-Pen Tool Practice-
Here are a few things to keep in mind while using the Pen Tool...
- Remember that Pen Tool can only add or delete Anchor Points.
- Holding the the Control button down while you have the Pen Tool activated, will switch the cursor to the Direct Select Tool that can "move" your Anchor Points.
- While holding down the Control button, the Direct Select Tool will also trigger the Amplitude Handlebars that will allow you to bend the line on any arc that you choose.
Step 1
Using Text!
Let's start-off with these steps!
- Let's create some text...go ahead and chose a "letter" in a cool font...just one letter not a word.
- Select the Pen Tool from the Tool Box.
- Once you have the Pen Tool selected hold the "control" button down so the "Direct Select Tool" appears (it will look like a white arrow)
- Using the "Direct Select Tool" click the edge of the shape, you will notice that some small rectangles have appeared on the four corners and midpoints of the rectangle. These are called "Anchor Points".
- With the "Direct Select Tool still active, click on any "anchor point" and drag it around. You will notice that your shape has been skewed, if you press enter the changes will take effect, if you press the escape key any changes will be undone.
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Pretty easy so far, practice moving the Anchor Points around until you feel comfortable with this operation and then move on...
Ok! Here's the rest of it...
- Now let's just take the Pen Tool itself and add/delete some anchor points.
- You will notice that when you hover your Pen Tool cursor over the Anchor Points that you will see a "+" or a " -" next to the Pen Tool. The "+" will add another Anchor Point and the "-" will delete any existing Anchor Point.
- Try adding and deleting some Anchor Points...
- Once you are comfortable with this try holding down on your "Control" key to activate the Direct Select Tool and move Anchor Points around to create a unique shape.
Step 2
Using Shapes!
Let's start-off with these steps!
- Let's create a shape using the Shape Tool, why don't we use a rectangle to make things easy.
- Select the Pen Tool from the Tool Box.
- Once you have the Pen Tool selected hold the control button down so the Direct Select Tool appears (it will look like a white arrow)
- Using the Direct Select Tool click the edge of the shape, you will notice that some small rectangles have appeared on the four corners and midpoints of the rectangle. These are called Anchor Points.
- With the Direct Select Tool still active, click on any anchor point and drag it around. You will notice that your shape has been skewed, if you press enter the changes will take effect, if you press the escape key any changes will be undone.
Let's make a logo out of circles...We'll use this guy as our example....
Video Tutorials
Pen Tool Intro |
Pen tool "Name Practice" |