Using the session planner line tools
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 1:02 pm
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In this tutorial, you'll learn all about the line tools
The session planner comes with 4 lines tools
and when you click a line using the selector tool, then its modification functions are shown
Let's start by creating a line, using the standard line tool.
Click the standard line tool on the tool menu
Drawing a line on the canvas
1. Move your mouse cursor to the point on the canvas where you want the line to start.
2. Now press and hold your mouse in, and move your mouse cursor
This activates the line straightener. Keep the shift key pressed and move your mouse in a circular motion and notice how the line stays straight horizontally, vertically and in 45 degree angles.
4. Let go of the shift key, and move your cursor to where you want the line to end.
5. Let go of the mouse button, to place the line onto the canvas.
Drawing a line with the line functions
The straight line tool, should still be selected. If not then select it.
Move your mouse to the line functions, at the bottom of the screen.
If you hover your mouse over each function, it tells you what functionality it adds to the line.
From left to right we have
Start Arrow - adds an arrow to the beginning of the line
End Arrow - adds an arrow to the end of the line
Square Callout - create a square text box in the middle of the line
Oval Callout - adds an oval text box to the centre of the line
Triangle Callout - adds a triangle text box to the middle of the line
Curved Line - turns the line into a curved line
Gradient Fill - fills the line with a faded gradient colour
These functions are the same for the standard line, dashed line and wavy line.
The multi-line does not have any functions.
Creating a line with 2 arrows
1. Click the start and end arrow function buttons, to turn them on.
2. Now create a line like we did before.
Notice that the line is created with the arrows at the start and end of the line.
Creating a line with an arrow and a square callout
1. Turn off the start arrow function and turn on the square callout
2. Now create a line like we did before
When you let go of the mouse button, notice that a window popup is displayed asking for some text.
3. Insert 22 into the text box and click "add"
Notice that the line we created now has a square box in the middle with "22" inside it and also ends with an arrow.
Now go ahead and create 2 lines, one with a oval and the other with a triangle callout, but deselect the arrow like the image shows below. Enter 22 in the text boxes of each line.
Creating a curved line with a gradient fill
This time we'll also change the thickness of the line using the pen thickness slider
1. Go back to the line functions and select end arrow, deselect the callout and select curved and gradient fill.
2. Drag the pen slide down a peg to change the thickness of the line.
3. Set the line colour, by clicking the ink colour function button
Now when we create the line, there is a slight change to the way we create a line with a curve.
4. Move your mouse cursor into position, where you want the line to start on the canvas.
5. Press and hold your mouse button, just like you do when creating a normal line
6. Drag your mouse cursor to where you want the line to finish.
7. Let go of the mouse button, but this time move your mouse cursor to create the line curve.
8. When you have the curve you want, click the mouse button once to place the curved line down.
Notice the line is created with the end arrow, the curve and it is filled with a gradient.
When you use the selector tool and click a line on the canvas, 2 line end handles will appear, indicating the line is selected.
And the functions the selected line is using will also be shown.
This means, you can dynamically modify and reposition the line without having to re-create it.
As an example, let’s changed the curved line colour and add arrows to the dashed line you created.
1. Click the selector tool, if it's not already highlighted
2. Now click the red dashed line we created.
Notice that there are 3 functions you can modify. These are the start and end arrows and the gradient fill.
And also notice there is an extra handle in the middle of the line. This is because the line is a curved line.
Let's add an end arrow, and slightly alter the curve of the line.
3. Click the end arrow function, and watch the end arrow appear on the line.
4. Now alter the curve of the line, by clicking the middle handle and holding your mouse button down. Then move your mouse cursor to alter the curve.
Notice how easy it is to alter the curved line.
Changing the thickness and colour of a line
1. Click the wavy line to highlight it
2, Now drag one of the end arrows to alter its position and let go of the mouse.
