Illustrator On Mac : Working With Pen Tool

Basic Techniques Working with Pen Tool

Did you know that Adobe Illustrator was carefully made for designers base on from very basic drawing techniques. For example we take a look on Illustrator ‘Pen Tool’. You can draw many kinds of path using this ‘Pen Tool’,from drawing straight or curves line to create a path. Now, don’t get your head spinning around reading + trying to understand this already, it’s pretty simple as this..

Look familiar? I’m sure all of you have seen this before from a newspaper/magazine/books somewhere back in many years ago during your primary school. I don’t know what they call this game, but if you know how this game works then you should understand how to use ‘Pen Tool’ in Illustrator.

PRACTICE 1 - To Draw Straight Line :

1- Using the ‘Pen Tool’ to draw a straight line, press ‘P’ or click the ‘Pen Tool’ on the toolsbar.
2- Click once to create one anchor point and click again at different position to create another anchor point.
3- Now you’ll notice one straight line connected in between the two anchor point that you just created.

PRACTICE 2 - To Draw Curved Line :

1- Click once to create one anchor point
2- Click again at different position to create another anchor point, but this time click and don’t release, keep the mouse press.
3- Now drag the anchor point at any direction and you’ll see a curved line created.

PRACTICE 3 - To Draw A Path :

1- Click once to create your first anchor point
2- Followed by another anchor point
3- Try to make a simple square path (square is equals to 4 anchor points)
4- There you have it, one simple path shape as square. (Tip : Press Shift button while creating your path you’ll get a straight perfect line)
5- Now you can fill any color on it or create an outline.

PRACTICE 4 - Add & Delete Anchor Point Tool :

1- You can add anchor point tool on any path that you create using ‘Pen Tool’
2- Click the Add anchor point tool or press ‘plus / +’ while the ‘Pen Tool’ selected.
3- Simply click right on the line to add another anchor point. You can drag this new anchor point on any direction using ‘Direct Selection Tool’ by pressing ‘A’.
4- To delete, press ‘minus / -’ while the ‘Pen Tool’ selected and simply click right on the existing anchor point then you’ll see the anchor point deleted and the path automatically change.

PRACTICE 5 - Convert Anchor Point Tool :

1- Click the ‘Convert Anchor Point Tool’ or press (Mac: Shift+C / PC: Shift+C) while the ‘Pen Tool’ selected.
2- Click on any anchor point and don’t release, keep the mouse press.
3- Now drag the anchor point at any direction you want and you’ll see the straight line converted to curved line.

PRACTICE 6 - Creating A Path With Sraight Line :

1- Try to draw one simple star using ‘Pen Tool’
2- A Star should have a total of 12 anchor points
3- Give yourself a clap once you’ve manage to draw a twinkle twinkle little star.

PRACTICE 7 - Creating A Path With Curved Line :

1- Try to draw one simple round shape
2- Round shape should have at least 4 anchor points
3- Give yourslelf a clap again once you’ve completed the task.

PRACTICE 8 - …

1- There’s no more practice at this time..
2- Till I meet you guys on the next tutorial on Advanced Vector Drawing in Illustrator.. keep practice + play with it because you’ll need that for next week tutorial.