# How to Draw Straight Lines

This tutorial is based on Text and images Copyright © 2002 Seth Burgess. The original tutorial can be found in the Internet .

## Intention

Example of straight lines

This tutorial shows you how to draw straight lines with GIMP. Forcing a line to be straight is a convenient way to deal with the imprecision of a mouse or tablet, and to take advantage of the power of a computer to make things look neat and orderly. This tutorial doesn't use Straight Lines for complex tasks; its intended to show how you can use it to create quick and easy straight lines.

- Preparations

  Introducing the Shift-key

  You generally have two Shift keys on your keyboard. They look something like the photography above. The keys are located on the left and right sides of your keyboard.

  The mouse can come in different varieties, but always has at least two buttons.

- Create a New Image

  First, create a new image. Any size will do. Use File New… to create a new image.

- Choose a Tool

  Paint tools in the toolbox

  Any of the red-highlighted tools on the above toolbox can do lines.

- Create a Starting Point

  Starting point

  Click on the paintbrush in the toolbox. Click in the image where you want a line to start or end. A single dot will appear on the screen. The size of this dot represents the current brush size, which you can change in the Brush Dialog (see ). Now, let's start drawing a line. Hold down the Shift key, and keep it down.

- Draw the Line

  Draw the line

  After you have a starting point and while pressing the Shift key, you will see a straight line that follows the cursor. Press the first button on the mouse (the leftmost one usually) and let it go. During that whole click of the mouse button, you need to keep the Shift key held down.

- Final Result

  Final result

  This is a powerful feature. You can draw straight lines with any of the draw tools. You can even draw more lines at the end of this one. Our last step is to let go of the Shift key, and we are finished. Some examples are shown in the next section. Happy GIMPing!

## Examples

Examples I

Set Dynamics to Color From Gradient and set Color Options to Incandescent. Under Fade Options, set Repeat to Truncate. Depending on the size of your underlying image, you might want to change the Fade length as well.

Select the Clone tool and set the source to Maple Leaves pattern.

Examples II

Use Filters Render Pattern Grid to create a grid. Use the Smudge Tool to draw a line with a slightly larger brush.

Use Filters Render Noise Plasma to create the cool plasma cloud. Use the Erase Tool with a square brush to draw a line.

Example III

Use the rectangle select tool to select a rectangle, and then fill the selection with a light blue color. Select the Dodge/Burn tool. Set the type to Dodge and paint along the top and left side using an appropriately sized brush. Set the type to Burn and paint along the right and bottom.

Tutorial
Draw