If you use Adobe Illustrator, then it's almost certain that you use the Pen tool when creating your paths. This comprehensive guide aims to introduce or remind you of features, shortcuts, and methods for working with what is arguably Adobe's most essential tool.
Functions
Pen tool : Click on artboard to create paths with straight segments, click and drag to create paths with Bezier curves.
Add anchor point tool : Click on a path segment to add anchor points.
Delete anchor point tool : Click on anchor point to remove from path.
Convert anchor point : Click on an anchor point and drag to create bezier handles where there were none, click on an anchor point with handles to a remove them.
Scissors : Not part of the Pen tool group, but definitely associated with it. Click on a path segment to divide into two paths.
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Select Pen tool (P)
- Select Add anchor point tool (+)
- Select Delete anchor point tool (-)
- Select Convert anchor point tool (Shift + C)
- Select Scissors tool (C)
The Cursors
The pen tool takes on different forms depending on what you're doing when you're using it. Each one intuitively makes you aware of the action you are about to perform.
(Caps Lock to toggle between pointer and cross hair)
Prepared to begin path
Whilst midway through creating or editing a path
When mouse is pressed
When hovered over path section; to add an anchor point to path
When hovered over anchor point; to remove anchor point from path
When hovered over begin point of path; to close path
When hovered over endpoint of existing path; to continue path
When hovered over existing anchor point
Secondary Mouse Controls (with path selected)
- Pen tool hover over anchor point : changes to Delete anchor point tool
- Pen tool hover over path segment : changes to Add anchor point tool
- Pen tool hover over end anchor point : changes to Convert anchor point tool
Keyboard Controls
- Hold Shift to constrain movements to 45°, 90°, 135° or 180° whilst creating or editing anchor points and handles.
- Select anchor point with Direct selection tool and click Delete. Anchor and adjoining path segments are deleted leaving two paths.
- Pen tool + Option (Alt) : changes to Convert anchor point tool.
- Pen tool hover over bezier handle + Command (Ctrl) : allows editing of bezier curve.
- Pen tool + Option (Alt) whilst creating bezier curve : splits curve (unhinges handles).
- Pen tool hover over bezier handle + Option (Alt) : splits curve (unhinges handles).
- Scissors tool + Option (Alt) : changes to Add anchor point tool.
- Add anchor point tool + Option (Alt) : changes to Delete anchor point tool.
- Delete anchor point tool + Option (Alt) : changes to Add anchor point tool.
Preferences
(Illustrator > Preferences > Selection & anchor display)
Tolerance: Radius of the selection area around anchor points. Must be between 1 and 8 pixels, 1px if you're deadly accurate with your mouse or have a lot of anchors in close range of one another, 8px if you prefer less precision. 3px is the default value.
Object Selection by Path Only : When checked, this option allows selection of objects only by clicking their paths. Clicking on their filled areas is ineffective, comparable to working in Outline mode (View > Outline).
Snap to Point: Also checkable via View > Snap to Point, though via the Selection & Anchor Display dialogue the tolerance can also be determined from 1 to 8 pixels. This value again represents the radius around anchor points. When lining up two objects, anchor points from one will snap to points of the other should they be positioned within the specified range.
Anchor Point and Handle Display: Determines the way in which your path anchor points and handles are displayed.
Highlight Anchors on Mouseover: When checked, highlights anchor points when hovered over with cursor.
Show Handles When Multiple Anchors are Selected: When checked, this options displays the handles of points when multiple points are selected. Otherwise, handles of multiple selected points are not displayed.
Other Shortcuts and Tips
Select the Direct Selection tool before selecting the Pen tool. Press and hold Command (Ctrl) to give you access to the last tool selected (in this case the Direct Selection tool) for editing of paths and handles without deselecting the path.
With path selected, use the Spacebar to give you access to the Hand tool. Move your screen without deselecting the path or changing tools.
While creating or editing an anchor point, click and hold mouse + Spacebar to alter the position of the anchor point you're working on.
With Direct Selection tool select endpoint and starting point of path. Command (Ctrl) + J to Join.
- With Direct Selection tool select endpoint and starting point of path. Command (Ctrl) + Option (Alt) + Shift + J to join and average simultaneously.
To smoothen a path by reducing the number of anchor points open the Simplify dialogue (Object > Path > Simplify) and adjust according to your needs.
- Conversely, should you want more anchor points to improve manipulation go to Object > Path > Add Anchor Points. A new anchor point will appear after every existing anchor point on the selected path.
To prevent the Pen tool from changing it's function when interacting with other anchor points or paths, open the general preferences dialogue (Illustrator > Preferences > General) and check the Disable Auto Add/Delete option. The Pen tool will now only draw paths.
