The further you drag, the bigger the curve will become. Once you pull on it, the Handles will pull the path outward into a curve. You can find the Adjustment Point at the end of each handle of any selected Anchor Point. To alter the shape of the curve, all you have to do is move the handles. And two separate middle points (also called Handles).

The terminating position of the curve (also called an Anchor).

The initial position of the curve (also called an Anchor).

Four points define these types of curves: To be more specific, let’s look at Bézier Curves, which are mathematically defined curves. Therefore, a path can be anything from a simple line to curvy shapes. A part of the path can be other points, angles, curves, etc. So let’s explore the anatomy of a Vector Path.Ī path is defined by a start and endpoint. What it does, however, is it draws vector paths. If you have never used it before, remember that it does not work like a regular pen – drawing wherever you drag the “pen.” You can also use it to create and edit anchor points and paths.īut before we go into more detail, it is essential to mention that Pen Tool is much more than a simple pen. If you need to replicate any curves, you can do so with the Pen Tool. Found in the Toolbar, the Pen Tool is probably the most powerful drawing tool you can find in Adobe Illustrator.

It allows you to create shapes with freeform curves. The Pen Tool is a neat feature that is one of the foundational tools for creating vector graphics. In the end, we will give you an alternative to Illustrator’s Pen Tool that is more intuitive, easier to use, and is offered for free.Įager to start learning more? Let’s do it! What Is The Pen Tool? Then we will go through some of the most frequently asked questions about the Pen Tool and answer them one by one. We will start by exploring the Pen Tool and showing you a step-by-step guide on using it. So, what will we cover in this short and to-the-point guide? If you have used the Pen Tool for quite some time but need a refresh or want to see how you can use this tool to its full potential, you might find the following guide helpful as well! If you have never used the Pen Tool before or have started exploring it but are unsure how to use it, the following guide will be spot on for you. Well, not precisely seconds, but you get the idea. This essential tool can even help you turn dull objects into cool graphics in seconds.

Illustrator curve tool