Brush Tool
The Brush tool is your primary freehand drawing instrument in ASCII Motion. It allows you to paint ASCII characters directly onto the canvas with precision control over brush size, shape, and color.
Quick access: Press B to activate the Brush tool from anywhere in the application.
Basic Usage
Select the Brush Tool
Click the brush icon in the toolbar or press B. The cursor will change to indicate you're in drawing mode.
Choose Your Character
Use the Character Palette to select which ASCII character you want to draw with. Common choices include █, ▓, ░, #, @, and *.
Set Your Colors
Pick a foreground color from the Color Palette. Optionally set a background color as well.
Draw on the Canvas
Click and drag on the canvas to draw. Release the mouse button to complete your stroke.
Brush Settings
The Brush Controls panel appears in the right panel when the Brush tool is active.
Brush Size (1-20)
Control how many cells your brush covers with each stroke:
| Size | Coverage | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single cell | Fine details, pixel-perfect work |
| 3-5 | Small area | Standard drawing, outlines |
| 7-10 | Medium area | Bold strokes, quick fills |
| 15-20 | Large area | Large area coverage |
Use [ and ] to quickly decrease or increase brush size while drawing.
Brush Shapes
ASCII Motion offers four brush shapes:
Circle creates circular brush patterns that account for cell aspect ratio to appear visually circular.
Best for:
- Organic shapes
- Smooth curves
- General drawing
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Brush Preview
The Brush Controls include a preview box that shows exactly what will be drawn:
- 1:1 Scale: Preview matches actual canvas cell dimensions
- Real-time Update: Changes instantly when adjusting size or shape
- Aspect Ratio Accurate: Shows true visual appearance
Canvas Hover Preview
When hovering over the canvas, a purple outline shows exactly which cells will be affected:
- Appears only when Brush tool is active
- Follows your cursor in real-time
- Hides during active drawing
- Updates immediately when changing brush settings
Affects Toggles
Control what properties the brush modifies when drawing:
| Toggle | Icon | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Character | T | Whether brush changes the character |
| Color | 🎨 | Whether brush changes foreground color |
| Background | ◼ | Whether brush changes background color |
Disable "Character" to only change colors without overwriting existing characters. Great for recoloring artwork!
Drawing Techniques
Freehand Drawing
The default mode draws continuously as you drag the mouse. Gap-filling ensures no missed cells between strokes.
Straight Lines
Hold Shift while clicking to draw perfectly straight lines between points using the current brush pattern.
Temporary Eraser
Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) while using the Brush tool to temporarily switch to eraser mode.
Character Sets
The Brush tool works with any ASCII character, but certain character sets work particularly well:
Block Characters
█ ▓ ▒ ░ ■ □ ▪ ▫
Perfect for solid fills and shading gradients.
Line Drawing
─ │ ┌ ┐ └ ┘ ├ ┤ ┬ ┴ ┼
═ ║ ╔ ╗ ╚ ╝ ╠ ╣ ╦ ╩ ╬
Ideal for borders, boxes, and structured layouts.
Symbols & Patterns
@ # $ % & * + = ~ ^
● ○ ◆ ◇ ★ ☆ ♦ ♣ ♠ ♥
Great for decorative elements and special effects.
Tips & Techniques
Creating Smooth Lines
For smooth diagonal lines:
- Slow, steady strokes: Move the mouse slowly for precise placement
- Zoom in: Increase canvas zoom for fine control
- Use line characters: Characters like
/,\, and|help create directional flow
Shading Techniques
Create depth with character density:
Light → Dark:
░ → ▒ → ▓ → █
Anti-Aliasing Effect
Simulate smooth edges by using transitional characters at boundaries:
░░▒▓██▓▒░░
░▒▓██████▓▒░
░▒▓████████▓▒░
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
B | Select Brush tool |
[ | Decrease brush size |
] | Increase brush size |
X | Swap foreground/background colors |
Hold Ctrl/Cmd | Temporary eraser mode |
Hold Shift + Click | Draw straight line |
Hold Alt | Temporary eyedropper |