Create with drawing tools
Learn the basics of using the drawing tools in Adobe Illustrator, including how to use the Pencil and Curvature tools, how to edit paths, and more.
Published
1 Understand paths and curves
Discover what shapes and paths are composed of.
Introduction
Adobe Illustrator CC is used for vector drawing.
Which means you use it to create shapes and different types of paths.
In this video, you'll find out what a vector path is made of by using different tools to explore paths in this project file.
You can open this practice file if you want to follow along.
Start by selecting the Selection tool in the Tools panel on the left.
Then come out to the artwork and click right on this line to select it.
Understanding straight and open paths
This is a straight path.
Paths are composed of anchor points at the start and end of a simple path with a path or line segment connecting those anchor points.
In a path like this, the anchor points control the length and direction of the path.
Now let's look at a curved path like you see here.
Exploring curved paths and bounding boxes
Select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel on the left and drag across this path to zoom in.
Then select the Selection tool in the Tools panel on the left and click right on the curved path above the line.
When you select a path with the Selection tool, a bounding box surrounds the path allowing you to resize, rotate, and transform the path as a whole.
If you don't see this bounding box, choose View, Show Bounding Box to turn them on.
Try dragging a corner of the box to see how it reshapes the path.
In the Properties panel to the right of the document, you'll see the properties of the selected path.
Notice that there is a Stroke applied to this path but no Fill.
Click the Fill color.
Make sure the Swatches option is selected.
And then select a color; I'll select this blue.
Notice that the Stroke doesn't completely surrounds the fill.
This path is called an open path because the anchor points on the ends of the path are not connected.
Now to remove that color fill, choose Edit, Undo Apply Swatch.
Editing paths with anchor points and direction handles
If you want to edit a path by adjusting the curve, for instance, you would edit the anchor points.
To see the anchor points that control this path, select the Direct Selection tool in the Tools panel on the left.
The Direct Selection tool can be used to adjust the path and the individual anchor points.
This can give you control over the shape of the path after you've created it.
Move the pointer over the top anchor point of the curve.
When you see the word 'Anchor', click to select the anchor point.
You should see these lines coming from the anchor point now.
These are called Direction handles or Control handles.
Any anchor point you create can have these handles.
And they can be used to curve a path and control the shape of that curve.
Try dragging the end of a handle, and you'll see that the curve of the path changes.
Working with closed paths and shapes
The last type of path you'll look at are shapes.
A shape like a circle or a square is a closed path, since the starting and ending points of the path are the same.
In other words, all the anchor points are connected one to another in the shape.
With the Direct Selection tool selected, click the edge of the circle shape to select it.
You should see four anchor points that control the curve of the path.
Move the pointer over one of the anchor points and then click to select it.
You'll see the Direction handles that control the curve.
Try dragging this anchor point to move it.
Then drag the end of a direction handle, and you'll see that the curve of the path changes.
There are a lot of paths and shapes you can create in Illustrator CC, and all of them are made up of anchor points, paths, and when necessary direction handles to create a curve.
Understanding what paths are composed of is a great first step to creating and editing your own artwork in Illustrator CC.
What you learned: Paths and curves
Paths are made of anchor points that connect with line segments.
You select paths for editing with the Selection tool in the Tools panel. A bounding box appears around the entire path for transforming.
The Direct Selection tool in the Tools panel is used to select anchor points and paths.
A curved path is controlled by an anchor point with direction handles. The direction handles control the shape of the curve.
Shapes are closed paths because all the anchor points on the path are connected.
2 Draw with the Pencil tool
Learn how to draw freeform and straight paths with the Pencil tool.
Introduction
Adobe Illustrator CC has a variety of tools for drawing paths including the Pencil tool for creating fluid, beautiful curves and straight paths.
To complete the artwork for this project, you'll start by drawing with the Pencil tool.
Then set some pencil tool settings.
And finally, you'll finish the artwork for the ship out here.
You can open this practice file if you want to follow along.
