Welcome back to uLearn Tutorials
By far, the pen tool is the most accurate in making selections.
If you need to make selections that require straight lines and curves,
then the pen tool is the one to use.
Hi, my name is Michael Chow
and today, am going to show how to use the pen tool in Illustrator.
In your preferences (Mac: Command K; PC: Control K),
the pen tool will either look like the tip of a pen icon
or a precise icon 'X.'
When using the one tool tool, it's important to pay attention
to make sure you're doing what you want.
The image that was shown here, shows you exactly what type of pen you are using
either the standard or precise.
I like to draw with a stroke colour and no fill colour. Why?
If you draw or trace with a fill colour, you won't be able to see what you are doing!
Click on the fill colour, and click on none (the red slash)
When you use the pen tool, you're creating a path.
The path consists of curved and straight segments connected by anchor points.
When you click with the pen tool,
you create corner points and straight segments.
When you drag with the pen tool, you can create smooth points and curve segments,
which have direction handles you can use to change the curved segments.
The shape of the curve segments is defined by the length and direction of the direction handles.
The pen tool works by placing anchor points down and drawing lines in between them.
Click on the artboard with the pen tool selected. You’ll notice a point appears.
Now click on another place on the artboard.
Another point appears and a line is drawn between the two points.
When you click and drag in one motion, the point you place will be a curve point.
One which changes the nature of the path from straight to curved.
The lines you see extending from a curve point as you drag are called handles.
Use your hollow arrow tool (the white direction selection tool)
and pull the handles, or to move the point along the path.
As you continue to draw, your path takes shape.
One good hint:
you do not need a jillion points to create a path.
One to define a corner, one to define a curve.
If you try to define a curve with two or three or more points, your line will be lumpy and bumpy and not great.
Once you have completed your shape
you can select anchor points with the hollow arrow tool (direct selection tool)
which is the direct selection tool to adjust them.
drawing lines
Select the Pen Tool
Click once to add the first anchor point.
Move your mouse to the next position
and click again to create the second point.
The two anchor points will be connected together.
Continue doing this to create a W shape as shown.
If you want to draw a new separate line, click the Selection Tool
and click back the Pen Tool again.
If you want to stop drawing the pen tool
either Hold Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key
and click anywhere on the page or
choose a tool in the tool box.
I prefer the Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key!
continue where you left off
Choose your pen tool again or P on the keyboard to select the pen tool
Go to either end of the path
And you should have a Pen with a slash
if you see this, go ahead and click on any of your ends
to continue with your drawing
to close a path
click back the starting point to close the shape.
As you near to the starting point, the icon will change from a + to circle
draw a curve line
Select the Pen Tool. Make your first point.
Make your second point, but don’t release the mouse. Instead,
drag the mouse downward or upward slowly.
You’ll notice the line starts to curve.
When you get the curve you want, release the mouse button.
Click and drag out the handles to create a smooth anchor point.
changing path directions
Choose the Direct Selection Tool (the white tool)
To change the path direction of an already drawn line,
hold down the Option (Mac) or Alt (PC) key
and drag the handle up to change the path direction.
Release the mouse button when ready.
drawing a circular path
Continue adding points, click and drag to create a smooth anchor point.
Continue doing this to create the shape as shown.
Now, click back the starting point to close the path.
To change the path direction of an already drawn line, hold down the Option (Mac) or Alt (PC) key
and drag the handle up to change the path direction.
Release the mouse button when ready.
Removing: (removes existing points from a path)
To remove point, choose the Pen Tool with the minus sign.
Or when the pen tool is still selected
hover over an anchor point, and the Pen tool will appear with the minus sign.
Click on the anchor point to delete it.
Adding: (adds additional points anywhere on a path)
To add a new anchor point, choose the Pen Tool with the plus sign.
Or, with the Pen tool still selected,
hover over a path, and the Pen tool will appear with the plus sign.
Click on the path to create a new anchor point.
Converting: (creates bezier handles on a point to form a curve)
To convert a smooth anchor point to a sharp anchor point (a corner)
move your Pen Tool near the anchor and hold Option (Mac) or Alt (PC) key,
and your Pen Tool will change to an arrow shape.
Click on the smooth anchor to convert it to an anchor point.
Click and drag on the anchor point again to change it back to a smooth anchor point.
moving anchor points
Select the Direct Selection Tool which is the white arrow tool.
To change the path direction of an already drawn line,
hold Option (Mac), Alt (PC) key
and drag the handle up to change the path direction.
Release the mouse button when ready.
changing anchor directions
With the Pen Tool, you can quickly change the anchor directions.
Hold Command (Mac), Ctrl (PC) key
to quickly change the Pen Tool to Direction Selection Tool, the white arrow tool.
Select the anchor point you want to edit.
The anchor handle will appear.
Now, release Command (MAC) Control (PC) & hold Option (MAC), Alt (PC)
to change it to Convert Anchor Tool.
Click and drag the handles to change the direction.
Release the mouse button when ready.
Use as little anchor points your need to create your shape
Add anchor points where there is a change in direction of the line or curve.
Use shortcuts like Option (MAC) Alt (PC) or Command (MAC) Control (PC) to quickly swap to other tools to edit your path.
Hold shift to lock your path while adding new anchor point for 45-degree increments.
and use the Direct Selection Tool, the white arrow tool, used to select individual points or bezier handles.
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