Draw, write and measure
Draw on the map, stamp icons, add text, measure distances and point things out to your players.
Drawings, text, measurements and the laser pointer all show in the player view, so you can mark up the map during play and show your players where things are. To show them a handout or a portrait, see Show an image to your players.
Draw on the map
The draw button in the toolbar holds three tools: Pen, Icon Stamp and Drawing Eraser. Press B to select the draw tools, and B again to go to the next of the three.
Click the small arrow next to the draw button to open the draw options.
Pen
Select Pen.
In the draw options, choose the Ink: White or Black. Set the line width with Pen Size.
Drag on the map to draw.
Draw a path with the Pen.
Icon Stamp
In the draw options, click an icon under Icons, for example Trap, Locked or Treasure. This also selects Icon Stamp.
Click the map to place the icon. Click again to place another one.
Drawing Eraser
Select Drawing Eraser and drag over the ink. It removes only the part under the eraser, and an icon goes when the eraser covers its centre. Set the width with Eraser Size.
To remove every drawing in the scene, click Delete All Drawings in the draw options.
Change a drawing
Select the Move/Select tool. Click a drawing to select it, then drag it to move it. Right-click a drawing for Color, Change Icon, Duplicate and Delete.
Add text
Click Text Tool in the toolbar, or press T.
Click the map where the text goes. The Add text window opens.
Type your text. Press Shift + Enter for a new line.
Press Enter or click Create.
Add a label to a room with the Text Tool.
Click the small arrow next to the text button to set Colour, Size and Bold. When one text is selected, the change applies to it. Otherwise, it applies to the next text you add.
Drag a text to move it. A selected text shows handles to resize and rotate it. Right-click a text to Edit Text, change Text Color, Background Color or Font Size, set Bold or Italic, or Delete it.
Measure
The measure button holds three shapes:
- Line: the distance between two points.
- Circle/Sphere: an area around a point, for example a spell radius.
- Cone: a cone from a point, for example a breath weapon.
Press M to select the measure tool, and M again to go to the next shape.
Choose a shape.
Drag from the start point. A label shows the distance in the units of the scene.
Measure a cone from a token. Release the mouse button. The measurement goes away after two seconds.
To keep measurements on the map, open the measure options and turn on Persist Measurements. Turn it off to remove them all.
When Snap to grid is on, measurements start and end in the centre of a cell. See Line up the grid.
Point with the laser
The laser pointer draws a glowing line that fades after a moment. Use it to show your players where to look.
Open the options of the Move/Select button and choose Laser Pointer. You can also press V: it switches between Move/Select and Laser Pointer.
Hold the left mouse button and move the pointer over the map.
Point out a door with the laser pointer.
For a quick point with any tool, hold the middle mouse button and move the pointer.
Set Laser colour and Laser size in the options of the Move/Select button. Atlas uses them on every map. Sky blue, blue and white stay clear for colour-blind players.