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ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS2
User Guide
To draw curves with the Pen tool
1
Select the Pen tool
.
2
Position the Pen tool where you want the curve to begin, and press down the mouse button.
The first anchor point appears, and the Pen tool pointer changes to an arrowhead .
3
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.
A
B
C
Drawing the first point in a curve
A.
Positioning Pen tool
B.
Starting to drag (mouse button pressed)
C.
Dragging to extend direction lines
4
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.
A
B
C
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.
A
B
C
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
5
Continue dragging the Pen tool from different locations to create additional smooth points.