Whiteboard Introduction
The whiteboard is a powerful collaboration tool that lets you draw and communicate visually rather than using text only. This slideshow introduces you to the whiteboards and many of their capabilities.
The following tools are available: (left to right in the whiteboard toolbar)
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Basic Whiteboard Shapes
This slide shows some basic shapes drawn on the whiteboard. You are not limited in any way: choose any color, make every shape as large or small as you like (the whiteboards scroll to any size!), and add an unlimited number of shapes!
You can also save any whiteboard as an image for later reference and distribution. Or, you can save a whiteboard in an XML format that allows you to later reload the whitebard into BitWise, letting you continue right where you left off." annotations[3]="
Changing Shape Line/Border Widths
In order to provide more flexibility to the shapes drawn on the whiteboard, you can change the line/border width from 1 to 20 pixels. Notice how the light blue line and the green border around the maroon circle are much thicker than the lines and borders on the objects drawn in the last slide.
If you prefer your whiteboards be blueboards, redboards, or have any other background color, you can change the background color to any color of your choosing." annotations[4]="
Freehand Drawing
BitWise whiteboards also allow you to draw freehand, like using a pen or pencil on a piece of paper. A line has been drawing weaving around some of the existing objects, and BitWise has been written in the upper-left box, using the freehand drawing tool.
If you have a graphics tablet that can control the mouse, the freehand drawing tool can produce especially amazing results with the extra precision and control that a tablet provides." annotations[5]="
Using Layers
Like many professional drawing programs, BitWise retains each shape as a distinct object, allowing you to modify any object later. By using the concept of layers, any object can be brought on top of all other objects or moved below all other objects.
Notice on the whiteboard at left that the purple line now appears on top of the maroon circle (it was brought to the top) and the new light blue circle on the right appears below the yellow circle. The light blue circle was drawn, and then sent to the bottom." annotations[6]="
Modify Objects
It's easy to modify a shape or object. By right-clicking on an object, you can make many adjustments:
At left, many of the objects have changed color since the last slide. You can also move an object at any time using the Move tool." annotations[7]="
Erase Objects
The erase tool lets you remove any object from the whiteboard. As you can see, we have deleted almost everything from the whiteboard since the last frame.
If you make a mistake and delete something that you didn't mean to delete, you can always use the Undo. In fact, you can Undo almost any action.
Lastly, if you want to completely erase any page, you can use the Clear Current Page command from the Edit menu." annotations[8]="
Placing Images on the Whiteboard
Images from files can be placed on the whiteboard, even retaining their transparency! Notice that the pink background shows through the spaces in the cross-platform image.
You can also save an individual image placed on the whiteboard, allowing you to use the whiteboard as a way to show small graphics in a pick-and-choose manner without having to use the file transfer process. Save an image by right-clicking on it and choosing Save Image.
For added convenience, you can even use drag and drop to place images on the whiteboard from your file manager (Explorer, Nautilus, Finder, etc.), or you can paste an image from the clipboard directly on to the whiteboard!" annotations[9]="
Text & Paragraphs
Whiteboards give you tools for both single-line captions and paragraphs of text. The phrase Encrypted Cross-Platform Instant Messaging is a single line of text, the green file transfer features on the right were placed using the text paragraph tool. Like images, text placed on the whiteboard retains its transparency so that it can be easily placed on top of other objects.
Choose any font and color for text or paragraphs. If the other user(s) on the whiteboard don't have that exact font, the best substitution will be used." annotations[10]="
Duplicating Objects
Sometimes you may need several copies of the same object to make a particular figure or diagram. The Duplicate Tool allows you to easily duplicate any shape or object, as shown at right where almost every object has been duplicated. BitWise places the duplicate objects slightly shifted from the original so that they can be easily selected and moved." annotations[11]="
Creating a New Page
If you need more than a single whiteboard page, you can open up to 99 additional pages with a click of the mouse. All subsequent pages are shared just like the first one, and will be immediately opened on all the other participants' whiteboards as well.
The statusbar in the slide at left shows that we are on page 2 of 2; returning to page 1 can be done with the click of a button, and everything on page 1 will still be there."