Graphics Packages: Paint Environment – JSS2 Computer Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Paint is a graphics program in Windows that is used to create drawings on a blank canvas or on top of other pictures.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State what Paint is used for.
2. Name the tools on the Paint toolbar.
3. Describe what each tool does.
4. Choose the right tool to draw a line, a curve or a shape.
5. Explain the use of the Color box and the line thickness and fill effect options.

What is a graphics package?

A graphics package is a program used to create, edit and print pictures.

• Paint: a simple drawing program that comes with Windows.
• CorelDRAW: a more advanced package used for designs such as posters and logos.
• Adobe Photoshop: an advanced package used to edit photographs.

What is Paint used for?

Paint is used to draw pictures, shapes and text on a blank canvas or on top of other pictures.

• Drawing: make freehand sketches, lines, curves and shapes.
• Colouring: fill drawings with colour.
• Adding text: write labels or titles on a picture.
• Editing: erase, select and zoom in on parts of a picture.

This note applies to Paint in Windows Vista.

How do you open Paint in Windows Vista?

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click All Programs.
3. Click Accessories.
4. Click Paint.

What are the tools on the Paint toolbar?

The toolbar is a box of drawing tools on the left side of the Paint window.

Selecting, erasing and viewing tools

• Free-Form Select: selects any irregularly shaped part of the picture.
• Select: selects any square or rectangular part of the picture.
• Eraser: erases areas of your picture.
• Magnifier: zooms in on a section of your picture.

Colour tools

• Fill With Color: fills the entire picture or an enclosed shape with colour.
• Pick Color: sets the current foreground or background colour by picking it from the picture.
• Color box: shows the current foreground and background colours and holds the colours you can choose from.

Freehand drawing and text tools

• Pencil: draws thin, freeform lines or curves.
• Brush: paints thick or shaped freeform lines and curves.
• Airbrush: creates an airbrush (spray paint) effect in the picture.
• Text: enters text in the picture.

Line and shape tools

There are six line and shape tools: Line, Curve, Rectangle, Polygon, Ellipse and Rounded Rectangle.

• Line: draws a straight line.
• Curve: draws a smooth, curved line.
• Rectangle: draws rectangular shapes.
• Polygon: makes a shape with any number of sides.
• Ellipse: makes ellipses and circles.
• Rounded Rectangle: draws rectangular shapes with rounded corners.

What are the line thickness and fill effect options?

These options appear below the toolbar and change how lines and shapes look when you draw them.

• Line thickness: lets you choose how thick lines and curves are when you draw them.
• Fill effect: lets you choose how shapes are filled when you draw them.

Fill effects for shapes include these choices:

• Outline only: the shape has a border and no colour inside.
• Outline with fill: the shape has a border and is coloured inside.
• Fill only: the shape is coloured inside and has no border.

What is the Color box used for?

The Color box is the set of colours at the bottom of the Paint window, used to choose the colours you draw with.

• Foreground colour: the colour used for lines, outlines and text. Click a colour with the left mouse button to set it.
• Background colour: the colour used for the canvas and for filling. Click a colour with the right mouse button to set it.
• Current colours: the two boxes at the left of the Color box show the colours now in use.

What is the difference between the Pencil and the Brush?

The Pencil is a freehand tool that draws thin lines. The Brush is a freehand tool that paints thick or shaped lines.

What is the difference between Select and Free-Form Select?

Select picks a square or rectangular part of a picture. Free-Form Select picks a part of any shape that you trace by hand.

How do you choose the right tool for a drawing?

How do you draw a shape in Paint?

1. Click the shape tool you want, such as Ellipse.
2. Choose a fill effect below the toolbar.
3. Click a colour in the Color box.
4. Drag the mouse across the canvas to draw the shape.
5. Hold down the Shift key while dragging to draw a perfect circle or square.
6. Use Fill With Color to colour an enclosed shape if needed.

Evaluation

1. What is Paint used for?
2. Which tool do you use to select an irregularly shaped part of a picture?
3. State the difference between the Pencil and the Brush.
4. Which tool do you use to zoom in on a section of a picture?
5. What does the Color box show?

Assignment

List the six line and shape tools on the Paint toolbar. Beside each one, write what it is used to draw.