Pen and Ghost Tools in iDesignIts: Create Lines, Meshes, and Flexible Design Patterns

The Pen and Ghost tools in the iDesignIts Design Studio give you different ways to add lines and structure to your designs.

Both tools can be used to create interesting patterns, outlines, and mesh-like designs-but there is one important difference.

Pen lines are always visible. Ghost lines are visible only when the dots are visible or selected.

This makes the two tools useful for different stages of the design process.

The Pen Tool. The Pen tool creates lines that remain visible on your design.

Select the Pen tool from the left-side menu and draw your line on the canvas.

Once created, the line remains visible even when the dots are turned off.

Draw a Single Line. You can use the Pen tool to create a simple single line.

This can be useful for outlines, decorative elements, design details, connecting points, and creating custom shapes.

Simply draw the line where you want it on the canvas.

Create Multiple Lines. The Pen tool isn't limited to a single line.

You can create multiple lines to build more complex designs.

Multiple lines can be arranged together to create patterns, structured shapes, or decorative elements.

This is particularly useful when you're building a design that requires repeated lines or a more detailed visual structure.

Create a Mesh. You can also use the Pen tool to create a mesh.

A mesh is made from multiple lines arranged together, creating a structured network or grid-like appearance.

Meshes can be useful for creating decorative patterns, fashion design elements, jewelry concepts, geometric artwork, and structured shapes.

The spacing between the lines in the mesh can be adjusted, giving you control over how dense or open the design appears.

Adjusting Mesh Spacing. Want a tighter mesh? Reduce the spacing between the lines.

Want a more open design? Increase the spacing.

This allows you to experiment with different levels of detail without having to completely redraw your design.

The Ghost Tool. The Ghost tool works differently from Pen.

Ghost lines are designed to be visible only when the dots are visible or selected.

This makes Ghost particularly useful when you want to work with the underlying dot structure without having permanent lines displayed on your final design.

For example, you might use Ghost lines while shaping a design with Dot Art.

When the dots are visible, the Ghost lines help you see the connections and structure.

When the dots are turned off, the Ghost lines disappear.

Pen vs. Ghost. The easiest way to remember the difference is this: Pen lines stay visible when dots are hidden. Ghost lines do not.

Pen: Draw -> Line stays visible.

Ghost: Draw -> Line appears with dots -> Line disappears when dots are hidden.

Combine Pen, Ghost, and Dot Art. The real flexibility comes from using these tools together.

You can start with Dot Art, move the dots into the shape you want, and then use Ghost lines to work with the dot structure.

Once you're happy with the design, use Pen to create permanent lines that remain visible.

You can then build multiple lines or a mesh and adjust the spacing to achieve the look you're after.

A simple workflow: Dots -> Shape -> Ghost -> Refine -> Pen -> Create Lines or Mesh -> Adjust Spacing.

This gives you both a flexible working structure and permanent design elements.

Experiment With Your Design. Pen and Ghost give you two different ways to approach line-based design.

Use Ghost when you want lines that work alongside your dots and disappear when the dots are hidden.

Use Pen when you want your lines to remain part of the visible design.

Whether you're creating a simple line, multiple lines, or a detailed mesh, you can adjust the spacing and arrangement to create the effect you want.

Start with dots, experiment with Ghost, and turn your finished ideas into permanent designs with Pen.