Best Practice Suggestions
- Drag handles from the first anchor point when beginning a curved path.
Drag your handles around just one third of the curve you're creating for a smooth path.
Position anchor points on a curve where the paths begin to change direction, not in the middle of it's curve.
- Be sparing with your use of anchor points, fewer points = neater path.
The Pen Tool Exercise
This is all well and good in theory, but while these tips are fresh in your mind why not put them into practice? Download the Pen Tool Exercise file and follow the guides to create precise paths, using the hints and shortcuts covered in this article.
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User Comments
( ADD YOURS )pica August 19th
lol, the pen tool exercise is brilliant!
( )anyway, cool base tutorial
Medina November 22nd
I would love to see a video tutorial of this exercise.
( )kailoon August 19th
this is nice!
( )Greg August 19th
Awesome, the pen tool is a must in illustrator.
- Greg
( )Zach August 19th
This is what I have been looking for. I hope for more theory tuts and I hope that PSD can do this same thing for the Photoshop pen tool. It’s one area I sorely lack in and that I most want to use.
( )Dan August 19th
What, there’s a pen tool?
( )Mr Kuzio August 19th
This is a good functions explanation of the Pen tool.
( )Really good!
TuanAnh August 19th
The exercise is totally awesome !
( )I really need other basic tutorials like this.
great work!
Simona August 19th
Great Tool&Tips tutorial!
( )Jonathan August 19th
This is genius! Really admirable job Ian.
( )Jason A. August 19th
Looooove the Pen Tool. I taught myself the basics in Photoshop back in 5.5 and have never looked back. Hands down the best tool in Adobe’s arsenal!!
( )Jason A. August 19th
Oh, great tut by the way!!
( )Grant Friedman August 19th
Can’t live without that pen tool. Nice addition to the site.
( )Nate August 19th
Thanks. This is good stuff
( )finbarrus August 19th
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! The first time I’ve been given REALLY useful tips on using the pen tool!
( )Shane August 19th
A good overview of the bread and butter of illustrator. Thanks.
( )MONSTER August 19th
Super useful reference.
T
( )H
A
N
K
S
Moksha August 19th
i can never over come it, is really hard for me.
( )thanks for some tips
Daniel Geraldi August 19th
Really great exercise and very helpful!
( )Thanks!
James Dolan August 19th
Thanks sooooo much for the pen tool exercise!! Really helped me loads!! Cheeers soo much :p I was a noob to start with now I can create all sorts
( )NaldzGraphics August 19th
cool tips and nice exercise.i surely learn more on this. thanks a lot!!
( )Gary Spedding August 20th
Suggestion for Ian,
I have this down roughly but would you be interested in showing us how to do “cutouts” in Illustrator? Example: cutting a car windshield out to reveal the scene in the background. Involves the pen tool for selections and clipping paths and compound paths. Sounds like this would be easy for you to do. I can do it but the result is pretty crude. What is the best and smoothest way on this?
Cheers,
Gary.
Suggestions for everyone- don’t miss Ian’s Vecta Cola tutorial (a few before this one) and try it out. There are some really cool tips embedded in that one. Look forward to more from this wonderful Illustrator expert and great writer.
( )Ian Yates August 20th
@Gary : It’s not often I get compliments like that! Thanks very much – i’ll see what I can come up with for your suggestion, inspiration is always welcome!
( )Don August 20th
Nice! Need a tutorial like this for all the Pathfinder options now.
( )andi August 20th
great stuff thanks
( )w1sh August 21st
The pen tool exercise zip is awesome. Great idea after a thorough tut. I wish there were more basics thoroughly explored like this one.
An in depth look at working with colors in Illustrator would benefit me greatly. It all seems so counter-intuitive.. Gradients are a pain..
( )Ian Yates August 21st
@w1sh : as I said to Gary, inspiration is always welcome – thanks for your comment..
( )Luigi August 21st
That’s brilliant!
I’m going over the Pen tool features and this post is what I was looking for. Brilliant again!
I might print it off and keep it by my desk at work.
Thanks!
( )Braden Keith August 21st
I like the shortcuts
( )Marvin August 22nd
very nice! good explanation
( )Max | Design Shard August 23rd
I needed something like this, great thanks
Max
( )dr.emi August 23rd
lovely resources !
cool guide brother. but I need too, photoshop guide tool for newbie
( )Leal August 23rd
Nice. I was wondering when someone would come up with a tutorial like this. Good job, and I hope you share some other useful tutorials like this one.
( )Vector Graphics August 26th
Good tips for noobs. Thanks !
( )Ravi Vora August 27th
Awesome, I’ve been looking for something like this.
