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                <h1>
                    Drawing with the Pen tool
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                <br clear="both" /><div id="minitoc"><div class="t"><div class="b"><div class="l"><div class="r"><div class="bl"><div class="br"><div class="tl"><div class="tr"><div><h3>Contents [<a href="#" onclick="return toggleMiniToc('minitoc-links', this);" class="hideLink">Hide</a>]</h3><ul id="minitoc-links"><li><p><a href="#WSD4DE60AE-02F1-4d41-BDC0-D28505935EA5"><h3 class="topictitle3">Draw straight line segments with the Pen tool</h3>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WS3C6154BD-44F2-4916-A5F7-2EF955065684"><h3 class="topictitle3">Draw curves with the Pen tool</h3>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSEBA3A2C5-A6B5-41c1-936E-AD7E115C5592"><h3 class="topictitle3">Reposition anchor points as you draw</h3>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSBFEF2F8A-B92D-4bf4-9E57-DB1A153DB8E2"><h3 class="topictitle3">Finish drawing a path</h3>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WS7A628040-7077-4711-9486-F1D8A52528E9"><h3 class="topictitle3">Draw straight lines followed by curves</h3>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSE1399F93-EC62-44b2-BA93-BB3C9AD3628C"><h3 class="topictitle3">Draw curves followed by straight lines</h3>
</a></p></li><li><p><a href="#WSB1FB92CB-5782-4835-89C3-2497FEFEBBD3"><h3 class="topictitle3">Draw two curved segments connected by a corner</h3>
</a></p></li></ul></div></div><br clear="both" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br clear="both" /><div><ul class="navlinklist"></ul>
</div>
<div id="WSD4DE60AE-02F1-4d41-BDC0-D28505935EA5" class="nochunk"><a name="WSD4DE60AE-02F1-4d41-BDC0-D28505935EA5"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Draw straight line segments with the Pen tool</h2><div><div class="section"><p>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. <div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_straight_segments" src="images/sdw_straight_segments.png" /><div class="figdesc">Clicking Pen tool creates straight segments.</div><br /></div></p>
</div>
<ol><li class="stepexpand"><span>Select the Pen tool.</span></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Position the Pen tool where you want the straight segment
to begin, and click to define the first anchor point (do not drag). </span> <div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:  </span>The first segment you draw will not be
visible until you click a second anchor point. (Select the Rubber
Band option in Photoshop to preview path segments.) Also, if direction
lines appear, you’ve accidentally dragged the Pen tool; choose Edit&#160;&gt; Undo,
and click again.</div>
</li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Click again where you want the segment to end (Shift-click
to constrain the angle of the segment to a multiple of 45°).</span></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Continue clicking to set anchor points for additional
straight segments.</span> <p>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.</p>
</li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Complete the path by doing one of the following:</span><ul><li><p>To close the path, position the Pen tool
over the first (hollow) anchor point. A small circle appears next
to the Pen tool pointer&#160;<img src="images/penclose.png" /> when
it is positioned correctly. Click or drag to close the path.</p>
<div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:  </span>To close
a path in InDesign, you can also select the object and choose Object&#160;&gt; Paths&#160;&gt;
Close Path.</div>
</li>
<li><p>To leave the path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or
Command-click (Mac&#160;OS) anywhere away from all objects.</p>
<p>To
leave the path open, you can also select a different tool, or choose
Select&#160;&gt; Deselect in Illustrator or Edit&#160;&gt;
Deselect All in InDesign.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
</div></div>
<div id="WS3C6154BD-44F2-4916-A5F7-2EF955065684" class="nochunk"><a name="WS3C6154BD-44F2-4916-A5F7-2EF955065684"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Draw curves with the Pen tool</h2><div><div class="section"><p>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.</p>
<p>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. </p>
</div>
<ol><li class="stepexpand"><span>Select the Pen tool.</span></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Position the Pen tool where you want the curve to begin,
and hold down the mouse button. </span> <p>The first anchor point appears, and the Pen tool pointer
changes to an arrowhead. (In Photoshop, the pointer changes only
after you’ve started dragging.)</p>
</li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Drag to set the slope of the curve segment you’re creating,
and then release the mouse button. </span> <p>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.)</p>
<p>Hold
down the Shift key to constrain the tool to multiples of 45°.</p>
<div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_first_curve_point" src="images/sdw_first_curve_point.png" /><div class="figdesc">Drawing the first point in a curve</div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>Positioning Pen tool</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Starting
