Subtitles of the Movie

Working with Pen Tools Part 2. In QuarkXPress 8, the drawing tools have been improved to the point that whether or not you use other illustration applications, you will work more intuitively with these pen tools. In Part 1 of this movie we began working with the pen tools and here in Part 2 we will continue with the use of the Freehand Path Tool and Convert Text to Box Features. Let's get started by selecting the Freehand Pen Tool from the Pen Tools Fly-Out Menu. Now I want to put text on a path so I'll use the Freehand Path Tool to draw the path. I'll use the Scissor Tool to cut the ends away. Press V to switch back to the Item Tool or choose it from the Tools Palette, select the bits I don't want and press Delete. Select the Text Content Tool. Double click the line and begin typing. Apply formatting to the text. I'm using a keyboard shortcut on Mac of Command Shift Period to increase the size. In addition to the standard text attributes, you can also control how this text follows the path by choosing the Text Path Tab of the Measurements Palette or Modify Dialog Box. Use the keyboard shortcut of Command M on a Mac or Control M on Windows to launch this dialog. Make adjustments and click Apply to view the results. Using the Pen Tool with text that has been converted to paths makes for a great shortcut. Let's do this by using this text here that I've put on a path. I'll zoom in so that you can see my work and I'll choose Convert Text to Boxes from the Item Menu, Entire Box from the submenu. Now I'll rotate the line, working to make the D perfectly straight. I'll switch back to the Pen Tool by pressing P and continue until the Select a Point Tool is displayed in the Tools Palette. I'll zoom in again and drag these two points up and then press P until the Add a Point Tool is selected in the Tools Palette. I click the line in between the two points to add a new point. By holding down my Command Key on a Mac or Control Key on Windows, I can mov this point up. Then press P until the Convert a Point Tool is selected and change the type of point. With the Item Tool I'll choose Send to Back from the Contextual Menu and change the color using the Colors Palette. The Freehand Tool is used like drawing with a pencil. Simply click and drag to draw. Once you have a path, you can use the other pen tools to refine the path, change points or alter curves. In short, the pen tools are a good alternative to launching or purchasing a drawing application, especially if you really don't spend all that much time drawing. These pen tools are very easy to use and the final illustrations are QuarkXPress 8 elements rather than imported pictures.