How to Use the Pen Tool in Adobe Illustrator — About the Topic

Hello, design enthusiasts! I'm Esther Nariyoshi, your guide to unraveling the world of Adobe Illustrator. As an illustrator, designer, and top teacher on Skillshare, I've curated this tutorial to help you grasp the art of making selections in Illustrator. So, let's dive right in!

1. Introduction to the Pen Tool

The pen tool, if you didn't know, is our dear friend 'P' on the keyboard. Beyond its keyboard shortcut, it stands proud in your toolbar as an icon that resembles, well, a pen!

2. Setting Up for Success

Now, before we kick off, let's get our canvas ready:

Ensure your stroke color is selected. You can opt for a fill color, but I prefer keeping the focus on the stroke. Switch off the fill by pressing 'none' or simply hit the backslash on your keyboard.
To make the line more visible, adjust the stroke to about 10 points. The bolder, the better, right?

3. Drawing Straight Lines: One Click at a Time

With the pen tool activated, click on your artboard. Each click introduces a pointy corner anchor point. What's that? They are basically sharp points that don’t contribute to curves. To finalize your shape, loop back to the beginning anchor point. You’ll know you’re closing the loop when a tiny circle appears near your cursor.

4. Curving it Up with the Pen Tool

Here's where it gets a tad intricate but oh-so-fun! To craft curves:

Click and drag (instead of a simple click).
Notice the handles that pop up? They determine the curve's direction and depth.
If you need to adjust the last anchor point before finalizing it, just hold down your space bar.
For those who love precision, hold the shift key while drawing to restrict angles to multiples of 45 degrees. Neat, right?

5. Switching Corner Styles: It’s All in the Option

By holding down the option key while drawing, you can alter the type of corner you're working with. This simple trick allows you to transition from smooth curves to sharp corners and vice versa. And trust me, this feature hands you a new realm of control over your designs!

6. The Rubber Band Indicator

As I move my anchor points around, an intuitive rubber band-like line predicts my line's path. While I personally find it handy, if it’s too distracting for you, simply head to Illustrator's preferences (Command + K) and deselect the rubber band option under 'Selection and Anchor Display'. Customize it to your style!

7. Concluding Your Design

Once you're content with a curve and don't want to add any more points, press escape or click on another tool. Illustrator will get the hint that you're done.

8. Diversifying Your Handles

If you’re striving for asymmetry, hold down your command key. This lets you manipulate one handle's length without affecting the other.

9. Practice Makes Perfect

The pen tool might seem daunting initially, but with practice, you'll get the hang of it. Find some line art, trace, and experiment. Remember, every master was once a beginner.

10. Converting Anchor Points

Sometimes, a change in design perspective calls for altering the type of anchor point. Use the direct selection tool (shortcut: 'A') and click on the option to convert the anchor point from smooth to sharp or vice versa.

Wrapping it Up
The pen tool in Adobe Illustrator is your canvas' magic wand. Though there's a bit of a learning curve, it's worth every minute spent mastering it. If you found this guide handy, do consider exploring my Skillshare classes – there’s a free trial if you click on the link below! Until next time, happy designing! 🎨