( )dash August 28th
thanks alot this is what ive been looking for, for ages!
( )brilliant explanation!
koen buysse August 29th
recentlu bought illustrator cs3, and entered myself in a evening-cursus for abobe illustrator…
( )so that pan-tool exercise thingy is defenetly awesome !!!!
neat tut anyway !!!
maybe all the tools?
beam8 August 31st
I’ve been looking for an exercise like this for a long, long time:) And finally found it on VECTORTUTS! Nicely done:)
Greets!
( )ngochai September 1st
Hi that’s great tutorial. But in your Pen tool exercise, the step 27 and 28 I can’t do that. How can I do that??? Please tell me . Thanx
( )Ian Yates September 2nd
@ngochai : Yes, I see the problem. In step 28 I asked you to release the mouse button exactly on the point where you begin the next. Unfortunately, in doing this you’re leaving the selection point of the grab handle where you want to begin towards step 29.
If you release the mouse just before reaching step 28 you will have given the path the correct direction and you’ll leave step 28 free of anchors and handles to begin the next point.
Sorry for the oversight. Why did nobody else mention this!!???!
( )Joyce September 3rd
Is this pen tool tutorial good for Illustrator 10 too
( )Jan September 10th
I’ve been working with illustrator for a loooong time but that pen tutorial was still awesome.
I found at least one miss in the instructions, but still. Great job.
( )Manuel Minino September 13th
Just what i needed!! i have 10 years + working almost EVERYDAY with pen tool for vectors and photo retouching… from old Aldus Freehand to Windows 95′ corel draw, to Macromedia Freehand to photoshop, but kinda never understood how to work it properly in AI, because is a LITTLE different than all other standard bezier tools ever created, just to make it a LITTLE bit tricky to handle, and the user have to put more effort in shortcuts, custom preferences, mouseovers… blah blah…. i still using macromedia freehand 10, but NOW I -finally- GET IT!! i think i can begin the crossover to AI thnx to u and this other pen tool’ basics article:
drawing-with-pen-tool
by the way.. the Pen Tool Exercise is AWESOME!! the best I’ve ever seen!!! how did u come up with the idea of putting the details right on the exercise?? way cool!!
MUCHAS GRACIAS, AMIGO!!
( )get zapped September 16th
Hey, thanks! Love how you set this tutorial up. Great idea. I’ve always struggled with this bloody tool (familiar story), but you’ve certainly helped me grasp it. I struggled with some of the instructions (56-59), but finally got it.
Thanks again.
( )Dainis Graveris September 21st
I really learned about pen tool long time ago, but this list and tips are just amazing! Thank You guys – really will help to create my logotype
( )James De Angelis September 21st
Extremely useful, vectips continues to be the most useful resources at vectortuts
( )geggoers September 22nd
this doesnt help me at all. god i am going to fail.
( )Mkhee October 2nd
I haven’t tried this out yet, but thank you for publishing it! I’m trying to switch from Photoshop to Illustrator, but It’s just so damn hard since I get frustrated that I can’t find certain things. Hopefully reading through this will help me (even if its just a bit) step towards AI.
( )Ara October 4th
Thank you thank you!! I just got Illustrator and I’m trying to learn how to use it. This really helps!!
( )pooch October 10th
good! thanks ; )
( )whlooi October 16th
Great tips and nice to practice. Gracias!
( )Ziya November 4th
Amazing great tips and brilliant exercise…Thank you very much.
( )Let me make a humble request. Could I use this exercise file for my students?
Laali November 12th
How do I work with the exercise files….Illustrator is not letting me perform any thing when I open it ?
( )Jas November 23rd
What a great tutorial and the pen tool exercise was just brilliant. I loved it.
It really helped me, because for some reason I always have trouble with the pen tool.
Cheers.
( )Brandon November 25th
I absolutely loved the excercise you provided. I was having a hard time with the pen tool but this excersice has helped. Thank you!
( )Liam November 26th
Great help, just teaching myself so totally lost without your help – thank you
Laali – I had the same problem then I saw that the layers were locked. After unlocking I could pen tool draw
( )bodierock December 28th
awsome tips ….I can open the tutorial excersice but cant work with or copy it over.???????????????????? help please
( )bodierock December 28th
goit it ! just had to click on the working layer in in layers …..sweeeet!
( )Xeina January 21st
HAhaha,
( )I will post a tutorial on pen tool soon.
Bruce January 23rd
A few rules when you drag out those handles:
the one third rule is a very good starting point.
If your handles are a lot longer eg, they start to cross over, it means you need some extra points to control that section.
If they are very short, you will probably get better control if you delete some points.
For each section of line the handles at each end should be on the same side. If your handles are on opposite sides of the line, with an S shape in the middle, move them or add another point.
