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Learn about sketching hot keys

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Sketch on a Cintiq

Learn to use the special sketching interface on Cintiq screens.

When using Alias to sketch in conjunction with a Cintiq tablet, you can access common sketching tools directly on your display without having to reach for the keyboard.

Pressing a pre-assigned key on the Cintiq (or the Space bar on the keyboard) invokes a hot spots interface on the Cintiq screen, which is a collection of icons, each referencing a specific tool.

The center wheel consists of tools used to adjust the brush parameters: radius, opacity, aspect, and so on. The top row of icons lets you choose a brush mode. The bottom row consists of frequently used sketching tools such as color editor and predictive stroke.

As you drag the mouse over a tool, the tool highlights and a tooltip appears describing the tool.

The tables below list all the icons:

Brush Modes

Brush Parameters

Miscellanous Sketching Tools

To sketch using the hot spots interface

1. Create a canvas
2. Choose a brush tool.
3. Press and hold the space bar to bring up the hot spots interface. (This key can be re-assigned to a Cintiq key).
4. Choose a brush mode by clicking one of the icons along the top bar of the hot spots interface. (The default is paint).
5. Press the stylus on a tool within the circular area of the hot spots interface to adjust the corresponding brush parameter.
6. Slide the stylus left and right (or up and down) to customize a brush parameter or pan/zoom the canvas.
   NoteThe Brush Min/Max Radius icon adjusts the Minimum Radius with an up or down motion, and the Maximum Radius with a left or right motion. You have to release the stylus and press down again to change from one to the other (just like the R hotkey).

   While you adjust a brush parameter, you receive visual feedback showing the result of your action. The current numerical value of the parameter is displayed both in the window and on the prompt line.

   

7. While still holding the space bar (or Cintiq key), draw a few strokes on the screen to test the new brush settings.
8. When satisfied, release the space bar (or Cintiq key) to remove the testing strokes and turn off the hot spots interface.
   NoteThe hot spots interface will only work if the cursor is over a canvas and a Brush tool is selected.
9. Use the tools along the bottom bar of the hot spots interface to perform various other functions such as changing the brush color, turning on predictive stroke mode, and so on.