Debra Cameron - Learning GNU Emacs, 3rd Edition

Table 7-7summarizes the commands for editing in picture mode.

Table 7-7. Picture mode commands

We would be remiss if we didn't introduce you to artist mode, an easy way to create ASCII art using the mouse. (You can also use keyboard commands, but trust us—you won't want to.)

Artist mode is a minor mode related to picture mode, so you use them together. For example, you might draw using artist mode, then edit the picture in picture mode. Or you might choose to use artist mode alone for your creations.

We're going to give you a taste of artist mode; you can perfect your skills in your spare time. When you start artist mode, picture mode starts automatically.

Type: M-x artist-mode

Artist appears on the mode line, as does Picture.

When you start artist mode, pen drawing is selected by default.

Hold down the left mouse button and move around to scribble.

A random scribble.

With the pen, you can draw freestyle. Hold down the middle mouse button and a menu appears, with Drawing, Edit, and Settings submenus. The Drawing menu offers a variety of shapes from which to choose. Now that we've scribbled, let's create some graffiti using the spray can.

Select Spray Can from the Drawing menu, then spray the screen by holding down the left mouse button and moving the mouse.

A random spray.

We aren't going to go deep into artist mode, but we would like to give you a flavor of the basic drawing choices. You can draw rectangles (our personal favorite), ellipses, lines (which strive to be straight), and poly-lines (which strive to be polygon-angular). Figure 7-6shows a representative sample of shapes. With practice, you can create complex drawings and edit them, either using the mouse or using standard picture mode commands.

Figure 7-6. A representative sample of artist shapes

For rectangles, lines, and ellipses, hold down the left mouse and pull them to the size and, in the case of lines, angle you prefer. (Ellipses are made of straight lines, so use your imagination; this is ASCII art after all.) For poly-lines, draw a line by holding down the left mouse button, then release it. Move the mouse away from that line to the next corner of the polygon and click. Emacs draws a line connecting the two points. Poly-lines allow you to create polygons quickly.

Table 7-8provides an overview of artist commands. Artist works very well with the mouse and the middle-button mouse menu; if you're mouse-averse, you'll prefer picture mode.

Table 7-8. Artist mode commands