Eshark Design

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.

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