Drawing Curved Lines In Illustrator

Illustrator User Guide
Get to know Illustrator
1. Introduction to Illustrator
  1. What's new in Illustrator
  2. Common questions
  3. Illustrator system requirements
  4. Illustrator for Apple silicon
2. Workspace
  1. Workspace basics
  2. Create documents
  3. Tools Default keyboard shortcuts | Illustrator
  4. Customize keyboard shortcuts
  5. Artboards
  6. Customize the workspace
  7. Properties panel
  8. Set preferences
  9. Touch Workspace
  10. Microsoft Surface Dial support in Illustrator
  11. Recovery, undo, and automation
  12. Rotate view
  13. Rulers, grids, and guides
  14. Accessibility in Illustrator
  15. Safe Mode
  16. View artwork
  17. Use the Touch Bar with Illustrator
  18. Files and templates
  19. Synchronize settings using Adobe Creative Cloud
Illustrator on the iPad
1. Introduction to Illustrator on the iPad
  1. Illustrator on the iPad overview
  2. Illustrator on the iPad FAQs
  3. System requirements | Illustrator on the iPad
  4. What you can or cannot do on Illustrator on the iPad
2. Workspace
  1. Illustrator on the iPad workspace
  2. Touch shortcuts and gestures
  3. Keyboard shortcuts for Illustrator on the iPad
  4. Manage your app settings
3. Documents
  1. Work with documents in Illustrator on the iPad
  2. Import Photoshop and Fresco documents
4. Select and arrange objects
  1. Create repeat objects
  2. Blend objects
5. Drawing
  1. Draw and edit paths
  2. Draw and edit shapes
6. Type
  1. Work with type and fonts
  2. Create text designs along a path
  3. Add your own fonts
7. Work with images
  1. Vectorize raster images
8. Color
  1. Apply colors and gradients
Cloud documents
1. Basics
  1. Work with Illustrator cloud documents
  2. Share and collaborate on Illustrator cloud documents
  3. Upgrade cloud storage for Adobe Illustrator
  4. Illustrator cloud documents | Common questions
2. Troubleshooting
  1. Troubleshoot create or save issues for Illustrator cloud documents
  2. Troubleshoot Illustrator cloud documents issues
Add and edit content
1. Drawing
  1. Drawing basics
  2. Edit paths
  3. Draw pixel-perfect art
  4. Draw with the Pen, Curvature, or Pencil tool
  5. Draw simple lines and shapes
  6. Image Trace
  7. Simplify a path
  8. Define perspective grids
  9. Symbolism tools and symbol sets
  10. Adjust path segments
  11. Design a flower in 5 easy steps
  12. Perspective drawing
  13. Symbols
  14. Draw pixel-aligned paths for web workflows
2. 3D effects and Adobe Substance materials
  1. About 3D effects in Illustrator
  2. Create 3D graphics
  3. Create 3D objects
  4. Create 3D Text
3. Color
  1. About color
  2. Select colors
  3. Use and create swatches
  4. Adjust colors
  5. Use the Adobe Color Themes panel
  6. Color groups (harmonies)
  7. Color Themes panel
  8. Recolor your artwork
4. Painting
  1. About painting
  2. Paint with fills and strokes
  3. Live Paint groups
  4. Gradients
  5. Brushes
  6. Transparency and blending modes
  7. Apply stroke on an object
  8. Create and edit patterns
  9. Meshes
  10. Patterns
5. Select and arrange objects
  1. Select objects
  2. Layers
  3. Group and expand objects
  4. Move, align, and distribute objects
  5. Stack objects
  6. Lock, hide, and delete objects
  7. Duplicate objects
  8. Rotate and reflect objects
6. Reshape objects
  1. Crop images
  2. Transform objects
  3. Combine objects
  4. Cut, divide, and trim objects
  5. Puppet Warp
  6. Scale, shear, and distort objects
  7. Blend objects
  8. Reshape using envelopes
  9. Reshape objects with effects
  10. Build new shapes with Shaper and Shape Builder tools
  11. Work with Live Corners
  12. Enhanced reshape workflows with touch support
  13. Edit clipping masks
  14. Live shapes
  15. Create shapes using the Shape Builder tool
  16. Global editing
7. Type
  1. Create text
  2. Fonts and typography
  3. Format type
  4. Import and export text
  5. Format paragraphs
  6. Special characters
  7. Create type on a path
  8. Character and paragraph styles
  9. Tabs
  10. Text and type
  11. Find missing fonts (Typekit workflow)
  12. Update text from Illustrator 10
  13. Arabic and Hebrew type
  14. Fonts | FAQ and troubleshooting tips
  15. Create 3D text effect
  16. Creative typography designs
  17. Scale and rotate type
  18. Line and character spacing
  19. Hyphenation and line breaks
  20. Text enhancements
  21. Spelling and language dictionaries
  22. Format Asian characters
  23. Composers for Asian scripts
  24. Create text designs with blend objects
  25. Create a text poster using Image Trace
8. Create special effects
  1. Work with effects
  2. Graphic styles
  3. Create a drop shadow
  4. Appearance attributes
  5. Create sketches and mosaics
  6. Drop shadows, glows, and feathering
  7. Summary of effects
9. Web graphics
  1. Best practices for creating web graphics
  2. Graphs
  3. SVG
  4. Create animations
  5. Slices and image maps
Import, export, and save
1. Import
  1. Import artwork files
  2. Import bitmap images
  3. Import artwork from Photoshop
  4. Place multiple files | Illustrator CC
  5. Unembed images
  6. Import Adobe PDF files
  7. Import EPS, DCS, and AutoCAD files
  8. Links information
2. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
  1. Creative Cloud Libraries in Illustrator
3. Save
  1. Save artwork
4. Export
  1. Export artwork
  2. Collect assets and export in batches
  3. Package files
  4. Create Adobe PDF files
  5. Extract CSS | Illustrator CC
  6. Adobe PDF options
  7. File information and metadata
Printing
1. Prepare for printing
  1. Set up documents for printing
  2. Change the page size and orientation
  3. Specify crop marks for trimming or aligning
  4. Get started with large canvas
2. Printing
  1. Overprint
  2. Print with color management
  3. PostScript printing
  4. Print presets
  5. Printer's marks and bleeds
  6. Print and save transparent artwork
  7. Trapping
  8. Print color separations
  9. Print gradients, meshes, and color blends
  10. White Overprint
Automate tasks
1. Data merge using the Variables panel
2. Automation with scripts
3. Automation with actions
Troubleshooting
1. Crash on launch issues
2. Recover files after crash
3. File issues
4. GPU device driver issues
5. Wacom device issues
6. DLL file issues
7. Memory issues
8. Preferences file issues
9. Font issues
10. Printer issues
11. Share crash report with Adobe