Now you should be able to get those curves to do exactly what you want with minimum frustration!
( )Jim Barker February 8th
I’ve been using Illustrator since it first came out (in ‘87 I believe, by Aldus), and it never ceases to amaze me that I can still pick up pointers from even the most basic of tutorials. That’s why I will generally always stop to read one. I found a couple of choice ones from this one that might make explaining to my students a lot easier. Thank you.
( )hieulk February 8th
Excellent!
( )Cristofani February 17th
Hey, thanks a lot! The exercise was such a great ideia! Thank you very much!
( )spyece February 25th
amazing, i really wanted to know some more details about pen tools than i already know and here they are. Thanks a lot buddy and thanks to vectortuts for this awesome tutorial.
( )Modi February 26th
super,i can Say that you are the king of Illustrator.
( )imazing……………….
jack March 11th
^ not true
( )Vector Master April 4th
thank you,
( )this is very useful
Silver Firefly April 16th
Hi, thanks for this tutorial. I learned how to use the Pen tool in Illustrator but I’m certainly not a master of it. This will help me a lot. Funnily enough I only learned how to use the Pen tool in Photoshop AFTER I learned how to use the Pen tool in Illustrator. Illustrator’s Pen tool is more intuitive than Photoshop’s Pen tool in my opinion.
( )phil April 29th
Excellent introduction, thanks a lot!
( )Parrot 3 May 9th
I’ve been having a hard time with the pen tool. This site explains
( )it best. BIG HELP.
CgBaran Tuts May 14th
Great article it helps me a lot thanks
( )dig May 21st
(sigh)…good tutorial, but I miss FreeHand’s pen…
( )Rudi Samyn May 27th
Very nice tutorial but I have one question.
Why in point 67 you make it difficult with alt and drag to draw a straight line to 68? Since it’s a straight line, the bezier handle is unwanted, i think.
I would do it this way:
66. click and drag left
67. to here and release. click on the anchor 66 again (to remove the unwanted bezier handle)
68. click
69. …
(I use the same technique when drawing the ‘O’…)
Maybe there’s a good reason why you do it the way you do. I wonder…
( )Nate August 13th
When I open the file and try to use the pen tool, I don’t get the correct icon. It’s an icon of a pen with a line through it, and it won’t let me use the pen tool. Any suggestions? Thanks.
( )The Peej August 18th
Sounds like you may be on a locked layer. Check the little buttons beside the layers. There’s one to make them visible or invisible (eyeball) and one to lock or unlock a layer (pad lock). If your on a locked layer then the tool would show with a strike through it to indicate you can’t use it.
( )Bill Olsen August 23rd
After years of playing around with Illustrator and finally needing to take it more seriously, this really helped put some things in perspective. Thanks.
( )LilAngel009 September 12th
Great tutorial to learn the basics, thanks for sharing!!!!
( )Brenden September 13th
This tutorial and everything about this website just rocks! It’s been a valuable resource in my new understanding of illustrator! Thank you!
( )TuanAnh September 14th
Brilliant approach!
( )Matt Vogt October 9th
OH MY GOD – this is exactly what I needed to find, man it’s tricky these curves.
( )joe the plumber October 17th
due to the death of macromedia freehand i’m finally diving into the cesspool that is illustrator. I must say illustrator is possibly the worst program ever made. everything that can be done with 2 steps in freehand takes 6 steps in illustrator.
thanks for the tut.
( )Kwanta Faunsgila October 22nd
Great Tutorial for Illustrator Pen!
( )Kwanta
Questorama October 25th
i’ve completed pen tool exercise with lots of fun, it’s rocks!
( )sunil November 8th
It is very useful, now I realised how important is pen tool.
( )AB December 1st
Really helpful!
( )Jamali December 5th
Hello
This is a great practice.
But
I can’t do that.
Because My Pen tool doesn’t work on this artwork and I don’t know why?
( )can anybody help me?
thanks
Ints December 5th
it was very useful for me, thank you!
( )asmat December 5th
kuch b naye awain e hai. samaj to lagti naye. banda clear cut likhay.
( )Sumi December 16th
Great tutorial. Ah.. Finally I fond comprehensive guide for pen tool. Always have problem when use it in both photoshop and illustrator
( )profeivan December 20th
Great tutorial. Felicitaciones.
( )IMAO January 7th
Really Nice!
( )pop ovidiu sebastian January 14th
one of the best tutorials i ever seen. this is really usefull to beginners.
( )Multiwp January 21st
great tuts! thank you.
( )Printing Samples January 27th
Fantastic tutorial. I’ve been looking for an easy to follow reference I can refer back to from time to time!
( )