# S.O.S. \> using the drawing API on a Sprite

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/s-o-s-using-the-drawing-api-on-a-sprite/269046>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [August 21, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/s-o-s-using-the-drawing-api-on-a-sprite/269046 "2008-08-21T19:05:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![marianod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@marianod](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/marianod)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/s-o-s-using-the-drawing-api-on-a-sprite/269046/1 "2008-08-21T19:05:14Z")

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Hello,  
I’m new to AS3 so I have a few questions, hopefully someone will be able to help me:

1. Is it possible to use the drawing tool features over a Sprite instead of a Bitmap or the canvas should always be a bitmap?

2. I have a function that generates different bitmap layers and gives the active layer the name “layer” and I need to draw over that layer instead of the stage  
Here’s part of the code which draws on the stage:

* * *

## stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE\_DOWN,prepareToDraw); function prepareToDraw(event:MouseEvent):void { stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE\_MOVE,drawGraphics); stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE\_UP,stopDrawing); }

My question is: is it possible to draw over the active “layer” instead of the stage? I’m stuck with this problem and I can’t find the solution ☹  
Any help will be very appreciated.  
thank you very much