The simplest path you can draw with the Pen tool is a straight line, made by clicking the Pen tool to create two anchor points. By continuing to click, you create a path made of straight line segments connected by corner points.

Select the Pen tool ().

Position the Pen tool where you want the straight segment to begin, and click to define the first anchor point (do not drag).

Notes:

The first segment you draw will not be visible until you click a second anchor point.
If direction lines appear, you've accidentally dragged the Pen tool; choose Edit > Undo, and click again.

Click again where you want the segment to end (Shift-click to constrain the angle of the segment to a multiple of 45°).

Continue clicking to set anchor points for additional straight segments.

The last anchor point you add always appears as a solid square, indicating that it is selected. Previously defined anchor points become hollow, and deselected, as you add more anchor points.

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.
To leave the path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (macOS) anywhere away from all objects.
To leave the path open, you can also select a different tool, or choose Select > Deselect. You can also simply press Enter or Return to leave the path open.

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.

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.

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°.

A. Positioning Pen toolB. 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.

To create an S‑shaped curve, drag in the same direction as the previous direction line. Then release the mouse button.

Press Command/ Ctrl while dragging the handles of a smooth point, to make them inequal in length when you're drawing a curve.

Drag-inequal-handles — Drag unequal handles while drawing curves

A. Opposite handles are equal and pairedB. Cmd/Ctrl pressed, opposite handles are unequal and paired

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 (macOS) 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.
To leave the path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (macOS) anywhere away from all objects.
To leave the path open, you can also select a different tool, or choose Select > Deselect.