With the file open, notice the ship artwork on the left.
You'll add the final shapes to that ship using the Pencil tool.
So, to zoom into part of it, select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel on the left.
And drag across the upper left part of the artboard with the ship on it to zoom in.
To select the Pencil tool and start drawing,
Drawing curved paths with the pencil tool
press and hold on the Paintbrush tool in the Tools panel on the left.
Then select the Pencil tool from the menu that appears.
Before you start drawing, you'll set a few properties.
To set the Stroke color and the Stroke weight for the line you're about to draw, click the Stroke color in the Properties panel to the right.
With the Swatches selected, make sure that black is chosen.
You can press Escape to hide the colors.
Also make sure that the Stroke Weight is set to 1 pt here.
In this case, the fill won't matter since it will be removed when you start drawing.
To the left of the ship in the blank area, press and drag to create a curved path with the Pencil tool.
Drawing with the Pencil tool is a lot like drawing with a pencil on paper.
Even slight variations will show.
To make paths you draw with the Pencil tool smoother, you can edit the Pencil tool settings.
Double click the Pencil tool in the Tools panel on the left
Smoothing and configuring pencil tool settings
and the Tool options appear in a dialog box.
Now, to make the paths you draw smoother, drag the top slider all the way over to Smooth.
This will effect a new path you draw with the Pencil tool.
So, click OK.
And try drawing another curved path with the Pencil tool.
Notice that the path is smoother after you release the mouse button.
Now you'll draw a part of the ship.
Creating and editing closed shapes with the pencil tool
You can follow these aqua guides as you draw if you like.
Starting in the corner here, press and drag to begin drawing with the Pencil tool, and follow the aqua guides as best as you can.
When you return to the beginning of the path, a circle will show next to the pointer meaning the path will be closed when you release the mouse button.
So, release the mouse button to close the path.
You'll notice that this corner down here really isn't a corner.
With the Pencil tool, you can also redraw parts of a path, even paths not created with the Pencil tool.
To redraw a part of a path, move the pointer onto the path.
When the asterisk next to the pencil icon disappears, redraw part of the path you want making sure to finish back on the existing path.
There.
To change the color fill of the shape, click the Fill color in the Properties panel to the right.
Make sure the Swatches are selected and select this tan color.
Now you'll move in the Document window to another part of the document.
So, press the Spacebar to access the Hand tool temporarily.
And drag in the Document window to see the aqua guides at the bottom of the artboard.
Then release the Spacebar.
Next, you'll draw this shape following the guides.
This time you'll see how to draw a straight line with the Pencil tool
Drawing straight lines with the pencil tool
as you draw.
So, starting here before drawing, press the Option key on Mac or Alt key on Windows to begin drawing a straight line.
When a line appears next to the Pencil pointer, drag to create a straight line down to here.
Without releasing the mouse button, release the key and continue drawing along the aqua guide.
When you come to the top line of the aqua guide, with the mouse button still held down, press the Option key on Mac or Alt key on Windows and draw a straight line across the top.
When the pointer reaches the starting point, a circle appears next to it.
Release the mouse button and then the key to close the path.
To set the fill color for the shape you just drew, click the Fill color in the Properties panel.
And select this orange color.
So that you can see all of the artwork, choose View, Fit All in Window.
Now to complete this design,
Finalizing and assembling the ship artwork
you're going to drag this ship onto the right artboard.
So, select the Selection tool.
Drag across the two paths you created.
And press Backspace or Delete to remove them.
Then, drag across all of the shapes to select them here.
Drag one of the selected shapes to the artboard on the right and there you go.
Drawing with the Pencil tool can be really fun.
And it gives you a tool for creating fluid paths easily.
Like with all of the tools in Illustrator CC take your time and practice creating in your own projects.
What you learned: Draw with the Pencil tool
Click and hold the Paintbrush tool in the Tools panel and select the Pencil tool in the menu that appears.
Double-click the Pencil tool to set tool options.
