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Smoothing: Select this checkbox to create a smoother stroke with fewer control points.
Paint strokes drawn with smoothing on are created as bezier shapes. Paint strokes drawn
with smoothing off are created as linear shapes.
Shape Style: A pop-up menu that allows you to apply a preset shape style (from the
Library) to the selected shape. You can also save any custom shape style to the Library
using this pop-up menu. Any stroke (shape) presets you have saved to the Library also
appear in this list.
Sketch area: An empty field where brush styles can be sampled in combination with the
current Paint Stroke Tool HUD settings.
Shapes as a Layer
After you create a shape (including paint strokes), it becomes a layer. Because shape
layers share most of the characteristics of other layers in Motion, you can use the transform
tools—Select/Transform, Anchor Point, Drop Shadow, Distort, and Crop—to transform a
selected shape layer. These onscreen tools are shortcuts to the controls in the Properties
Inspector. To set specific values, or fine-tune any of the transforms, use the Properties
Inspector.
For more information on the Properties Inspector and onscreen transform tools, see
Parameters in the Properties Inspector.
Important: Some operations, as well the application of some filters or a mask, cause a
group to be rasterized. When a group is rasterized, it is converted into a bitmap image.
Because all shape (masks, shapes, and paint strokes) layers live in groups, this affects how
shapes interact with other objects in your project. For more information, see Shapes and
Rasterization.
How to Edit Shapes
There are two ways to edit shapes. You can edit them in their entirety, like any other
object, using the 2D transform tools, or you can adjust them point by point using the
Edit Points tool.
You perform most of your detailed editing using a shape’s individual control points. The
Select/Transform tool is better for overall transformations of an entire shape. The following
guidelines apply to all shape types: shapes, masks, and paint strokes.
Using Dynamic Guides and Snapping While Editing
The Canvas dynamic guides and control point snapping help you connect selected points
to themselves, or to other objects.
To use control point snapping on a single shape
1 In the View pop-up menu above the right side of the Canvas, ensure that the Dynamic
Guides item is checkmarked.
2 In the menu bar, choose View > Snap to ensure that snapping is turned on.
1131Chapter 20 Using Shapes, Masks, and Paint Strokes