PE5_Google Docs-Draw

Hi There Finger Tappers,

So here is the last installment from Google Docs. This is the draw program and the best way to test a draw program for me is to draw something. (Sound a bit lame but it’s true)

Today I’m going to draw a jet because I’m a boy and because it fulfills all the basic requirements for drawing.

I first start back in the Google Docs page and go to the “create new” tab and select drawing. When it comes up I can see all the usual suspects in terms of draw package tools. There are tools for lines, standard shapes, curved lines, polygons, color bucket and line color, text , insert picture, line thickness and line type.

So let’s get started. I think pretty much in polygons so I’m going to start with some polygons to make the cockpit. I select the polygon tool that looks like a badly drawn heart lying down and begin clicking and dragging to make the shape I'm thinking of. When I close the polygon it releases me from the tool and creates the polygon. Now I can go up to the tool bar and change the thickness or color of the line around it or fill it with a different color.

From there on I continue adding more polygons together to build my basic shape.

I notice that some of my polygons are sitting strangely so I have a couple of choices. I can either double click on the polygon and it allows me to change the angles by dragging them and reshaping the polygon or I can change the order that they are lying. In other words I can send one to the back or bring it forward to mask the other.

Now I notice that some of my polygons are jagged and I'd like some smooth lines so I grab the tool on the tool bar that looks like a curved line. With this I can draw shapes with curved sides. It takes time to get used to but it's worth playing with. If I want a standard polygon I can selet one from the tool bar selct one and place it on the picture. I used a circle for the British markings on the wings. I layered three of them in different colors.

So here is the jet. You can also import a picture of the sky to put behind it. If you do, make sure you make the cockpit color transparent so the background comes through.

One thing I was disappointed in not seeing was the ability to fill the polygons with a gradient rather than just a flat color. Oh well, for a freebie it's not bad and I might even be fun to draw collaboratively with some else. Could be fun.

Next time!