Drag in the document to create a path with the Pencil tool.
As you draw, return to the beginning of the path to close it and make a shape.
Position the Pencil tool on the path to redraw part of it. Drag to redraw, ending back on the path.
To draw a straight path with the Pencil tool, Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (macOS).
3 Draw with the Curvature tool
Discover how to draw different types of paths using the Curvature tool.
Introduction
The Curvature tool in Illustrator CC is a great way to create vector artwork easily.
You'll use it to create the guitar artwork you see over here on the right by drawing the paths that make up this guitar and then assembling the shapes in the artboard on the right.
If you'd like to follow along, you can open this file from the practice files for this tutorial.
And with the file open, just to make sure that you can see all of the artwork, choose View, Fit All in Window.
You'll start by zooming into the first area where you'll begin drawing.
So, select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel on the left.
And drag across this purple area on the left to zoom in.
Drawing curved shapes with the curvature tool
You'll begin by drawing the body of the guitar here.
So, select the Curvature tool in the Tools panel on the left.
The Curvature tool is used to create paths by clicking to set anchor points.
Before you start drawing though, in the Properties panel to the right you'll change some Appearance settings.
So, click the Fill color.
Make sure the Swatches option is selected, and choose None, so you can remove the fill while you draw.
You can then press Escape to hide the colors.
And then make sure the Stroke weight is set to 1 pt.
These will be the fill and stroke settings for the artwork you're about to draw.
Now the circles in the document out here indicate where you will click to set anchor points for a path.
So, starting at the top, click to create the first anchor point.
After you release the mouse button, move the pointer to the next circle and click to create another anchor point.
After you release the mouse button again, move the pointer away.
And notice that a curved path is created between these two points.
Move the pointer around to get a feeling for how it's creating the curve.
Then come to the next point and click to set it.
Then move the pointer away again.
As you draw with the Curvature tool, you can edit the anchor points you've already drawn, even moving them, adding more, or deleting them.
Come to the previous point you created and move the pointer over it.
Click to select it.
Drag that point to see how you can move them and reshape the path.
Then drag it back where it was.
Click to create the next point and continue clicking to create the points all the way around this shape.
To close the path,
Closing paths and forming complete shapes
move the pointer over the first point you created and when a circle appears next to the pointer, click to close the path and finish drawing this shape.
Now you can also create straight lines with the Curvature tool,
Creating straight lines with the curvature tool
which is what you'll do next to create the neck of this guitar.
So, come over here and click to set the first anchor point.
Then click to set the next point in the corner to the right and move the pointer away.
Notice that the path has a curve.
Now, to make this path straight, move the pointer over the last anchor point you created, and double click on it.
Then move the pointer away.
The path is now straight.
You can also work faster by double clicking to create a point and make a straight line at the same time.
So, come to where the next point will go down here, and double click to create an anchor point with a straight path.
Then double click to create the next point.
Come back to the original point you created.
And double click to close the path, and finish drawing with a straight line.
Editing and refining paths with curvature
Paths you create with any of the drawing tools can also be edited with the Curvature tool.
To see artwork that you'll edit, press the Spacebar to temporarily access the Hand tool.
And then drag in the document window, so that you can see the orange area below.
Release the Spacebar.
To zoom into this orange area, select the Zoom tool and drag across it.
This shape needs a curve at the bottom not a straight line.
So next you'll add a new point and reposition it with the Curvature tool.
First, you need to select the path.
Select the Selection tool in the Tools panel and click the edge of the shape to select it.
Then select the Curvature tool again in the Tools panel.
Now with the shape selected, move the pointer over the bottom path.
When a plus sign appears next to the pointer, click to add a point.
Then drag that new point down to give the bottom of the shape some curve.
Deleting a point is just as easy; you can actually click to select the point with the Curvature tool, and press Backspace or Delete to remove it.
To finish the artwork,
Assembling and positioning the final artwork
you'll drag all of the shapes you created into place.
To see everything, choose View, Fit All in Window.
