the image-menu through: Tools → Paint Tools → Ink.

• By clicking on the tool icon: in Toolbox,

• or by using the K keyboard shortcut.

3.11.2. Key modifiers (Defaults)

Ctrl

This key changes the nib to a Color Picker.

3.11.3. Options

Figure 14.88. Ink Tool options

Normally, tool options are displayed in a window attached under the Toolbox as soon as you activate a tool. If they are not, you can access them from the image menu bar through Windows → Dockable Windows → Tool Options which opens the option window of the selected tool.

Mode; Opacity

See the Common Paint Tool Options for a description of tool options that apply to many or all paint tools.

Adjustment

• Size

  Controls the apparent width of the pen’s nib with values that ranges from 0 (very thin) to 20 (very thick).

  Angle

  This controls the apparent angle of the pen’s nib relative to horizontal.

Sensitivity

• Size

  This controls the size of the nib, from minimum to maximum. Note that a size of 0 does not result in a nib of size zero, but rather a nib of minimum size.

  Tilt

  Controls the apparent tilt of the nib relative to horizontal. This control and the Angle control described above are interrelated. Experimentation is the best means of learning how to use them.

  Speed

  This controls the effective size of the nib as a function of drawing speed. That is, as with a physical pen, the faster you draw, the narrower the line.

Type and Shape

• Type

  There are three nib shapes to choose from: circle, square, and diamond.

  Shape

  The geometry of the nib type can be adjusted by holding button 1 of the mouse on the small square at the center of the Shape icon and moving it around.