The Pen Tool is one of the most powerful tools in Adobe Illustrator. Yet, it also one of the most difficult tools for some users to learn. This is intended as a very rudimentary introduction to the Pen Tool. I plan to follow this post up with more Pen Tool demonstrations and exercises. This post is intended for Adobe Illustrator beginners.

Tools focused on:

• Pen Tool

Paths are created in Adobe Illustrator using Bezier curves, which are comprised of control/anchor points. The Pen Tool is used to define control points and Bezier handles (or “curve handles”). which define the curvature of a path between each control point.

Control points are created by clicking the mouse button and setting a point. If the mouse button is simply clicked and released, no handles will accompany the control point, so there will be no curvature as a result of that particular control point. However, if you hold the mouse button down when you click to create a control point and drag the mouse, you will create Bezier handles (or curve handles), which will define a curvature in the path between the control point and the points directly adjoined to that control point. To illustrate this method, take a look at the image below, which follows the steps to create an open path similar to the one in example above.

1. Move the cursor to the position where you wish to start your path.
2. Click the mouse button and drag in the direction you wish to create Bezier handles (in this example we drag directly downward), then release the mouse button when you’re handles are in their desired location.
3. Move the cursor to the position where you wish your next point to be.
4. Click the mouse button and drag in the direction you wish to create your handles (in this example we drag directly upward).
5. Move the cursor into position to create your final point.
6. Click and drag (downward in this example) to create your handles.

You’ll notice that the anchor points act like tangent points along the curves based on the handles. If you’re a beginner to the Pen Tool, practice using different angles and lengths with your Bezier/curve handles to see how they affect your path. The length and angle of each handle (typically, two for each point) can actually be modified independently using the Convert Anchor Point Tool, but we’ll save that for another day. (You can also independently modify the length of one handle, while maintaining the 180° angle between its opposing handle using the Direct Selection Tool.)

Stay tuned for more information about the Pen Tool along with some examples and tutorials in up-coming posts.

Tags: Adobe Illustrator, anchor point, Beginner, Bezier curves, control point, creating a path, drawing a path, How does the Pen Tool work, Illustrator Pen Tool, Pen Tool Introduction

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Adobe Illustrator. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.