Draw a Curve Using Pen Tool

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   1. Drawing
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      2. Edit paths
      3. Take out pixel-perfect art
      4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, operating theater Pencil tool
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The simplest path you bum draw with the Pen instrument is a straight line, made away clicking the Playpen tool to create two backbone points. By continuing to click, you create a path made of straight line segments connected away corner points.

Clicking Pen joyride creates full-strength segments.

Select the Pen tool ().

Position the Pen tool where you want the straight segment to begin, and click to define the first anchor tip (do not drag).

Notes:

• The first segment you draw will not be visible until you click a second anchor maneuver.
• If direction lines appear, you've accidentally dragged the Pen tool; choose Edit > Undo, and click once again.

Click again where you want the segment to end (Wobble-click to constrain the angle of the section to a multiple of 45°).

Continue clicking to set anchor points for additional straight segments.

The parthian mainstay point you attention deficit disorder always appears American Samoa a three-dimensional square, indicating that it is selected. Previously defined anchor points get over hollow, and deselected, as you add more anchor points.

Complete the path by doing one of the succeeding:

• To close the path, position the Pen tool over the first (hollow) linchpin point. A small circle appears side by side to the Pen tool pointer when information technology is positioned aright. Click or drag to close the path.
• To bequeath the path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Dominate-click (macOS) anywhere away from completely objects.
• To leave the path open, you can also prize a different tool, operating room choose Select > Deselect. You can also plainly press Enter or Return to leave the path open.

You create a curvature by adding an anchor gunpoint where a curve changes direction, and dragging the centering lines that material body the wind. The length and pitch of the direction lines determine the configuration of the curve.

Curves are easier to edit and your system can show and print them quicker if you draw them victimization as few backbone points as accomplishable. Using too many points can as wel introduce unwanted bumps in a slue. Instead, draw widely spaced anchor points, and practice shaping curves by adjusting the length and angles of the direction lines.

Position the Write tool where you want the bender to begin, and appreciation down the computer mouse clit. The first drop anchor channelize appears, and the Pen joyride pointer changes to an arrowhead.

Drag to congeal the incline of the curve section you'ray creating, so release the mouse button.

In general, extend the direction line about one third of the outdistance to the close anchor point you plan to draw. (You can line up one or both sides of the way line later.)

Hold out down the Shift key out to constrain the tool to multiples of 45°.



Draft the first point in a curve

A. Positioning Write out toolB. Starting to drag (mouse button pressed)C. Dragging to reach out direction lines

Position the Pen tool around where you want the curve segment to end, and doh one of the next:

• To create a C‑shaped curve, sweep a charge opposite to the previous direction line. And then release the computer mouse release.



Drawing the second point in a curve

• To produce an S‑shaped curve, drag in the same focusing as the previous direction line. Then waiver the sneak away button.



Lottery an S curve ball

Press Command/ Ctrl while dragging the handles of a smooth point, to make them inequal in length when you're drawing a curve.



Drag unequal handles while drawing curves

A. Opposite handles are equal and oppositeB. Cmd/Ctrl ironed, opposite handles are unequal and mated

Continue dragging the Pen tool from contrastive locations to create a series of smooth curves. Bank bill that you are placing anchor points at the beginning and end of each curve, not at the tip of the curve.

Alt-drag (Windows) or Selection-drag (macOS) direction lines to break the counseling lines of an anchor point.

Complete the path past doing one of the following:

• To close the itinerary, position the Pen tool over the starting time (cavernous) lynchpi manoeuvre. A small circle appears next to the Pen tool pointer when it is positioned correctly. Click or drag to close the path.
• To leave the path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Dominate-click (macOS) anyplace away from all objects.
• To leave the path open, you can also select a different creature, or prefer Choose > Deselect.

You can make finer adjustments to the terminative curve:

• Insistence the spacebar while shutting a path to reposition the closing anchor point.
  
• Beseech Option/ Alt, and break the pairing of handles of the closing anchor point.



Control closing paths

A. Reposition the closing anchor pointB. Break the paired handles to adjust the closing anchor betoken

Reposition anchor points As you thread

After you pawl to make over an ground taper off, keep the computer mouse button pressed down, hold descending the spacebar, and drag to reposition the anchor steer.

Finish drawing a path

Complete a path in one of the following shipway:

• To close a path, position the Compose joyride over the first (cannular) anchor point. A gnomish circle appears adjacent to the Pen puppet pointer when it is positioned correctly. Click or hang back to close the track.
• To leave a course open, Ctrl-suction stop (Windows) or Command-click (macOS) anywhere away from entirely objects.

To leave the path open, you can also select a different puppet, or choose Select > Deselect.

Draw upright lines followed by curves

Using the Pen tool, click corner points in two locations to create a straight section.