3. While the wavy line is still selected, drag the pen thickness slider to alter the thickness of the line
4. And click any of the colours on the ink menu to change the line colour.
Ok, let's clear the canvas and start fresh.
Right click your mouse anywhere on the canvas and select "clear canvas"
Multi Line Tool
The multi-line tool allows you to create any amount of lines that are joined together.
Let's create a white 3d box using the multi-line tool.
1. Select the multi-line tool
2. Click the white ink function button
Note:
The way you create lines with the multi-line tool is slightly different to creating normal lines.
1. Move your mouse cursor to the centre of the canvas
Note: You don't need to hold the mouse button in for this tool.
2. Click your mouse button once, to start creating the line
3. Now move your mouse cursor to position 1 and click you mouse button once.
You should notice a white line has been added to the canvas.
4. Move your mouse to position 2 and click again
You should now see 2 lines have been created, which are attached.
5. Now move your mouse to position 3 and click.
6. Finally, move your mouse to the start position but this time "double click" the mouse button to finish creating the line
You should now see a 3d square box like below
Just like the other lines, you can modify a multi-line using the selector tool
Modifying a multi-line on the canvas
1. Click the selector tool, if it's not already highlighted
2. Now click the white multi line we just created.
Notice that each point we clicked, when creating the line has an adjustable handle.
3. Drag any of the handles, to reposition line so it looks like the one below:
4. Click any ink function button to change its colour.
5. Click anywhere on the canvas, to de-select the line.
That's it, you should now be able to confidently create different lines with the session planner.
Check out the "Advanced Line Techniques" video, to learn some cool ways to create lines.
In this tutorial, you'll learn all about the line tools
The session planner comes with 4 lines tools
- Standard Line
- Dashed Line
- Wavy Line
- Multi Line
and when you click a line using the selector tool, then its modification functions are shown
Let's start by creating a line, using the standard line tool.
Click the standard line tool on the tool menu
Drawing a line on the canvas
1. Move your mouse cursor to the point on the canvas where you want the line to start.
2. Now press and hold your mouse in, and move your mouse cursor
3. While moving the mouse cursor around, press and hold the SHIFT key on the keyboard.Notice how the line follows the mouse cursor, while the mouse button is pressed.
Keep the mouse button pressed, until I tell you to depress it.
This activates the line straightener. Keep the shift key pressed and move your mouse in a circular motion and notice how the line stays straight horizontally, vertically and in 45 degree angles.
4. Let go of the shift key, and move your cursor to where you want the line to end.
5. Let go of the mouse button, to place the line onto the canvas.
Drawing a line with the line functions
The straight line tool, should still be selected. If not then select it.
Move your mouse to the line functions, at the bottom of the screen.
If you hover your mouse over each function, it tells you what functionality it adds to the line.
From left to right we have
Start Arrow - adds an arrow to the beginning of the line
End Arrow - adds an arrow to the end of the line
Square Callout - create a square text box in the middle of the line
Oval Callout - adds an oval text box to the centre of the line
Triangle Callout - adds a triangle text box to the middle of the line
Curved Line - turns the line into a curved line
Gradient Fill - fills the line with a faded gradient colour
These functions are the same for the standard line, dashed line and wavy line.
The multi-line does not have any functions.
Creating a line with 2 arrows
1. Click the start and end arrow function buttons, to turn them on.
2. Now create a line like we did before.
Notice that the line is created with the arrows at the start and end of the line.
Creating a line with an arrow and a square callout
1. Turn off the start arrow function and turn on the square callout
2. Now create a line like we did before
When you let go of the mouse button, notice that a window popup is displayed asking for some text.
3. Insert 22 into the text box and click "add"
Notice that the line we created now has a square box in the middle with "22" inside it and also ends with an arrow.
Now go ahead and create 2 lines, one with a oval and the other with a triangle callout, but deselect the arrow like the image shows below. Enter 22 in the text boxes of each line.
