How to use the Adobe Illustrator Pen Tool

Learn how to use the Adobe Illustrator Pen Tool

Learning how to use Adobe Illustrator can frustrate new users. To help, Computer Parts Greenville presents an ongoing series of Adobe Illustrator how to tutorials. From these presentations, new Adobe Illustrator CS5 users can learn how to create awesome layouts for business and for pleasure.

Today we take a look at how to use the Adobe Illustrator Pen tool, one of the most versatile items in the Illustrator toolbox.

Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator

Before learning how to use the Pen Tool for Illustrator, users must have Adobe Illustrator 5.1 or Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 installed on their computers. Those who do not want to buy the software can download a 30-day trial version from Adobe.com.

Users can also search the Internet to see if they can download a cracked or hacked version of Adobe Illustrator or Creative Suite. Those who choose to use a pirated copy of Adobe software violate the law and risk incurring a virus infection for their computer.

Computer Parts Greenville does not condone the use of illegally-obtained software.

Creating a New Document

Create a new document by clicking on File and then New from the main menu.

Don’t worry about the settings in the New Document window, unless you have specific requirements in mind. For now, we are just learning how to use Adobe Illustrator, so click the OK button.

Finding the Pen Tool

Illustrator users can find the Pen Tool in the Illustrator Tool Box. By default, Adobe Illustrator displays the toolbox on the left side of the screen. If you do not see the toolbar, click Window on the main menu and then click the Tools option.

Users can move or undock the the toolbox to accommodate their preferences.

When the Illustrator toolbox is not displayed, users can activate it by …..

Pen Tool Basics

Adobe Illustrator users can find the Pen Tool in the Illustrator toolbox. It is normally found in the second grouping, below the selection tools. If you click and hold on the icon, you can see all the tools included in its cluster.

Like most tools, the Pen Tool has a keyboard shortcut. You can select it by pressing P on your keyboard.

Using the Pen Tool for Illustrator

Draw shapes with straight edges by clicking on the artboard. At the end, don’t forget to close the shape by clicking on the origin. Your Pen Tool will have a small O on it when you’re ready to close the path. See how to do this in the video below.

Click and Drag

You can add curves using your Pen Tool by clicking on the canvas and then dragging. You will see handles appear with each point you draw. After finishing your shape, you can use the selection tool to adjust the handles to edit your curves.

If you need to add a straight segment to a curved path. All you have to do is click with the Pen Tool without dragging.

At any time, you can convert a curved anchor point to an angular anchor point by choosing the Convert Anchor Point Tool and clicking on the point you need to chanve

If you need extra anchor points, grab the Add Anchor Point Tool and click anywhere on the path where you need anchor points. Similarly, you can delete anchor points by grabbing the Delete Anchor Point Tool from the Illustrator Toolbox.

You have now completed an introductory Adobe How To tutorial that shows you how to use the Pen Tool for Illustrator. Be sure to shop at Computer Parts Greenville to buy Adobe CS software and instructional material. We also have a large selection of free Illustrator How To guides that can help anyone learn how to use Adobe Illustrator.