Graphics and Multimedia
Primary 4 · Science and Elementary Technology
Graphics and Multimedia
Lesson 2 of 4
13 min
Let's begin
Byiringiro wants to draw the banana trees behind his house. Their leaves are long and curly, not neat squares or circles. "How can I draw such wiggly shapes on a computer?" he asks.
He needs the freehand tools: tools that follow your hand, just like a pencil.
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Brush | Draws a line wherever you drag the mouse or your finger on the touchpad. Change its colour, size and shape in Tool properties. |
| Eraser | Rubs out part of your drawing. A big eraser rubs out a lot at once; a small one is good for details. |
| Bucket (flood fill) | Fills a closed area with the colour you chose, in one click. |
| Colour picker | Click any spot in your picture and it picks up that colour, so you can use it again. |
The bucket fills everything up to the edges of a shape. If your outline has even a tiny gap, the colour leaks out and can fill the whole canvas! If that happens, click Undo, close the gap with the brush, and try again.
Tip
Close the door before you pour
Before you "pour" colour with the bucket, make sure the shape's outline is closed all the way round, like shutting a door.
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
Which tool would you use to colour in a big closed circle quickly?
Answer: The bucket (flood fill).
Keza wants to use exactly the same green that is already in her picture. Which tool helps?
Answer: The colour picker.
Mugisha clicked the bucket inside his house and the whole canvas turned blue. Why, and what should he do?
Answer: The house outline had a gap, so the colour leaked out. He should click Undo, close the gap, then fill again.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The exercises (Try it yourself and the practice questions) are written by Ganzaa. Sugar and its Paint activity are free software from Sugar Labs.
Quick check
Match each freehand tool to what it does.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