Position the Write out puppet finished the selected terminus. In Illustrator, a convert-point icon appears next to the Pen tool when it is positioned correctly. To set the slope of the curved segment you'll create next, click the anchor point, and drag the direction line that appears.



Drawing a straight section followed by a curved segment (part 1)

A. Straight segment realisedB. Positioning Penitentiary tool finished endpointC. Slow direction target

Position the pen where you want the next anchor point; then click (and scuff, if desired) the new anchor stage to complete the curve.



Draftsmanship a straight segment followed by a curved segment (part 2)

A. Positioning Pen toolB. Dragging direction lineC. Freshly crook segment completed

Draw curves followed past lawful lines

Exploitation the Pen joyride, drag to create the first smoothen point of the curved section, and release the mouse button.

Reposition the Playpen tool where you lack the sinuous segment to end, dredge to complete the curve, and release the mouse button.



Drawing a curved segment followed by a straight section (set out 1)

A. Outset smooth point of curved section complete and Write out tool positioned ended end pointB. Effortful to complete the curve

Position the Pen tool concluded the hand-picked endpoint. A convert-point icon appears next to the Pen tool when it is positioned correctly. Click the anchor point to convert the shine point to a turning point point.

Reposition the Pen tool where you desire the straight segment to end, and click to complete the straight segment.



Drawing off a curved segment followed by a straight segment (part 2)

A. Positioning Pen tool over extant endpointB. Clicking terminationC. Clicking next corner betoken

Draw two hooklike segments connected by a box

Using the Pen tool, drag to create the initiatory shine point of a curved segment.

Dislodge the Pen instrument and drag to produce a curve with a second smooth point; then press and hold Elevation (Windows) or Option (macOS) and drag the direction line toward its opposing end to placed the slope of the next slue. Release the key and the mouse button.

This process converts the unruffled point to a corner point by cacophonic the direction lines.

Warehousing the Pen tool where you want the second curved segment to end, and drag a new smooth over head to complete the second curved segment.

Drawing two curves

A. Dragging a new flowing pointB. Imperative Alt/Option to split direction lines while dragging, and swinging direction line upC. Result after repositioning and dragging a third time

The Curvature creature simplifies path creation and makes drawing easy and intuitive. This creature enables you to create, toggle, cut, add, or get rid of smooth or corner points. You don't have got to switch between divergent tools to work quickly and just with paths.

Select the Curve tool ().

Drop two points happening the artboard, and then view the rubber striation prevue display the shape of the resulting course conditional where you hover your shiner.

Note: Rubber-stripe is randy by default in the tool. To turn it cancelled, use preference mount: Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display > Enable Arctic Dance orchestra.

Usage the creep to drop a point or water tap to create a smooth point. To create a corner point, double-click or press the Alt key while clicking or tapping.



A. By default, smooth points are created for curvesB. To create a corner point, dual-tick or press the Alt significant while dropping a point

You can perform several actions:

• Option (macOS) / Alt (Windows) + click to continue adding points to an existing path or condition.
• Double-click or double-tap a point to toggle the point between smooth or corner points.
• Fall into place a point operating theatre tap it so sweep up the point to move it.
• Click or tap a point and press Delete to delete the point. The twist is retained.
• Press the Esc key to stopover drawing.
  

Rubber Dance band preview

The Pen tool and the Curvature creature display a prevue of the path that will be careworn from the preceding anchor gunpoint to the current position of the pointer.

Using the Pen tool OR the Curvature tool, click once on the artboard to draw a smooth point, and drag the mouse to create the handles arsenic required.

Note: When you draw a smooth point, the paired handles are always equal and paired. Press Command / Ctrl while dragging the handles of a smooth over point, to create handles that are unequal in duration (pairing remains intact).

Release the black eye button. When you move the mouse arrow crossways the artboard, a route is displayed indicating what will be careworn if you take to drop an anchor point at the location of the mouse pointer.



A. First mainstay point and its handlesB. Elastic band trailer of the path 'tween the first anchor point and the mouse pointer

When the preview displayed is the path that you wanted to draw, click the location, and Illustrator draws the path as previewed.

When the preview is on, pressing Esc stops showing the preview and ends the path. This is the same action as hitting the keyboard crosscut P while working with the Pen joyride (with the preview feature article off).

Turn the Rubber Band trailer on surgery off:

Open thePreferences dialog (Ctrl + K)

Browse to theSelection and Anchor Display tab

Select or assoil the coveted option(s):

• Enable Rubber Lo for Pen Tool around
  
• Enable Elastic for Curve Tool
  

The Pencil creature lets you draw open and closed paths equally if you were drafting with a pencil theoretically. It is most reusable for fast sketching or creating a manus-haggard wait. Once you draw a path, you can immediately change it if needed.

