Some tricks to using Scribbler Too #ScribblerToo #LifeImitatesDoodles

I draw my Scribbler Too creations using my mouse.  Many people mention the trouble they have controlling the lines this way.  There are some tricks.

1. Keep your lines short.  The tendency is to draw a line from one point to another in what feels like a section.  For example, take the arm in the first two drawings here.  In a pen/pencil drawing, for the forearm, I would draw a line from elbow to wrist.  But with a mouse you have a limited sweep, so I drew about half-way, released the button, immediately held it down again and finished the arm.

It all depends on your set-up and the size of your picture.  Try to get a feel for how far you can go before your lines go wobbly, and try to stop your lines before then.  You might be able to get longer lines with practice, but probably not--it's the mouse, not you.

Pause a second to evaluate before continuing.  You can only erase one line, so give yourself the chance to realize that you don't like that line before you've created another.

2. You can kind-of erase.  Set Color to FFFFFF, which is white, and go over the areas you don't like.  Your lines will start spiking, so open Brush Settings and set your Radius to somewhere around 7-10 (50 is default).  To go back to black, set Color to 000000 (black).  You'll get the spiking wherever you've used white, so I usually wait until I'm almost done to do this kind of erasing.

You can get cool effects by alternating between FFFFFF and 000000.  The snakeskin in the last drawing was done using this method.

3. You can save your drawing and then reload it to continue.  If you aren't finished, but really like what you've done so far, save it.  Then if you mess up, you can re-start at a point before you did.
To upload a saved drawing (or photo),  click on images and then upload:

A thumbnail will appear under Upload.  Click on it and the image will appear.  Be sure to also tick the box 'Include in Saved Image'.

You can move the image around where you want it, then click the word 'Scribble' and the image will be stationary and you can start drawing again.  'Scribble' will change to 'Arrange'.  If you click on arrange you can move your image again.

4. And the most important trick is to be flexible.  If your drawing isn't turning into what you want be willing to change it into something else.  The drawings below were all an attempt to draw a Medusa.  I had an idea in my head of a fairly standard mythological Medusa dressed in robes, with snakes in her hair.

My first attempt changed almost immediately.  I had left my Radius setting at 50, which was too dark for snaky hair.  I like the effect I had though, and decided to do a model instead.

Hi-Fashion

I was trying to get a curled up snake in the hair, and it reminded me more of a balloon, so this Medusa became a young woman from an earlier age walking in the park.  Notice the similarity in pose to the drawing above.  I knew the pose I wanted, but details such as the folding of the hands and sleeve (or lack thereof) were decided on as I drew my lines.  In other words, I didn't try to over-control Scribbler Too--I just went along with it.

Strolling Through the Park

I got close with my last drawing, though she's not the typical Medusa.  I think she's more interesting for that.  I did have trouble with my values though.  Scribbler Too doesn't do solid darks well.  This drawing pushes the limit for complexity with only black and white.  This really would have worked better if I had used Color and added in some grays.

Modern Day Medusa

I didn't find this at all frustrating even though I still haven't created the Medusa that I was imagining.  I think I've come up with more interesting figures in the long run, and it was fun to see what ended up on the screen.