# PhotoshopElements

# Use the Pencil tool

The Pencil tool creates hard-edged freehand lines.

1. Select a color to paint by setting the foreground color.
2. Select the Pencil tool in the toolbox. (The Pencil tool is nested with the Brush tool .)
3. Set Pencil tool options in the options bar, as desired, and then drag within the image to paint.
   To draw a straight line, click a starting point in the image. Then hold down Shift and click an ending point.

   You can specify any of the following Pencil tool options:

   Brushes
     Sets the brush tip. Click the arrow next to the brush sample, choose a brush category from the Brushes pop‑up menu, and then select a brush thumbnail.

   Size
     Sets the size of the brush in pixels. Drag the Size pop‑up slider or enter a size in the text box.

   Mode
     Specifies how the paint that you apply blends with the existing pixels in the image.

   Opacity
     Sets the opacity of the paint you apply. A low opacity setting allows pixels under a paint stroke to show through. Drag the pop‑up slider or enter an opacity value.

   Auto Erase
     Paints with the background color over areas containing the foreground color. If you begin dragging from an area that doesn’t contain the foreground color, the tool paints with the foreground color.

###

- About blending modes
- About foreground and background colors
- About painting tools
- About brush options

####

- This page on the Web