Select the Selection tool and drag each of these shapes by their edges - since they don't have a fill - into position on the right.
With the Curvature tool, practice makes perfect.
Keep using it, and you'll be able to create all kinds of paths and shapes for your own artwork.
What you learned: Draw with the Curvature tool
Select the Curvature tool in the Tools panel.
Click to set anchor points in a path. The anchor points create curved paths by default.
To create a straight path with the Curvature tool, double-click to set an anchor point, or double-click an existing anchor point to make the path straight.
To add points to a path, move the pointer over the path. When a plus (+) appears next to the pointer, click to set a point.
To move anchor points, drag them.
4 Edit paths and shapes
Discover how to edit paths with the Curvature and Direct Selection tools.
Introduction
Once you create artwork in Illustrator CC, you'll inevitably need to edit it.
Using the artwork in this practice file, you'll select and move anchor points and paths using the Direct Selection tool and then you'll learn how to reshape paths and then edit paths with the Curvature tool.
You'll start by selecting and editing this circle.
So, select the Zoom tool in the Tools panel on the left so you can zoom into it and drag across the circle shape.
If you want to resize or rotate or otherwise transform a shape like this circle, you would select it with the Selection tool in the Tools panel.
Now, to see and edit the anchor points for a path, select the Direct Selection tool in the Tools panel on the left
Editing anchor points with the direct selection tool
and then click the edge of the circle.
The anchor points that make up the shape will appear.
You learned about the parts of the path in the first video in this section, understanding pathing curves.
Click one of the anchor points and move the pointer away.
You can tell an anchor point is selected because it's filled with a color.
Then move the pointer back over that anchor point and drag it to see how it affects the shape.
You can try that for any of the points in the shape.
Now you work on paths at the top of the artboard.
At times you'll need to pan and zoom in a document to work on different parts.
To do that, you'll access to a Hand Tool.
So, press the Spacebar, drag in the document window and pan across to see the top of the guitar at the top of the artboard, then release the Spacebar.
If you need to zoom out a little bit, you can choose View, Zoom Out.
Now the Drag Selection tool can also select and adjust paths.
Reshaping curved and straight paths by dragging
So, move the pointer over a path and click to select it.
With the pointer over the path, you'll see this curved arrow which means you can reshape the path by dragging.
So, drag this curved path to try to reshape it.
Now you move to another part of the artwork and see how dragging a straight path works.
Press the Spacebar to access the Hand tool again, drag in the document window so you can see the path with the straight line down here, then release the Spacebar.
Move the pointer over the edge of the shape and click to select it.
Like the path above, you can drag the curved parts of this path to reshape them as well, but move the pointer over the straight path, drag the path and notice that it moves as a straight line.
This method moves the path instead of reshaping it since it's not curved.
Drag that path up just a little bit to reshape it.
Now you go back up to the top of the guitar to start editing with the Curvature tool.
So, press the Spacebar to access the Hand tool, drag in the document window to pan to the top of the guitar, then release the Spacebar.
Refining paths using the curvature tool
If you find yourself with a path or shape that needs editing and moving anchor points or reshaping paths isn't enough, you can create, delete and edit anchor points using the Curvature tool.
Select the Curvature tool in the Tools panel on the left, then click on this path to select it and you'll see the anchor points for this path.
Now, to convert a path from a curve to a straight line or the other way around, you can double click an existing anchor point with the Curvature tool.
So, move the pointer over this anchor point and double click to make the path straight.
To completely change the shape of the path, like in this area, you can even add or delete anchor points.
Move the pointer over the edge of the path and when a plus appears,
Adding and adjusting anchor points for precise edits
click to add a new anchor point.
Try dragging that anchor point to reshape the path.
When you're finished, move the pointer down the path a bit and add another anchor point by clicking.
Drag that new anchor point to reshape the path.
To deselect everything, choose Select, Deselect.
And then to see all of the artwork, choose View, Fit Artboard in Window.