to drag (mouse button pressed)</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>Dragging
to extend direction lines</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Position the Pen tool where you want the curve segment
to end, and do one of the following:</span><ul><li><p>To create a C‑shaped curve, drag in a direction
opposite to the previous direction line. Then release the mouse
button.</p>
<div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_second_curve_point" src="images/sdw_second_curve_point.png" /><div class="figdesc">Drawing the second point in a curve</div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>Starting to drag second smooth point</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Dragging
away from previous direction line, creating a C curve</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>Result
after releasing mouse button</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></li>
<li><p>To create an S‑shaped curve, drag in the same direction
as the previous direction line. Then release the mouse button.</p>
<div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_s_curve" src="images/sdw_s_curve.png" /><div class="figdesc">Drawing an S curve</div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>Starting to drag new smooth point</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Dragging
in same direction as previous direction line, creating an S curve</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>Result
after releasing mouse button</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></li>
<li><div class="tip"><img src="images/tip_help.png" />(Photoshop only) To change the direction
of the curve sharply, release the mouse button, and then Alt-drag
(Windows) or Option-drag (Mac&#160;OS) the direction point in the
direction of the curve. Release the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac&#160;OS)
key and the mouse button, reposition the pointer where you want
the segment to end, and drag in the opposite direction to complete
the curve segment.</div></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>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.</span> <div class="tip"><img src="images/tip_help.png" />Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac&#160;OS)
direction lines to break out the direction lines of an anchor point.</div></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Complete the path by doing one of the following:</span><ul><li><p>To close the path, position the Pen tool
over the first (hollow) anchor point. A small circle appears next
to the Pen tool pointer&#160;<img src="images/penclose.png" /> when
it is positioned correctly. Click or drag to close the path.</p>
<div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:  </span>To close
a path in InDesign, you can also select the object and choose Object&#160;&gt; Paths&#160;&gt;
Close Path.</div>
</li>
<li><p>To leave the path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or
Command-click (Mac&#160;OS) anywhere away from all objects.</p>
<p>To
leave the path open, you can also select a different tool, or choose
Select&#160;&gt; Deselect in Illustrator or Edit&#160;&gt;
Deselect All in InDesign.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="section"><p>For a video on using the Pen tool in Illustrator, see <a href="http://www.adobe.com/go/vid0037" target="_blank">www.adobe.com/go/vid0037</a>.</p>
</div>
</div></div>
<div id="WSEBA3A2C5-A6B5-41c1-936E-AD7E115C5592" class="nochunk"><a name="WSEBA3A2C5-A6B5-41c1-936E-AD7E115C5592"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Reposition anchor points as you draw</h2><div><div class="p"><span><img src="images/dingbat.png" />&#160;After you click to create an anchor
point, keep the mouse button pressed down, hold down the spacebar,
and drag to reposition the anchor point.</span></div>
</div></div>
<div id="WSBFEF2F8A-B92D-4bf4-9E57-DB1A153DB8E2" class="nochunk"><a name="WSBFEF2F8A-B92D-4bf4-9E57-DB1A153DB8E2"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Finish drawing a path</h2><div><div class="p"><span><img src="images/dingbat.png" />&#160;Complete a path in one of the following
ways:</span><ul><li><p>To
close a path, position the Pen tool over the first (hollow) anchor
point. A small circle appears next to the Pen tool pointer&#160;<img src="images/penclose.png" /> when
it is positioned correctly. Click or drag to close the path.</p>
<div class="note"><span class="notetitle">Note:  </span>To close
a path in InDesign, you can also select the object and choose Object&#160;&gt; Paths&#160;&gt;
Close Path.</div>
</li>
<li><p>To leave a path open,
Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac&#160;OS) anywhere
away from all objects. </p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="section"><p>To leave the path open, you can also select a different
tool, or choose Select&#160;&gt; Deselect in Illustrator or
Edit&#160;&gt; Deselect All in InDesign.</p>
</div>
</div></div>
<div id="WS7A628040-7077-4711-9486-F1D8A52528E9" class="nochunk"><a name="WS7A628040-7077-4711-9486-F1D8A52528E9"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Draw straight lines followed by curves</h2><div><ol><li class="stepexpand"><span>Using the Pen tool, click corner points
