Working with brushes using the property bars

When the Brush tool is selected, you can access and change brush options and settings on the property bar. The property bar displays one set of options and settings, such as brush size, opacity, and stroke attributes, that are available for all brush categories, and another related to the selected brush category. You can use the property bar to restore the default settings of a brush. Depending on the selected brush variant, the property bar may also let you choose a paper texture, dab type, and blending options. The flyouts on the property bar simplify the process of finding controls and media relevant for a brush and let you quickly access advanced controls for a brush instead of opening different brush control panels. For example, if you are working with a Dynamic Speckles brush variant, you can quickly access the relevant options by clicking the Show or hide the Dynamic Speckle flyout button .

For more information about modifying the individual controls, see Selecting, managing, and creating brushes. For more information about working with property bars, see Displaying the property bars.

To choose a stroke type on the property bar

1 .	In the toolbox, click the Brush tool .

2 .	On the property bar (Window Property Bar), click one of the following buttons:

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Freehand strokes button — to draw freehand lines

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Straight line strokes button — to draw straight lines

You can also
Align a brushstroke to a path or shape	Click the Stroke Options flyout button , and click Align to Path .
Align brushstrokes to perspective guides	Click the Stroke Options flyout button , and click Perspective Guides .

To set brush size options on the property bar

1 .	In the toolbox, click the Brush tool .

2 .	On the property bar (Window Property Bar), type a value in the Size box, or open the Size flyout, and move the Size slider.

You can also
Link the size settings to a specific stylus or mouse movement	Click the Size flyout button , and choose an option from the Expression list box.
Set the percentage of variability that you want the expression to apply to brush size	Click the Size flyout button , and move the Min Size slider.
Link brush size to audio	Click the Size flyout button , and click the Audio Expression button
Reverse the effect of an Expression setting on brush size	Click the Size flyout button , and click the Invert Size Expression button .

You can restore a default brush variant by clicking the Reset Tool button .

To set brush opacity options on the property bar

1 .	In the toolbox, click the Brush tool .

2 .	On the property bar (Window Property Bar), type a percentage in the Opacity box, or open the Opacity flyout, and move the Opacity slider.

You can also
Link the opacity settings to a specific stylus or mouse movement	Click the Opacity flyout button , and choose an option from the Expression list box.
Set the percentage of variability that you want the expression to apply to brush opacity	Open the Opacity flyout button , and move the Min Opacity slider.
Link brush opacity to audio	Open the Opacity flyout button , and click the Audio Expression button .
Reverse the effect of an Expression setting on brush opacity	Open the Opacity flyout button , and click the Invert Opacity Expression button .

You can restore a default brush variant by clicking the Reset Tool button .

To apply a paper texture using the property bar

1 .	In the toolbox, click the Brush tool .

2 .	On the property bar (Window Property Bar), click the Paper selector flyout button .

These options are not available for all brush variants.

For more information about paper textures, see Applying paper texture.

You can restore a default brush variant by clicking the Reset Tool button .

To choose a dab profile using the property bar

1 .	In the toolbox, click the Brush tool .

2 .	On the property bar, click the Dab Options flyout button , and choose an option.

To display relevant brush control panels using the property bar

1 .	In the toolbox, click the Brush tool .

2 .	On the property bar, click the Advanced Brush Controls button .

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