If you want to convert a straight anchor point to a combination point, you must first make the point become a smooth point, and then drag on the control handle. The Pen tools quartet should be used along with the Direct Selection tool, completing an essential tool set in your icon-drawing process.
Process of editing a shape. Fig 1. Select the Direct Selection tool A and use it to move those anchor points you just made to your intended positions where your shape will be formed. The Selection tool V The Selection tool. It allows us to change the shape of a path by moving the position of anchor points, or it helps transform a curve by adjusting the length of control handles.
This tool probably is the best of all in the Tools panel, we guess. It is a helpful and easy-to-use tool that you should use all the time you work with Adobe Illustrator. Sometimes we need this tool to deal with our artwork when we want to change the size of a shape. Specifically, we need this tool to enlarge or shrink the paths of a shape, or scale two anchor points to make them symmetrical.
Once you finish your icon, this tool allows you to export the vector format to raster-based image. The Blend tool W : A nice tool to use but you will have to meet this tool later in a single particular tutorial. The Gradient tool G : This tool has a close relationship with the Gradient palette so we will mention both of them later. The Mesh tool U : This tool, as a matter of fact, is used when someone wants to draw a Mesh surface visualized 3-D like a leaf or a drop of water, for instance.
Based on our experiments in the icon-drawing process, this tool really could not work it out and not worth our efforts with it. There are some other simple tools that could totally replace this one thanks to their flexible and straightforward use, and with these substitutes, our icon designs take less time and have similar outcomes as desired, and it is easier for us to re-edit anything when needed.
The Flare tool: The Flare tool is rarely used to draw icons and therefore we can forget it. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account.
You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. Create a free website or blog at WordPress. Home About. Adobe Illustrator Tools and Functions However, followings are the ones we always rely on when making an icon. The Zoom tool Z The Zoom tool The Zoom tool allows us to enlarge or reduce the view of artwork we are viewing or when we want to edit everything in detail.
The Rectangle tool The Rectangle tool Use this when you want your path to be a rectangle or square shape. The Pen tools quartet includes: Pen tool, used to generate straight and curved lines. Delete Anchor Point tool - , enables you to delete existing anchor points.
Convert Anchor Point tool, used to change corners to curves and vice versa; it also allows you to tweak the exact character of a curve. Note Bezier curves are made up of three components — two anchor points begin and end , segment lines, and control handles. Play with it To draw straight-line segments: Select the Pen tool P. Add your start anchor point by clicking one time with the left mouse button. Now add the end anchor point to make your first straight-line segment by clicking the mouse once again.
From now on, you can make more straight-line segments with a few more clicks. To draw a curve: Repeat step 1 and 2 above. Now add the end anchor point for your first curve by clicking and holding the mouse button down.
Drag the mouse to bend the curve the way you want it to be, and then release your left mouse button when you see the curve is okay with you. To create a shape with straight-line segments a cornered shape : Select the Pen tool P.
Add your start anchor point and end anchor point to make the first line segment. Add another anchor point to make the second line. Position the mouse pointer over the start point, a small circle will appear next to the Pen tool pointer once it is positioned correctly. Click to close the path, making a complete shape. To create a shape with curved segments a shape with Bezier curves : Similar to drawing a cornered shape but you need to drag the mouse instead See how to draw a curve.
Bezier Components There are times when you need to edit a path to get it just right. Notes a. Play with it To add an anchor point: Select the path you want to modify.
To delete an anchor point: Select the path you want to modify. Do one of the two following ways: Select the Pen tool P or the Delete Anchor Point Tool - , position the pointer over the anchor point and click. Click on an anchor point you want to convert and drag the mouse until you have a Bezier curve as expected. To convert a point with control handles to the point without control handles: Select the Convert Anchor Points tool.
Click on a smooth point you want to convert and release the mouse button. Clicking on a smooth point will convert it to a straight anchor point. Dragging a point will make that point turn to a smooth anchor point. Process of editing a shape Draw a rectangle shape. Play with it Select the Selection tool V. Click on the outline of a path to see it highlighted with a different color.
The Direct Selection tool A The Direct Selection tool It allows us to change the shape of a path by moving the position of anchor points, or it helps transform a curve by adjusting the length of control handles. Play with it To move a straight segment: Select the path by using the Selection tool V. With the Direct Selection tool A , select the segment you want to adjust.
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