|
|
Draw curves with the Pen tool
You create a curve by adding an anchor point
where a curve changes direction, and dragging the direction lines
that shape the curve. The length and slope of the direction lines
determine the shape of the curve.
Curves are easier to edit
and your system can display and print them faster if you draw them
using as few anchor points as possible. Using too many points can also
introduce unwanted bumps in a curve. Instead, draw widely spaced
anchor points, and practice shaping curves by adjusting the length
and angles of the direction lines.
- Select the Pen tool.
- Position the Pen tool where you want the curve to begin,
and hold down the mouse button.
The first anchor point appears, and the Pen tool pointer
changes to an arrowhead. (In Photoshop, the pointer changes only
after you’ve started dragging.)
- Drag to set the slope of the curve segment you’re creating,
and then release the mouse button.
In general, extend the direction line about one third of
the distance to the next anchor point you plan to draw. (You can
adjust one or both sides of the direction line later.)
Hold
down the Shift key to constrain the tool to multiples of 45°.
 Drawing the first point in a curve - A.
- Positioning Pen tool
- B.
- Starting
to drag (mouse button pressed)
- C.
- Dragging
to extend direction lines
- Position the Pen tool where you want the curve segment
to end, and do one of the following:
To create a C‑shaped curve, drag in a direction
opposite to the previous direction line. Then release the mouse
button.
 Drawing the second point in a curve - A.
- Starting to drag second smooth point
- B.
- Dragging
away from previous direction line, creating a C curve
- C.
- Result
after releasing mouse button
To create an S‑shaped curve, drag in the same direction
as the previous direction line. Then release the mouse button.
 Drawing an S curve - A.
- Starting to drag new smooth point
- B.
- Dragging
in same direction as previous direction line, creating an S curve
- C.
- Result
after releasing mouse button
 (Photoshop only) To change the direction
of the curve sharply, release the mouse button, and then Alt-drag
(Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS) the direction point in the
direction of the curve. Release the Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS)
key and the mouse button, reposition the pointer where you want
the segment to end, and drag in the opposite direction to complete
the curve segment.
- Continue dragging the Pen tool from different locations
to create a series of smooth curves. Note that you are placing anchor
points at the beginning and end of each curve, not at the tip of
the curve.
Alt-drag (Windows) or Option-drag (Mac OS)
direction lines to break out the direction lines of an anchor point.
- Complete the path by doing one of the following:
To close the path, position the Pen tool
over the first (hollow) anchor point. A small circle appears next
to the Pen tool pointer  when
it is positioned correctly. Click or drag to close the path.
Note: To close
a path in InDesign, you can also select the object and choose Object > Paths >
Close Path.
To leave the path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or
Command-click (Mac OS) anywhere away from all objects.
To
leave the path open, you can also select a different tool, or choose
Select > Deselect in Illustrator or Edit >
Deselect All in InDesign.
|
PDF (adobe.com)
