Draw
straight line segments with the Pen tool
Draw
curves with the Pen tool
Draw
straight lines followed by curves
Draw
curves followed by straight lines
Draw
two curved segments connected by a corner
Finish
drawing a path
Draw
straight line segments with the Pen tool
The simplest path you
can draw with the Pen tool is a straight line, made
by clicking the Pen tool to create two anchor
points. By continuing to click, you create a path
made of straight line segments connected by corner
points.
Clicking Pen tool creates
straight segments.
-
Select the
Pen tool
.
-
Position the
Pen tool where you want the straight
segment to begin, and click to
define the first anchor point (do
not drag).
Note:
The first segment you
draw will not be visible until
you click a second anchor point.
-
Click
again where you want the segment to
end .
-
Continue
clicking to set anchor points for
additional straight segments.
The last anchor point you add
always appears as a solid square,
indicating that it is selected.
Previously defined anchor points
become hollow, and deselected, as
you add more anchor points.
-
Complete the
path by doing one of the following:
-
To
close the path, position the Pen
tool over the first (hollow)
anchor point.
Click to close the path.
-
To leave the path open,
right-click anywhere
away from all objects.
To
leave the path open, you can
also double-click anywhere away
from the first anchor point.
Draw
curves with the Pen tool
You
create a curve by adding an anchor
point where a curve changes
direction, and dragging the
direction lines that shape the
curve. The length and slope of the
direction lines determine the shape
of the curve.
Curves
are easier to edit and your system
can display and print them faster if
you draw them using as few anchor
points as possible. Using too many
points can also introduce unwanted
bumps in a curve. Instead, draw
widely spaced anchor points, and
practice shaping curves by adjusting
the length and angles of the
direction lines.
-
Select
the Pen tool
.
-
Position the Pen tool where you want
the curve to begin, and hold down
the mouse button and drag.
The
first anchor point and first
direction line appears.
-
Drag
to set the slope of the curve
segment you’re creating, and then
release the mouse button.
In
general, extend the direction line
about one third of the distance to
the next anchor point you plan to
draw. (You can adjust one or both
sides of the direction line later.)
Drawing the first point in a curve
A.
Positioning pen tool
B.
Dragging the direction line
C.
Released mouse button and moving to
next point position
-
Position the Pen tool where you want
the curve segment to end, and do one
of the following:
To create a C shaped curve, drag in
a direction opposite to the previous
direction line. Then release the
mouse button.
To create an S‑shaped curve,
drag in the same direction
as the previous direction
line. Then release the mouse
button.
Drawing the first point in a curve
A.
Starting to drag second smooth point
B.
Dragging away from previous
direction line, creating a C curve
C.
Dragging in same direction as
previous direction line, creating an
S curve
-
Continue dragging the Pen tool from
different locations to create a
series of smooth curves. Note that
you are placing anchor points at the
beginning and end of each curve, not
at the tip of the curve.
-
Complete the path by doing one of
the following:
To close the path, position the Pen
tool over the first (hollow) anchor
point. Click or drag to close the
path.
Note:
-
To
close the path, position the Pen
tool over the first (hollow)
anchor point.
Click to close the path.
-
To leave the path open,
right-click anywhere
away from all objects.
To
leave the path open, you can
also double-click anywhere away
from the first anchor point.
Draw
straight lines followed by curves
-
Select
the Pen tool
.
-
Using
the Pen tool, click corner points in
two locations to create a straight
segment.
-
Move to second point. To set the
slope of the curved segment you’ll
create next, drag the direction line
that appears.
Drawing the first point in a curve
A.
Straight line completed
B.
Moving to second point
C.
Dragging first direction line to set
the slope of the curve
D.
Move to end point and finished
drawing
Draw
curves followed by straight lines
-
Select
the Pen tool
.
-
Using
the Pen tool, drag to create the
first smooth point of the curved
segment, and release the mouse
button.
-
Move to the position where you want
the straight segment to end.
A.
Curve line completed
B.
Moving to straight segment end
C.
Finished drawing
Draw
two curved segments connected by a corner
-
Select
the Pen tool
.
-
Using
the Pen tool, drag to create the
first smooth point of the curved
segment, and right click the mouse
button.
-
Position the Pen tool over the
selected endpoint.
Drawing the first point in a curve
A.
Moving to the end point of the first
curve segment
B.
Dragging the direction line
C.
Right click to finish the first
curve segment
-
Reposition the Pen tool where you
want the second curved segment to
end, and drag a new smooth point to
complete the second curved segment.
A.
Dragging the second curve segment
B.
Finished drawing
Finish
drawing a path
Complete a path in one of the
following ways:
-
To
close the path, position the Pen
tool over the first (hollow)
anchor point.
Click to close the path.
-
To leave the path open,
right-click anywhere
away from all objects.
To
leave the path open, you can
also double-click anywhere away
from the first anchor point.
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