| 1 |
A New Image
Start by clicking on File/New/New Image. Be sure to click on
the Data type RGB, that your Canvas will be white and that the
User-defined settings show Width 400 pixels and Height 300 pixels
before clicking on OK.
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| 2 |
The Path Drawing Tool
In the tool bar activate the Path Drawing Tool 
(A Path Panel box might pop up at this point, either move it
out of the way, or click on the cross in the top right corner
to close it. I will speak more on what the Path Panel is for
a little later).
The attributes bar will show settings something similiar to
this 
 Click
on the Shape to access the dropdown menu and then click on the
rectangular shape.
Click on Color to select a colour of your own choosing.
Click on Mode and choose 2D Object. (You could choose one of
the other modes here, but we're going to start with 2D.)
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| 3 |
The Path Panel
 When
you first clicked on the Path Drawing Tool, you will have noticed
a box pop up. This is known as the Path Panel. If you don't
see a Path Panel box, or if you closed when told you could in
the last step of this tutorial, you can access it by clicking
on this icon in the attributes bar. 
Click on the Options tab and ensure that Even-Odd
Fill is checked and also Anti-aliasing. By checking these you
will be ensured of the best possible fill for your shape and
also a smooth edge rather than a jaggered one. Depending on
how you'd prefer your image to be drawn, you might like to also
check the Draw from center box. My own preference is to draw
from the outer edge which is why I haven't checked it.
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| 4 |
Drawing A Shape
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On your canvas, hold down your left mouse button at point
X, drag and let go of the mouse button at point Y. If
you're wishing to draw an exact size then keep an eye
on the Width and Height levels 
in the status bar at the bottom left of your screen.
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| If you checked Draw from center in the last
step of this tutorial, then hold down your left mouse button
at point X. While watching the Width and Height levels
in the status bar at the bottom left of your screen, drag
diagonally until your rectangle is the size you would like
and then let go. |
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Congratulations, you have drawn your very first path shape!
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| 5 |
Exercise
Now that you know how to draw a basic shape, deselect it by clicking
on your keyboard's Enter key (PI 7 users
will need to click on the spacebar). Try
drawing a few others shapes, a circle, a diamond and a square.
Remember to keep an eye on the status bar so you can see what
size your shape is.
You might like to also try drawing a Custom Shape. If that's the
case, then click on Custom Shape.
In the Custom Shape box that pops up, be sure that you have the
Gallery called Shape Library selected and the Tab group All. This
will give you access to a whole host of wonderful shapes. Simply
double click on the one you'd like to draw. The Custom Shape box
will close and you're ready to draw just as you've done before.
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| 6 |
Changing The Attributes
 With
your new shape still selected (showing a running black selection
line around it), click on Mode in the attributes bar
and try the other options in the dropdown box.
Here are a few examples of what will happen to your rectangle.
 With
each shape I altered the border setting in the Path Panel to 20.
At this point, you might like to experiment altering
both the border and depth settings to see how they affect your
path shape.
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| 7 |
Resizing
To resize your rectangle click on the Transform Tool in the
tool bar 
On the attributes bar, click on the Resize Transform method
Unlock the padlock also found on the attributes bar and enter
a new Width and Height size.
OR
Click on the Transform Tool in the tool bar
Click on the Resize Transform method in the attributes bar
Ensure that the padlock on the attributes bar is unlocked and
then click on one of the nodes around your shape and push inward
to make your shape smaller or pull outward to enlarge it. Don't
forget to keep an eye on the Width and Height in the status
bar.
Notice how each method of resizing here allows you to resize
each side of your shape independantly. Click on the padlock
to close it and you'll be able to resize your shape keeping
the aspect ratio. In other words, all sides will resize together.
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| 8 |
Adding Material
With your new shape in 3D mode and still selected (showing
a running black selection line around it), click on the Easy
Palette icon in the access bar.
In the Easy Palette click on the Gallery icon
(top left).
Click on either the Material Attribute Gallery or the Material
Gallery.
On the right side of the Easy Palette you will see thumbnail
images, double click on any of them to add material to your
shape.
This rectangle is the result of Metallic/Copper 4 and Bump/M
64.
Experiment a bit to see what materials you particularly like.
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| 9 |
Exercise
Practise drawing more shapes with varying modes. Change their
attributes and resize them. Then add material from the Easy Palette.
Here are a few that I have done. I'm sure you can
create some much nicer ones, especially if you choose to draw
Custom Shape ones!
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