Annotation

Fall 2017: This information has been updated to reflect additional drawing objects.
As each mathies tool is updated these latest annotation features will become available.

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Annotation Features
Keyboard Shortcuts
Helpful Hints
Understanding Drawing Layers
PDF Supports

Description

Click on the pencil icon Image annotation button.

found in many of the mathies learning tools to access the annotation features.
Choose the type of annotation you want to make: Freehand Drawing, Lines, Points, Shapes or Text Box.
Click and/or drag in the workspace to create the object. Clicking without dragging will generate a default sized object.
Annotation objects can be edited using the various buttons that appear around selected objects.
See the Helpful Hints below for details.

Annotation Features

	Selection Mode Can be used to: select existing annotation objects select imported image select tool specific objects like money, rods or grids make an annotation drawing its own object (see details below)
	Draw Mode Draw freehand.
	Erase Mode Erase drawings created in draw mode.
	Lines and Points Choose between these options:
	Shapes Choose between these options:
	Text Mode Create a textfield.
	Outline Select the default outline colour, thickness (when available) and transparency for future annotation. Note: These defaults will also be applied to any selected annotation in the workspace.
	Fill Select the default fill colour and transparency when available. Note: These defaults will also be applied to any shape or textfield selected in the workspace.
	Recycle Click to remove selected items (annotation, images or tool specific objects) from the work space; click again to remove all annotation. Alternatively, drag items to the recycle bin to remove them.

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Keyboard Shortcuts

First select an annotation object. Then, perform the desired action using the indicated key(s):

Delete: DEL or Backspace key or SPACE + X
Deselect: ESC key
Move: arrow or WASD or IJKL keys
Copy: SPACE + C
Rotate (if rotation arrow shows when selected): SPACE + R

Helpful Hints

In draw mode, all marks made are part of the same drawing even if you lift your pen or change ink colours.
Click on the Selection arrow each time you want to create a separate drawing object.
In this example, the blue roof, orange outline, and red windows and doors are each separate drawing objects.
This means that they can be repositioned and edited separately from the rest of the drawing.
Make changes to a previous drawing object by selecting it and clicking the pencil button that pops up below the drawing object.
Additional drawing will then be connected to this same drawing object.
Use the paint palette in the panel of annotation tools at the left to change the colour of the ink you wish to draw with next. (Note: this will also change the colour of any selected part of the drawing.)
Use the paint palette that appears when the drawing is selected to change the colour of ALL parts of the selected drawing.
The colour pickers on the panel will affect selected objects as well as future drawn items.
Change the colour/thickness/opacity of an object on the stage by selecting it first and then making your change with the colour pickers and sliders under the object.
- If you are having trouble viewing the video? Try this link or the YouTube version
Use the copy button to make a replica of any drawing, textbox or shape you have created. For textboxes, you can also change the text size and colour..
For objects made outside of draw mode, you are immediately placed into pointer mode so that you can easily edit the object.
You may wish to change colour, resize, rotate or reposition the object.
Line objects can be "rotated" by dragging the end points.
Use the steppers to customize the number line or grid. Change the label colour if desired.
Use the blue button to the right of the number line to determine which parts of the number line you want to see.
The ticks only version might be helpful when working with fractions.
The labels only option might be helpful for labelling a grid axis.

When a number line is rotated or resized the number of intervals remains constant. The interval length is adjusted to fit.
Customize the ruler. The interval length is a non-standard unit of measure.
The ruler can be a helpful tool when estimating lengths of other objects in the workspace.

When a ruler is rotated or resized the interval length remains constant. The number of intervals changes depending on the length of the ruler.
Take a screenshot of your work to share with your teacher or add to a portfolio.

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Understanding Drawing Layers

Creation of Drawing Objects:
Objects created from the same drawing menu are created one on top of each other in the order that they are drawn. The dots in this image are on top of the number line because both types of objects are found in the same menu AND the number line was drawn first.
Similarly, the yellow starburst is on top of the pink square because both objects are from the Shapes menu and the square was drawn first.
Objects from different menus are drawn on different relative layers. Objects from the Lines and Dots menu as well as text and free hand drawings all occupy the same layer. However, they are created on a layer that is above any of the objects from the Shapes menu. To illustrate this, first draw a happy face using objects from the Lines and Dots menu as well as some text.
Now add an oval head. Since the oval is from the Shapes menu, it appears below the objects you have already drawn. Of course, drawing the oval first and then the face would also give this same image.
Changing Layers of Objects in the Workspace:
Click on any object to bring it to the top. Notice, the selected square is now above the starburst. The square stays on this higher level even after it is deselected.
Double click on any object to send it to the lowest layer. Here, the hop(smile) has been sent to the back. The control points and editor buttons indicate it is hiding behind the oval, not deleted.	via GIPHY