Illustrator Pentool help?

By King Allister - 07-24-2011, 06:50 PM - Boxden > BX Paintworks

i need help understanding this !!..

i am too used to photoshop's pen tool [holding down command(I'm,on a mac obv) to make curves...]

illustrator is a pain in the[..] i can't make fluid curves as i am used to in photoshop. please help me

paint works can you pimp my pen tool game?!!?!

07-24-2011, 06:56 PM

Why are you holding command to make curves even in PS though? PS and AI are virtually the same when it comes to the pen tool, aside from a few minor hotkey changes.

Click down, hold, and drag to make a curve.

07-24-2011, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by RYLNYC

Why are you holding command to make curves even in PS though? PS and AI are virtually the same when it comes to the pen tool, aside from a few minor hotkey changes.

Click down, hold, and drag to make a curve.

I'm used to it; Qwasian taught me that[ [pic] ] it lets me cut photos like in 2 minutes.

click click click middle hold command [make curve] click click click middle hold command [make curve]

it just allows me to rush through easily...

i could do this like in 5 minutes on photoshop but i want to do it in illustrator since it got the stroke on path
[pic]

07-24-2011, 07:17 PM

[pic] [pic] [pic]

this !! issssssssssssssss [pic] I CANT TAKE IT [pic]

07-24-2011, 07:22 PM

That's what I'm saying... why are you holding COMMAND? It doesn't affect anything when making pen paths in PS.

07-24-2011, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by RYLNYC

That's what I'm saying... why are you holding COMMAND? It doesn't affect anything when making pen paths in PS.

[pic] go to photoshop and try it... make two points. click in the middle. and hold command.. it makes a curve. that i can MOVE AROUND not like a EDGE in illustrator

07-24-2011, 07:42 PM

[pic] this !! is IRKING MEEEEEE!

the !!ing CURVES ARE d|sgusting -.-

[pic]

photoshop this !! woulda bee 3 clicks to make a nice looking curve for the arm smfh i hate this !!

07-24-2011, 07:45 PM

[pic]

[pic]

Your method on top vs. the usual method down bottom.

Why make 3 points then click in the middle when you can make one point, click and hold/drag to make the exact same curve in less points and less keys?

Should've known Q would teach you something like that [pic]

07-24-2011, 07:45 PM

http:// I'm used to it. its easier for me.. its easier for me to cut on my macbook grown to enjoy it that way; it takes me less then 2 minutes to cut using my way; but i found out how to do MY method on illustrator

07-24-2011, 07:47 PM

[pic]

2 clicks. PS and AI alike.

07-24-2011, 07:47 PM

Dah well. G'luck with your method then.

07-24-2011, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by RYLNYC

[pic]

2 clicks. PS and AI alike.

i tried to use it the 2 click way but the next point i do comes out looking !!ty idk why

07-24-2011, 09:34 PM

lol damn dude, the pen tool isn't that hard to learn. I don't know how you got used to that 3 point method but can't get it with 2 points

07-24-2011, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by gagethedesigner

lol damn dude, the pen tool isn't that hard to learn. I don't know how you got used to that 3 point method but can't get it with 2 points

the 3 point and 2 point is different tho..

3 point is i do the 2 end points and put one in the middle and MOVE IT to the where i want the curve to go..
the 2 point is 2 points and i curve it the end point.. but when i do it that way, the new point looks like its out of shape

07-25-2011, 08:11 AM

It's all about the handles, alt clicking on your last endpoint will leave only the handle for the curve behind it but it gets rid of the one that's supposed to control the curve to your next point - meaning you can make a corner or a tighter curve.

Step 1:
[pic]
Step 2:
[pic]
Step 3:
[pic]
Step 4:
[pic]
Step 5:
[pic]
Step 6:
[pic]

If this is too hard for you I don't think you'll be able to become very proficient in Illustrator.

07-25-2011, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Morphy

It's all about the handles, alt clicking on your last endpoint will leave only the handle for the curve behind it but it gets rid of the one that's supposed to control the curve to your next point - meaning you can make a corner or a tighter curve.

If this is too hard for you I don't think you'll be able to become very proficient in Illustrator.

i didn't know what to do after step 4

07-25-2011, 09:34 AM

[pic]

thanks..

10:11 AM

Originally Posted by King Allister

i didn't know what to do after step 4

You alt-click the handle

well if you're on a Mac then I guess it would be Command or Option button.

Step 5
[pic]

The "handle" (the little point in the red circle) is like gravity for your lines. If the handle thats controlling your line is aimed towards the left, then the line will have a curve pointing to the left.

If you take that handle and aim it to the opposite side, your curve will follow along with it and become a curve pointing to the right.

If you take the handle and put it flat over your line you don't really have a curve anymore just a straight line.

07-25-2011, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by King Allister

[pic]

Close but no cigar -

Your lines aren't closed off. The right part of the jacket ends with a floating endpoint, it's not connected with anything. If you want to make a solid shape, you have to connect your last point with your first point. Which will give you a solid white-filled jacket.

You can also do all the outlines by themselves, without any fill, and then when you're done you can group them all together into one layer.

Or join all the paths together into one single shape by selecting any two endpoints that are close to each other but unconnected. Do this with all points and you'll eventually get one solid outline. (except for buttons on the shirt because they're not connected to the main shirt outline)

You can then put a layer underneath your outline and make a shirt shape filled with white (but this time without an outline). These two layers combined will give you the whole shirt.

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