Draw freeform paths with the pencil tool, Draw closed paths with the pencil tool, Edit paths with the pencil tool – Adobe Illustrator CS4 User Manual
Page 68: Add to a path with the pencil tool, Connect two paths with the pencil tool
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USING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS4
Drawing
Anchor points are set down as you draw with the Pencil tool; you do not determine where they are positioned.
However, you can adjust them once the path is complete. The number of anchor points set down is determined by the
length and complexity of the path and by tolerance settings in the Pencil Tool Preferences dialog box. These settings
control how sensitive the Pencil tool is to the movement of your mouse or graphics-tablet stylus.
.
See also
Draw freeform paths with the Pencil tool
1
Select the Pencil tool
.
2
Position the tool where you want the path to begin, and drag to draw a path. The Pencil tool
displays a small x
to indicate drawing a freeform path.
As you drag, a dotted line follows the pointer. Anchor points appear at both ends of the path and at various points
along it. The path takes on the current stroke and fill attributes, and remains selected by default.
Draw closed paths with the Pencil tool
1
Select the Pencil tool.
2
Position the tool where you want the path to begin, and start dragging to draw a path.
3
After you’ve begun dragging, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac
OS). The Pencil tool displays a small circle
(and, in InDesign, a solid eraser) to indicate that you’re creating a closed path.
4
When the path is the size and shape you want, release the mouse button (but not the Alt or Option key). After the
path closes, release the Alt or Option key.
You don’t have to position the cursor over the starting point of the path in order to create a closed path; if you release
the mouse button in some other location, the Pencil tool will close the shape by creating the shortest possible line back
to the original point.
Edit paths with the Pencil tool
You can edit any path using the Pencil tool and add freeform lines and shapes to any shape.
Add to a path with the Pencil tool
1
Select an existing path.
2
Select the Pencil tool.
3
Position the pencil tip on an endpoint of the path.
You can tell you’re close enough to the endpoint when the small x next to the pencil tip disappears.
4
Drag to continue the path.
Connect two paths with the Pencil tool
1
Select both paths (Shift-click or drag around the two with the Selection tool).
2
Select the Pencil tool.
3
Position the pointer where you want to begin from one path, and start dragging toward the other path.