Now that you know some methods for editing paths, you'll be able to make changes to paths in your own artwork.
Whether it's fine-tuning a logo design or editing artwork for signage and a whole lot more.
What you learned: Edit paths
Select the Selection tool in the Tools panel. Click or drag across a shape to select it.
Select the Direct Selection tool in the Tools panel to edit the anchor points of a path. Click the edge of a path to show its anchor points. Drag an anchor point to see its effect on the shape. Drag a path to adjust the curve if it’s part of a curved path. Drag a path to move the path if it’s part of a straight path.
Select the Curvature tool in the Tools panel to edit existing paths. Double-click an anchor point to convert from a straight path to a curved path and back. Move the pointer over a path and click when a plus (+) appears next to the pointer to add an anchor point.
5 Join artwork together to combine paths
Explore joining paths together using the Join command.
Introduction
Sometimes in Illustrator, when you make paths, you need to connect them together like these two paths.
An easy way to do this is to select those paths,
Understanding the join command for connecting paths
then you can choose Object, Path, Join.
Illustrator finds the closest two ends of the paths and connects them with a straight line.
This is now a single path.
If you were to apply the Join command again, you would connect the other ends and make it a shape.
Now say you have two paths where the ends are actually overlapping, if you select them and join those paths, the two end points become one, and the path is now a single path.
So let's try it.
Joining multiple paths to form a single logo shape
In this icon, we want to take all these separate paths and join them, so they look like this.
Let's start here.
We want these two paths to be connected like you see over here in the final.
So with the Selection Tool drag across them.
To join them choose Object, Path, Join.
A straight path now connects the closest ends of the paths.
Let's keep going.
To join the two paths here, select them both by Shift-clicking the second path.
To join them choose Object, Path, Join.
They are now one path, and the overlapping points are now one connected point.
Now, to complete the logo design, you need to join the paths together at these different spots.
Now the order won't matter, but which paths are selected will.
So we'll join this path to this path.
Shift-click the smaller path and join them.
You're now left with three paths.
So Shift-click this path and join them.
And finally Shift-click this path to select it as well and hopefully you're getting used to the Join command going up there in the menus, but this time you're going to use a keyboard command to make it faster.
Press Command J on Mac or Control J on Windows to join the two ends.
And you're done.
To finish and round the ends of the paths, so it looks like the final,
Refining joined paths with stroke cap settings
you can click the word Stroke over here in the Properties panel and select this round Cap option.
Let's try joining some other artwork down here at the bottom in the artboard.
Creating closed shapes by copying, flipping, and joining paths
Press the Spacebar and drag up in the Document window with the Hand Tool if you need to.
You're going to take this curved path right here and copy it, flip it, and then join the two together to make an eye shape.
Select the curved path, to copy it, choose Edit, Copy.
And then to paste the copy in the same place, choose Edit, Paste in Front.
Now you'll flip it.
In the Properties panel, click the Flip Vertically button here.
Now to get it into position.
We want the end points of these two paths to overlap, so click away from this path to deselect it.
We're deselecting so we can drag the path by the end without reshaping it accidentally.
Drag the path copy by its end so that the end aligns with the end of the original path.
Like this.
You'll see the cursor turn white when they're aligned, so you can let go then.
If you don't feel the snapping and see a white cursor, turn on Snap to Point, so the points can snap and align to each other.
And then try it again.
With the paths ready, select them both and we can join them.
Press Command J on Mac or Control J on Windows and you got it.
What's crazy is Illustrator connected both ends of these paths using that single Join command.
You're done.
It's now a closed shape.
Finalizing the shape with fills and viewing the result
To finish the logo and add some color, you're going to fill the shape with black.
So click the Fill color over here in the Properties panel, make sure the swatches are selected and then click to apply this black color.
So you can see everything, choose View, Fit Artboard in Window.
Now you know how to connect paths with the Join command.
What you learned: Join paths
Select two paths and choose Object > Path > Join to join the ends closest to each other.
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