# Draw Lines

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [August 28, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538 "2003-08-28T01:38:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![amp1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@amp1](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/amp1)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538/1 "2003-08-28T01:38:52Z")

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How do I animate lines being drawn? It’s probably so simple I’m gonna kick myself for it, but how is it done? :cyclops:

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538/2 "2003-08-28T02:34:29Z")

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You could use a mask to uncover what you want drawn  
or  
you could use a shape tween to extend a line or shape  
or  
you could use the drawing API

What kind of line?

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538/3 "2003-08-28T14:32:07Z")

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Say I wanted to show the process of scribbling with the pencil tool… shape tweening?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538/4 "2003-08-28T14:44:49Z")

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Like this?  
[http://www.kirupa.com/developer/actionscript/drawingboard.htm](http://www.kirupa.com/developer/actionscript/drawingboard.htm)

If not, let me know. I just learned how to really use API and I like it!!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538/5 "2003-08-28T14:49:15Z")

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it depends on how complex you want to get. There are a few different ways of going about it.

Heres a script I did that lets you draw drawing API lines dynamically.

[http://proto.layer51.com/d.aspx?f=952](http://proto.layer51.com/d.aspx?f=952)

see the heart drawing example near the bottom.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538/6 "2003-08-28T14:49:16Z")

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Close, but could I make it a movie instead of drawing board? Also, could straight lines be used? :bandit:

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/draw-lines/29538/7 "2003-08-28T15:52:41Z")

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If you just want a line drawn with animation, maybe the API is a bit of an overkill for what you’re doing. If not, then you would have to code it using location, distance, timing, etc. You may as well just draw a line, put a mask on top of it, then shape tween the mask away. That’s how I do it anyhow.

Sen - I saw that tut before and really liked it - good job!! I still have yet to comprehend the whole curveTo thing.