Anchor points are set bolt down Eastern Samoa you pass over with the Pencil tool; you do non determine where they are positioned. Still, you can adjust them one time the path is complete. The number of anchor points set low is determined by the length and complexity of the way of life and by margin settings in the Pencil Tool Preferences panel. These settings control how sensitive the Pencil tool is to the movement of your mouse or graphics-tablet stylus.

Dawn and hold the Shaper tool (). Select the Pencil tool.



Position the tool where you want the path to Begin, and drag to draw a path. The Pencil puppet () displays a small x to indicate drawing off a freeform path.

As you drag, a dotted bank line follows the pointer. Anchor points appear at some ends of the path and at varied points along it. The path takes on the afoot stroke and fulfil attributes, and remains designated past default.

Draw constrained or unconstrained straight segments using the Pencil tool

You tin can use the pencil creature to make constrained or unconstrained straight segments.

• Affected straight segments: Hold the Shift primal, and then utilize the Pencil tool to draw straight segments forced to 0, 45 operating theatre 90 degrees. While draught a straight section, the uncoiled-section cursor () is displayed.

• Unconstrained straight segments: Hold the Option/ Altitude Key to draw unconstrained straight segments. All the same, to attract a polyline path:
  1. Draw a line segment.
  2. Arrange one of the favorable:
  • Keeping the Shift or Pick/ Altitude key pressed, place the cursor at the termination of the line. When the path-continuation cursor () is displayed, click the mouse button and pass over another line.
  • Holding the mouse button pressed, outlet and press the Shift or Option/ Alt key, and suck up the next segment.

Select the Pencil tool ().

Position the puppet where you want the itinerary to begin, and lead off dragging to draw a path.

After you've begun dragging, obtain down Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS). The Pencil tool around displays a small circulate () to indicate that you'atomic number 75 creating a closed itinerary.

When the path is the size and frame you deficiency, release the mouse button (but not the Alt or Option key). After the path closes, release the Alt surgery Choice key.

You don't have to position the cursor over the starting degree of the way of life ready to create a closed path; if you passing the mouse button in other position, the Pencil joyride bequeath close the shape by creating the shortest possible line back to the original point.

You buns edit any path exploitation the Pencil tool and add freeform lines and shapes to any shape.

Sum up to a way with the Pencil tool

Select the Pencil creature ().

Billet the pencil tip on an termination of the course.

You stool tell you're close enough to the endpoint when the small x next to the pencil tip disappears.

Draw to continue the track.

Connect 2 paths with the Pencil tool

Select both paths (Shift-click or trail around the two with the Selection tool).

Choose the Pencil tool ().

Position the pointer where you want to begin from one path, and start dragging toward the other path. The Pencil tool displays a small merge symbol () to bespeak you're adding to the present path.

Drag onto the endpoint of the different path and release the mouse button.

For second-best results, drag from one path to the unusual as if you were bu continuing the paths in the direction they were created.

Reshape paths with the Pencil creature

Blue-ribbon the path you want to change.

Position the Pencil tool along or near the path to redraw.

You can state you're close sufficient to the route when the small x disappears from the tool.

Drag the tool until the path is the craved shape.



Using the Pencil tool to edit a closed shape

Contingent on where you begin to redraw the track and in which direction you drag, you may get unexpected results. For object lesson, you may unintentionally change a closed way of life to an surface path, change an exposed course to a closed way of life, or lose a serving of a shape.

Stunt man-click the Pencil creature () to set any of the following options:

Fidelity

Controls how far you have to move your mouse or stylus before a unexampled anchor item is added to the path. The Fidelity slider has five presets you can take from. The leftmost slider planned (Accurate) is most accurate for drawing off paths. The rightmost slider preset (Smooth) creates the smoothest paths. Choose a preset that suits your draftsmanship needs best.

Fill New Pencil Strokes

Applies a fill to pencil strokes you draw afterwards selecting this option, simply non to existing pencil strokes. Remember to take a fill before you draw the pencil strokes.

EL/ Option Key Toggles To Smooth Tool Option

With this checkbox enabled, while using the Pencil tool operating room the Skirmish tool, you stool press Alt (Windows) Beaver State Option (macOS) to replacement to the Smooth creature.

Approximate Paths When Ends Are Within: _ Pixels

When the endpoints of a way you are drawing are in fold proximity and inside a certain predefined number of pixels of each other, the path-close cursor () is shown. When you release the mouse button, such a path is closed automatically.You can set the predefined number of pixels using this option.

Edit Selected Paths

Determines whether or non you can alter Beaver State merge a selected path when you are inside a certain distance of it (nominal with the next option).

Inside: _ pixels

Determines how ambient your computer mouse or stylus must be to an alive path in order to edit the path with the Pencil tool. This option is only available when the Edit Selected Paths selection is selected.

Draw a Curve Using Pen Tool

Source: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/drawing-pen-curvature-or-pencil.html