HELP - with Brush color

[HanaHou webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

From the pencil tool, I used the "brush --> default paint" stroke to create images. The only thing I can't figure out is how to make the stroke colored. I can't seem to find the option that allows one to change the color from black - is there a way to do this? I use Freehand daily, so i'm very familiar witht he program, but can't seem to figure this one out...any help would be appreciated...

[Judy Arndt]

HanaHou wrote:

> From the pencil tool, I used the "brush --> default paint" stroke to create
> images. The only thing I can't figure out is how to make the stroke colored.
> I can't seem to find the option that allows one to change the color from black
> - is there a way to do this?

Have you tried the Calligraphic stroke? It might suit your purposes better.
You can easily change colors of the Calligraphic stroke in the Properties
panel.

Brushes use a Symbol and apply it to a path. The 'Default' symbol (found in
the Library) is black. If you want a different colored brush, make a new,
colored symbol and use that as a brush. To make a new version of 'Default'
brush, open Library Panel, drag 'Default' symbol into document. Release
instance. Subselect and apply new fill color. Drag to Library to convert to
symbol. Create a new brush based on this new symbol.

The whole process of editing brushes is quite cumbersome, convoluted and
unintuitive, IMHO. If you edit brushes and symbols frequently, use the brush
and symbol buttons in a toolbar.

Judy Arndt

[HanaHou webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Thanks Judy. The problem was I had already created several graphics with the brush, and so I'd then have to re-do everything....that's why I was wondering if I was missing something with changing the color. As you said, it seems really backwards...I'll have to start trying the calligraphy tool instead, I guess...thanks!
Melissa

[Bill]

On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 00:54:53 +0000 (UTC), HanaHou
<webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote:

> Thanks Judy. The problem was I had already created several graphics with
> the brush, and so I'd then have to re-do everything....that's why I was
> wondering if I was missing something with changing the color.

Once you copy the library symbol, change it's color and make a new brush,
all you would need to re-do is the stroke.
Also,there is a 'release brush' under the Modify menu /Brush that will turn
the brush strokes into normal vector objects that you can easily re-color,
though at the expense of a larger file-size.

--
Bill
FHMX/Win98/Athlon2100+/512M