in two locations to create a straight segment.</span></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Position the Pen tool over the selected endpoint. In
Illustrator and InDesign, a convert-point icon appears next to the
Pen tool when it is positioned correctly (In Photoshop, a small
diagonal line, or slash, appears next to the Pen tool). To set the
slope of the curved segment you’ll create next, click the anchor
point, and drag the direction line that appears.</span> <div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_straight_curve1" src="images/sdw_straight_curve1.png" /><div class="figdesc">Drawing a straight segment followed by a curved segment (part
1) </div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>Straight segment completed</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Positioning
Pen tool over endpoint (the Convert Point icon appears only in Illustrator
and InDesign)</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>Dragging direction point</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Position the pen where you want the next anchor point;
then click (and drag, if desired) the new anchor point to complete
the curve.</span> <div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_straight_curve2" src="images/sdw_straight_curve2.png" /><div class="figdesc">Drawing a straight segment followed by a curved segment (part
2) </div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>Positioning Pen tool</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Dragging
direction line</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>New curve segment completed</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></li>
</ol>
</div></div>
<div id="WSE1399F93-EC62-44b2-BA93-BB3C9AD3628C" class="nochunk"><a name="WSE1399F93-EC62-44b2-BA93-BB3C9AD3628C"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Draw curves followed by straight lines</h2><div><ol><li class="stepexpand"><span>Using the Pen tool, drag to create
the first smooth point of the curved segment, and release the mouse
button.</span></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Reposition the Pen tool where you want the curved segment
to end, drag to complete the curve, and release the mouse button. </span> <div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_curve_straight1" src="images/sdw_curve_straight1.png" /><div class="figdesc">Drawing a curved segment followed by a straight segment (part
1)</div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>First smooth point of curved segment completed and
Pen tool positioned over endpoint</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Dragging
to complete the curve</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Position
the Pen tool over the selected endpoint. A convert-point icon appears next
to the Pen tool when it is positioned correctly. Click the anchor
point to convert the smooth point to a corner point.</span></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Reposition the Pen tool where you want the straight segment
to end, and click to complete the straight segment.</span> <div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_curve_straight2" src="images/sdw_curve_straight2.png" /><div class="figdesc">Drawing a curved segment followed by a straight segment (part
2)</div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>Positioning Pen tool over existing endpoint</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">D.</dt>
<dd>Clicking&#160;endpoint</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">E.</dt>
<dd>Clicking
next corner point</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></li>
</ol>
</div></div>
<div id="WSB1FB92CB-5782-4835-89C3-2497FEFEBBD3" class="nochunk"><a name="WSB1FB92CB-5782-4835-89C3-2497FEFEBBD3"></a><h2 class="topictitle2">Draw two curved segments connected by a corner</h2><div><ol><li class="stepexpand"><span>Using
the Pen tool, drag to create the first smooth point of a curved
segment.</span></li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>Reposition the Pen tool and drag to create a curve with
a second smooth point; then press and hold Alt (Windows) or Option
(Mac&#160;OS) and drag the direction line toward its opposing
end to set the slope of the next curve. Release the key and the
mouse button.</span> <p>This process converts the smooth point to a corner point
by splitting the direction lines.</p>
</li>
<li class="stepexpand"><span>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.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="section"><div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="sdw_2curves" src="images/sdw_2curves.png" /><div class="figdesc">Drawing two curves </div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>Dragging a new smooth point</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Pressing
Alt/Option to split direction lines while dragging, and swinging
direction line up</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>Result after repositioning
and dragging a third time</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></div>
</div></div>

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