MS Paint Using the Pencil and Brush Tools
The Pencil and Brush tools in MS Paint are the main tools for drawing freehand lines and strokes. While the Shapes tool draws neat, predefined shapes, the Pencil and Brush tools follow the exact movement of the mouse and create hand-drawn lines. These tools are ideal for sketches, signatures, custom drawings, and artistic work.
The Pencil Tool
The Pencil tool draws a thin, single-pixel-wide line that follows the movement of the mouse exactly. It works like a real pencil — every curve, loop, or stroke made with the mouse appears on the canvas.
How to Use the Pencil Tool
- Click on the Home tab in the ribbon
- Click the Pencil icon in the Tools group
- Choose a colour from the Colors group
- Move the mouse onto the canvas
- Click and hold the left mouse button
- Move the mouse to draw — a line follows the cursor
- Release the mouse button to stop drawing
Example: Select the Pencil tool, choose red as Color 1, and write a name on the canvas. The result looks like a handwritten signature in red.
Left Click vs Right Click with the Pencil
The Pencil tool uses two colours based on which mouse button is held:
- Left click and drag – draws with Color 1 (the foreground colour)
- Right click and drag – draws with Color 2 (the background colour)
Pencil Size
Click the Size button in the ribbon to change the pencil thickness. A thicker pencil draws bolder strokes. A thinner pencil draws fine, detailed lines.
The Brush Tool
The Brush tool draws freehand lines just like the Pencil tool, but it offers multiple brush textures. This creates different artistic effects depending on the chosen brush style.
How to Select the Brush Tool
- Click on the Home tab
- Click the Brushes icon in the Tools group
- A dropdown menu appears showing all available brush types
- Click a brush type to select it
- Choose a colour and draw on the canvas
Types of Brushes Available in MS Paint
| Brush Name | What It Looks Like |
|---|---|
| Brush (Round) | A standard round brush stroke |
| Calligraphy Brush 1 | A flat, angled stroke like calligraphy writing |
| Calligraphy Brush 2 | A thinner angled stroke |
| Airbrush | A spray-paint effect with soft, spread-out dots |
| Oil Brush | A thick, multi-stranded stroke like oil paint |
| Crayon | A rough, uneven texture like a real crayon |
| Marker | A semi-transparent, bold marker stroke |
| Natural Pencil | A grey, sketchy pencil look |
| Watercolor Brush | A soft, see-through brushstroke like watercolours |
Changing Brush Size
Use the Size button in the ribbon to make brush strokes thicker or thinner. A large airbrush with a big size setting creates a wide spray effect, while a small size setting creates a fine mist.
Pencil vs Brush – Key Differences
| Feature | Pencil Tool | Brush Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Line type | Hard, precise edge | Textured, artistic edge |
| Texture options | None | 9 different brush textures |
| Best for | Precise drawing, sketching | Artistic drawing, painting effects |
| Minimum width | 1 pixel | Varies by brush type |
Drawing Straight Lines with the Pencil
The Pencil tool normally follows any mouse movement. To draw a perfectly straight horizontal or vertical line with the Pencil, hold the Shift key while dragging the mouse. This snaps the line to 0° or 90°.
Practical Tips for Using the Pencil and Brush Tools
- Draw slowly for more control, especially with a mouse
- Use the Zoom feature (View tab) to zoom into a small area for detailed drawing
- Press Ctrl + Z immediately to undo any stroke that does not look right
- Try the Crayon brush for a hand-made look
- Try the Airbrush for shading and shadow effects
- Use the Natural Pencil brush for sketching outlines before adding colour
Practical Exercise
- Select the Pencil tool and write a name on the canvas in blue
- Select the Oil Brush and draw a curved stroke in dark green
- Select the Airbrush at a large size and spray a light orange cloud shape on the canvas
- Select the Crayon brush and draw a rough sun shape with yellow
Experimenting with different brushes helps discover which one suits a particular drawing style.