You can make finer adjustments to the closing curve:

Press the spacebar while closing a path to reposition the closing anchor point.
Press Option/ Alt, and break the pairing of handles of the closing anchor point.

Control-closing-paths — Control closing paths

A. Reposition the closing anchor pointB. Break the paired handles to adjust the closing anchor point

Reposition anchor points as you draw

After you click to create an anchor point, keep the mouse button pressed down, hold down the spacebar, and drag to reposition the anchor point.

Finish drawing a path

Complete a path in one of the following ways:

To close a 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.
To leave a path open, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (macOS) anywhere away from all objects.

To leave the path open, you can also select a different tool, or choose Select > Deselect.

Draw straight lines followed by curves

Using the Pen tool, click corner points in two locations to create a straight segment.

Position the Pen tool over the selected endpoint. In Illustrator, a convert-point icon appears next to the Pen tool when it is positioned correctly. To set the slope of the curved segment you'll create next, click the anchor point, and drag the direction line that appears.

Drawing segments — Drawing a straight segment followed by a curved segment (part 1)

A. Straight segment completedB. Positioning Pen tool over endpointC. Dragging direction point

Position the pen where you want the next anchor point; then click (and drag, if desired) the new anchor point to complete the curve.

A. Positioning Pen toolB. Dragging direction lineC. New curve segment completed

Draw curves followed by straight lines

Using the Pen tool, drag to create the first smooth point of the curved segment, and release the mouse button.

Reposition the Pen tool where you want the curved segment to end, drag to complete the curve, and release the mouse button.

A. First smooth point of curved segment completed and Pen tool positioned over endpointB. Dragging to complete the curve

Position the Pen tool over the selected endpoint. A convert-point icon appears next to the Pen tool when it is positioned correctly. Click the anchor point to convert the smooth point to a corner point.

Reposition the Pen tool where you want the straight segment to end, and click to complete the straight segment.

A. Positioning Pen tool over existing endpointB. Clicking endpointC. Clicking next corner point

Draw two curved segments connected by a corner

Using the Pen tool, drag to create the first smooth point of a curved segment.

Reposition the Pen tool and drag to create a curve with a second smooth point; then press and hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and drag the direction line toward its opposing end to set the slope of the next curve. Release the key and the mouse button.

This process converts the smooth point to a corner point by splitting the direction lines.

Reposition the Pen tool where you want the second curved segment to end, and drag a new smooth point to complete the second curved segment.

A. Dragging a new smooth pointB. Pressing Alt/Option to split direction lines while dragging, and swinging direction line upC. Result after repositioning and dragging a third time

The Curvature tool simplifies path creation and makes drawing easy and intuitive. This tool enables you to create, toggle, edit, add, or remove smooth or corner points. You don't have to switch between different tools to work quickly and precisely with paths.

Select the Curvature tool ().

Drop two points on the artboard, and then view the rubber band preview display the shape of the resulting path depending on where you hover your mouse.

Note: Rubber-banding is turned on by default in the tool. To turn it off, use preference setting: Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display > Enable Rubber Band.

Use the mouse to drop a point or tap to create a smooth point. To create a corner point, double-click or press the Alt key while clicking or tapping.

curvature-tool

A. By default, smooth points are created for curvesB. To create a corner point, double-click or press the Alt key while dropping a point

You can perform several actions:

Option (macOS) / Alt (Windows) + click to continue adding points to an existing path or shape.
Double-click or double-tap a point to toggle the point between smooth or corner points.
Click a point or tap it and then drag the point to move it.
Click or tap a point and press Delete to delete the point. The curve is maintained.
Press the Esc key to stop drawing.

Rubber Band preview

The Pen tool and the Curvature tool display a preview of the path that will be drawn from the previous anchor point to the current position of the pointer.

Using the Pen tool or the Curvature tool, click once on the artboard to draw a smooth point, and drag the mouse to create the handles as required.

Note: When you draw a smooth point, the opposite handles are always equal and paired. Press Command / Ctrl while dragging the handles of a smooth point, to create handles that are unequal in length (pairing remains intact).

Release the mouse button. When you move the mouse pointer across the artboard, a path is displayed indicating what will be drawn if you choose to drop an anchor point at the location of the mouse pointer.

