Vector brushstrokes and stylus input
Vector brushstrokes can respond to pen pressure, tilt, and bearing provided your stylus or pen supports these features. Pen pressure lets you vary the size of the brush nib. Pen tilt lets you vary the flatness of the brush nib, and pen bearing lets you vary the rotation of the brush nib.
The Expression mode of the Artistic Media tool lets you vary brushstroke appearance by using the pressure, tilt, and bearing of your stylus.
You can use pen pressure, tilt, and bearing at the same time, or you can use only one or two of these features. For example, you can use pen pressure to vary the size of the brush nib, but disable pen tilt so that the flatness of the brush nib does not change. You can set a fixed value for pen tilt to flatten the nib. Disabling pen pressure lets you set a fixed nib size. Disabling pen bearing lets you use a nib of fixed rotation.
For information about adjusting pen settings, see Pressure-sensitive pens and devices.
To apply a vector brushstroke that responds to pen pressure, tilt, and bearing
1
In the toolbox, click the
Artistic media tool

.
2
Click the
Expression button

on the property bar.
3
Make sure the following buttons on the property bar are enabled:
•
Pen pressure 
— lets you vary the size of the brush nib. If you are using the mouse, press the
Up arrow or
Down arrow to simulate changes in pen pressure and change the width of the stroke.
•
Pen tilt 
— lets you vary the flatness of the nib
•
Pen bearing 
— lets you vary the rotation of the brush nib
4
Drag until the stroke is the shape you want.
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Change the width of the stroke
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Type a value in the Stroke width box on the property bar.
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Change the stroke width when scaling the object
|
Click the Scale stroke with object  button on the property bar.
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The width you set represents the stroke’s maximum width. The amount of pressure you apply determines the actual size of the brush nib.
You can use pen tilt and pen bearing to vary brushstrokes only if your stylus or pen supports these features.
To use a brush nib of fixed width, flatness, or rotation
1
In the toolbox, click the
Artistic media tool

.
2
Click the
Expression button

on the property bar.
3
Perform a task from the following table.
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|
Set the size of the brush nib
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Click the Pen pressure button  on the property bar to disable it. Type a value in the Stroke width box.
|
Flatten the brush nib by using a fixed value for pen tilt
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Click the Pen tilt button  on the property bar to disable it. Type a value in the Tilt angle box.
Use a value between 15 and 90 degrees.
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Rotate the brush nib by using a fixed value for pen bearing
|
Click the Pen bearing button  on the property bar to disable it. Type a value in the Bearing angle box.
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