MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-USING FLASH Use Manual page 139

Setting Pen tool preferences
You can specify preferences for the appearance of the Pen tool pointer, for previewing line
segments as you draw, or for the appearance of selected anchor points. Selected line segments
and anchor points are displayed using the outline color of the layer on which the lines and
points appear.
To set Pen tool preferences:
1. Select the Pen tool, then select Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Flash > Preferences
(Macintosh) and click the Editing tab.
2. Under Pen Tool, set the following options:
Show Pen Preview
line segment as you move the pointer around the Stage, before you click to create the end
point of the segment. If this option is not selected, Flash does not display a line segment
until you create the end point of the segment.
Show Solid Points
as solid. If this option is not chosen, selected anchor points are solid, and deselected
anchor points are hollow.
Show Precise Cursors
rather than the default Pen tool icon, for more precise placement of lines. Deselect the
option to display the default Pen tool icon with the Pen tool.
Press the Caps Lock key while working to switch between the cross-hair pointer and
the default Pen tool icon.
3. Click OK.
Drawing straight lines with the Pen tool
To draw straight line segments with the Pen tool, you create anchor points—points on the
line that determine the length of individual line segments.
To draw straight lines with the Pen tool:
1. Select the Pen tool.
2. Select Window > Properties and select stroke and fill attributes in the Property inspector.
See "Using the Stroke Color and Fill Color controls in the Property inspector"
on page 115.
3. Position the pointer on the Stage where you want the straight line to begin, and click to
define the first anchor point.
previews line segments as you draw. Flash displays a preview of the
displays selected anchor points as hollow and deselected anchor points
specifies that the Pen tool pointer appear as a cross-hair pointer,
Using the Pen tool 139