Notice that you can only select 1 callout function at a time, and when you select another callout then the previously selected callout is automatically turned off.
Creating a curved line with a gradient fill
This time we'll also change the thickness of the line using the pen thickness slider
1. Go back to the line functions and select end arrow, deselect the callout and select curved and gradient fill.
2. Drag the pen slide down a peg to change the thickness of the line.
3. Set the line colour, by clicking the ink colour function button
Now when we create the line, there is a slight change to the way we create a line with a curve.
4. Move your mouse cursor into position, where you want the line to start on the canvas.
5. Press and hold your mouse button, just like you do when creating a normal line
6. Drag your mouse cursor to where you want the line to finish.
7. Let go of the mouse button, but this time move your mouse cursor to create the line curve.
8. When you have the curve you want, click the mouse button once to place the curved line down.
Notice the line is created with the end arrow, the curve and it is filled with a gradient.
Altering lines on the canvas
You can use any combination of functions with the standard, dashed and wavy line tools.
Exercise:
Create 2 lines, the first one should be a dashed line that is curved and has a red gradient fill.
And the second line should be a white wavy line, with a start and end arrow.
Start by selecting the dashed line tool, turning on the functions and selecting the colour.
If you did them right, you should see lines like the ones here:
The more you use the line tools, the easier it will get to quickly create the lines you want.
When you use the selector tool and click a line on the canvas, 2 line end handles will appear, indicating the line is selected.
And the functions the selected line is using will also be shown.
This means, you can dynamically modify and reposition the line without having to re-create it.
As an example, let’s changed the curved line colour and add arrows to the dashed line you created.
1. Click the selector tool, if it's not already highlighted
2. Now click the red dashed line we created.
Notice that there are 3 functions you can modify. These are the start and end arrows and the gradient fill.
And also notice there is an extra handle in the middle of the line. This is because the line is a curved line.
Let's add an end arrow, and slightly alter the curve of the line.
3. Click the end arrow function, and watch the end arrow appear on the line.
4. Now alter the curve of the line, by clicking the middle handle and holding your mouse button down. Then move your mouse cursor to alter the curve.
Notice how easy it is to alter the curved line.
Changing the thickness and colour of a line
1. Click the wavy line to highlight it
2, Now drag one of the end arrows to alter its position and let go of the mouse.
3. While the wavy line is still selected, drag the pen thickness slider to alter the thickness of the line
4. And click any of the colours on the ink menu to change the line colour.
Ok, let's clear the canvas and start fresh.
Right click your mouse anywhere on the canvas and select "clear canvas"
Multi Line Tool
The multi-line tool allows you to create any amount of lines that are joined together.
Let's create a white 3d box using the multi-line tool.
1. Select the multi-line tool
2. Click the white ink function button
Note:
The way you create lines with the multi-line tool is slightly different to creating normal lines.
1. Move your mouse cursor to the centre of the canvas
Note: You don't need to hold the mouse button in for this tool.
2. Click your mouse button once, to start creating the line
3. Now move your mouse cursor to position 1 and click you mouse button once.
You should notice a white line has been added to the canvas.
4. Move your mouse to position 2 and click again
You should now see 2 lines have been created, which are attached.
5. Now move your mouse to position 3 and click.
6. Finally, move your mouse to the start position but this time "double click" the mouse button to finish creating the line
You should now see a 3d square box like below
Just like the other lines, you can modify a multi-line using the selector tool
Modifying a multi-line on the canvas
1. Click the selector tool, if it's not already highlighted
2. Now click the white multi line we just created.
Notice that each point we clicked, when creating the line has an adjustable handle.
3. Drag any of the handles, to reposition line so it looks like the one below:
4. Click any ink function button to change its colour.
5. Click anywhere on the canvas, to de-select the line.
That's it, you should now be able to confidently create different lines with the session planner.
Check out the "Advanced Line Techniques" video, to learn some cool ways to create lines.