RubberBand

A. First anchor point and its handlesB. Rubber Band preview of the path between the first anchor point and the mouse pointer

When the preview displayed is the path that you wanted to draw, click the location, and Illustrator draws the path as previewed.

When the preview is on, pressing Esc stops showing the preview and ends the path. This is the same action as hitting the keyboard shortcut P while working with the Pen tool (with the preview feature off).

Turn the Rubber Band preview on or off:

Open thePreferences dialog (Ctrl + K)

Browse to theSelection and Anchor Display tab

Select or clear the desired option(s):

Enable Rubber Band for Pen Tool
Enable Rubber Band for Curvature Tool

RubberBand_Preferences_2

The Pencil tool lets you draw open and closed paths as if you were drawing with a pencil on paper. It is most useful for fast sketching or creating a hand-drawn look. Once you draw a path, you can immediately change it if needed.

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.

Click and hold the Shaper tool (). Select the Pencil tool.

Pencil-tool_tools-panel

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 constrained or unconstrained straight segments using the Pencil tool

You can use the pencil tool to draw constrained or unconstrained straight segments.

Constrained straight segments: Hold the Shift key, and then use the Pencil tool to draw straight segments constrained to 0, 45 or 90 degrees. While drawing a straight segment, the straight-segment cursor () is displayed.

Unconstrained straight segments: Hold the Option/ Alt key to draw unconstrained straight segments. However, to draw a polyline path:
1. Draw a line segment.
2. Do one of the following:
- Keeping the Shift or Option/ Alt key pressed, place the cursor at the endpoint of the line. When the path-continuation cursor () is displayed, click the mouse button and draw another line.
- Keeping the mouse button pressed, release and press the Shift or Option/ Alt key, and draw the next segment.

Select the Pencil tool ().

Position the tool where you want the path to begin, and start dragging to draw a path.

After you've begun dragging, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS). The Pencil tool displays a small circle () to indicate that you're creating a closed path.

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.

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

Select the Pencil tool ().

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.

Drag to continue the path.

Connect two paths with the Pencil tool

Select both paths (Shift-click or drag around the two with the Selection tool).

Select the Pencil tool ().

Position the pointer where you want to begin from one path, and start dragging toward the other path. The Pencil tool displays a small merge symbol () to indicate you're adding to the existing path.

Drag onto the endpoint of the other path and release the mouse button.

For best results, drag from one path to the other as if you were simply continuing the paths in the direction they were created.

Reshape paths with the Pencil tool

Select the path you want to change.

Position the Pencil tool on or near the path to redraw.

You can tell you're close enough to the path when the small x disappears from the tool.

Drag the tool until the path is the desired shape.

Using the Pencil tool to edit a closed shape

Depending on where you begin to redraw the path and in which direction you drag, you may get unexpected results. For example, you may unintentionally change a closed path to an open path, change an open path to a closed path, or lose a portion of a shape.

Double-click the Pencil tool () to set any of the following options:

Pencil-tool-options_1

Fidelity

Controls how far you have to move your mouse or stylus before a new anchor point is added to the path. The Fidelity slider has five presets you can choose from. The leftmost slider preset (Accurate) is most accurate for drawing paths. The rightmost slider preset (Smooth) creates the smoothest paths. Choose a preset that suits your drawing needs best.

Fill New Pencil Strokes

Applies a fill to pencil strokes you draw after selecting this option, but not to existing pencil strokes. Remember to select a fill before you draw the pencil strokes.

Alt/ Option Key Toggles To Smooth Tool Option

With this checkbox enabled, while using the Pencil tool or the Brush tool, you can press Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) to switch to the Smooth tool.

Close Paths When Ends Are Within: _ Pixels

When the endpoints of a path you are drawing are in close proximity and within a certain predefined number of pixels of each other, the path-close cursor () is shown. When you release the mouse button, such a path is closed automatically.You can set the predefined number of pixels using this option.

Edit Selected Paths

Determines whether or not you can change or merge a selected path when you are within a certain distance of it (specified with the next option).

Within: _ pixels

Determines how close your mouse or stylus must be to an existing path in order to edit the path with the Pencil tool. This option is only available when the Edit Selected Paths option is selected.

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