We can quickly draw shapes and lines quickly using the Pencil Tool. This lesson will show you some of the tricks in drawing smooth and fluid lines.
Drawing a Line
Select the pencil tool and click and drag to draw a free hand line drawing.
Closing Paths with Pencil Tool
To close a path, hold Alt/Option as your Pencil Tool reaches the start point. A circle icon will appear next to the Pencil Tool to indicate path closure.
Smoothing Jaggy Lines
Normally when you draw with the Pencil Tool, the path looks jaggy. To smoothen the parts that are jaggy, simply hold Alt/Option to turn the Pencil Tool to Smooth Tool. Then draw over the the area of the lines which you would like to smoothen.
Reshaping Path
To reshape a path, make sure your path is selected and use the Pencil Tool to redraw the parts you would like to reshape. Note that the start and end path must be close to the original path to make it work.
Pencil Tool Preferences
You can turn on the Pencil Tool Preferences by double clicking on the Pencil Tool. You can change the fidelity and smoothness to find a combination that works for you.
Fidelity: Determines how close the path is drawn to your mouse movement. Set it at a higher fidelity if your not good at drawing with your mouse.
Smoothness: The higher you set for smoothness, the less anchor point it produces. Thus, producing a smoother line.
Next Lesson: Drawing With Pen Tool ยป
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July 17th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Simple, but very effective. Thx Tony!
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Thanks very much for this tutorials. I learn much. thanks again. God bless you.
July 31st, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Both links lead to the table of contents at the end of this article.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Excellent lesson and very clear, I now feel lots more confident using the pencil, thank you so much
August 8th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
thanks x the tutorials, u r really helping me trying to figure out Ilustrator
August 16th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
[...] Woche: Day 1: What is Illustrator Day 2: Getting Started in Illustrator Day 3: Drawing Basic Shapes Day 4: Drawing with Pencil Tool Day 5: Drawing with Pen Tool Day 6: Weekend Break Day 7: Weekend [...]
September 13th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
i never understood Reshaping Path, can any one explain it!
September 15th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Thank you so much for your tutorials, I been trying to find a good one for a loooooooong time. Im just getting started with Graphic Design, coming into it from another field, so needless to say im clueless!
You wouldnt believe how many sites out there say they have tutorials, and then when you get to it, they dont TELL you how to find the tools, on a basic level.
Your tutorials are awesome!
October 8th, 2008 at 4:15 am
As Fareed mentioned, the reshaping part wasn’t clear but once you go to the Pencil Tool Preferences menu and select the ‘Edit selected paths’ option it works.
Excellent tutorial, thanks.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:56 am
Por fin alguien que puede explicar claramente como se utiliza el pencil tool.
December 4th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Simple but Excellent!!
I requesting to you for others sorftwares tutorials (Flash, Dreamware, Photoshop) to post here.:)) Because your tutorial is very simple anyone can understand and lean lots.thank you somuch
December 4th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hi Dipika, Yup sure.. New stuff will be coming out very soon.