In the canvas toolbar in Motion, click the Paint Stroke tool (or press P).
The Paint Stroke Tool HUD appears. (If it doesn’t appear, press F7.)
Important: Like the other drawing tool HUDs, the Paint Stroke Tool HUD is available only after you select the Paint Stroke tool, and before you create your stroke in the canvas. The Paint Stroke Tool HUD lets you set the properties derived from the pressure and speed of the stylus before you draw the stroke.
The default brush type (in the Shape Style parameter) is Basic Solid. You can change the brush type by defining a paint stroke style.
Define a paint stroke style in the HUD:
1. Click the Shape Style preset pop-up menu, then choose an option.
2. Modify the Brush Color and Width settings.
  If a preset is not used, a Basic Solid stroke is created. You can still apply a preset to the stroke using the Inspector after the stroke is drawn. Presets do not override the width or color of the stroke set in the HUD.
Note: The Pen Pressure and Pen Speed parameters are not available in the HUD when Shape Style is set to Solid Brush.
If you want to create a stroke that’s drawn over time, select the Write On checkbox.
Selecting the Write On checkbox applies a Write On behavior the stroke. As with any other behavior, you can modify its parameters in the HUD or Inspector. For more information on using the Write On behavior, see Write On behavior in Motion.
Draw your stroke in the canvas, then press S or Esc to activate the Select/Transform tool.
The Paint Stroke Tool HUD is replaced with the Shape HUD, which contains basic parameters identical to those in all other shape HUDs. Consequently, after a stroke is drawn, you must use the Inspector to modify parameters unique to the paint brush and its dabs.

Preview the paint stroke in the Paint Stroke Tool HUD

The lower portion of the Paint Stroke Tool HUD contains a sketch area that displays a preview of a paint stroke effect. After you select a style for your paint stroke, that style remains selected for subsequent paint strokes until you choose another shape style. You can select another style before you create a paint stroke in the HUD, or after you create a paint stroke in the Inspector.

In the canvas toolbar in Motion, click the Paint Stroke tool.
Do one of the following:
- Choose a brush from the Shape Style pop-up menu in the Paint Stroke Tool HUD, then draw a stroke in the sketch area (of the HUD) to see a preview of the paint stroke.
- Select the Write On checkbox, draw a stroke in the sketch area, then click the Play button to see a preview of the write-on stroke.
- Apply a preset from the Shape Style pop-up menu to an existing stroke in the sketch area of the HUD.
  If the preset is an animated stroke, the stroke is automatically drawn in the sketch area. Press the Play button to see the stroke animation again.

Change the style of an existing paint stroke

In Motion, select an existing paint stroke in the Layers list or Timeline.
In the Shape HUD or the Style pane of the Shape Inspector, click the Shape Style pop-up menu, then choose a different option.

“Particle-ize” a paint stroke

You can animate the individual dabs in a paint stroke to create an exploding particle effect.

In Motion, select an existing paint stroke in the Layers list or Timeline.
In the Style pane of the Shape Inspector, choose Airbrush from the Brush Type pop-up menu (if it’s not already chosen).
In the Advanced pane, select the Dynamics checkbox, then play the project (press the Space bar).
The dabs spread out in the canvas.
To further refine the dab animation, adjust the Dynamics controls.

Paint a stroke over time

In the canvas toolbar in Motion, click the Paint Stroke tool (or press P).
The Paint Stroke Tool HUD appears. If the HUD does not appear, press F7 or D.
In the HUD, select the Write On checkbox and any other desired stroke settings.
In the canvas, create your stroke.
When you complete stroke, press Esc to exit the paint mode.
The Paint Stroke Tool HUD is replaced with the Shape HUD. In the Layers list, a Write On Shape behavior is applied to the stroke. To modify the Write On parameters, select the behavior and use the HUD or the Behaviors Inspector.
The faster you draw a stroke, the shorter the duration of the Write On behavior.
Note: If the Create Layers At option in the Project pane of Motion Settings is set to Current Frame, the paint stroke is created at the current playhead position. If set to Start of Project, the stroke is created at frame 1. For more information about the Create Layers At option, see If it’s your first import in Motion.
Press the Space Bar to play back your project.
The stroke is “painted on” as the project plays.
To modify the speed at which the stroke is painted, adjust the duration of the behavior bar in the Timeline or mini-Timeline.
See Write On behavior in Motion.

Create a write-on stroke using an existing shape

You can apply the Write On behavior to an existing shape to draw its outline over time. Because the Write On behavior only affects outlines, the Outline checkbox must be selected in the Style pane of the Shape Inspector.

Canvas showing example of Write On behavior applied to existing shape

Note: When you add a Write On behavior to an existing shape, the behavior spans the duration of the shape (the length of its bar in the Timeline).

In Motion, select the shape you want to use and select its Outline checkbox in the HUD or Style pane of the Shape Inspector.
Note: You can leave the Fill checkbox selected, but only the outline is affected by the Write On behavior.
In the toolbar, click Behaviors, then choose Shape > Write On.
The Write On behavior appears in the Layers list. If the playhead is located at the start of the shape, the visual shape disappears and only the path is visible.
Play the project (press the Space bar).
The outline is drawn over the length of the behavior.
To adjust the speed at which the stroke is painted, adjust the duration of the behavior bar in the Timeline or mini-Timeline.
To adjust the properties of the stroke, use the Shape Inspector.
See Stroke pane controls in Motion.

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Helpful?

Motion User Guide

Create a paint stroke in Motion

Draw a freehand paint stroke

Preview the paint stroke in the Paint Stroke Tool HUD

Change the style of an existing paint stroke

“Particle-ize” a paint stroke

Paint a stroke over time

Create a write-on stroke using an existing shape