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meliinar34225305
Participant
August 24, 2018
Question

pen tool with an asterisk

  • August 24, 2018
  • 5 replies
  • 12325 views

I am quite a beginner with Illustrator. I have drawn straight and curved lines, but now my pen tool has a small asterisk and I cannot draw normal curves any more. What is this asterisk (kind of a small star), and how can I get it away?

[Spelling changed from asterix (sic) to asterisk by moderator for international translation purposes.]

    5 replies

    Jane Spencer Illustration
    Jane Spencer Illustration
    Participant
    April 20, 2021

    Hey, I just had this problem too and fixed it after some noodling around... so I thought it might help others if I post here.

    So I am in Photoshop attempting to draw a new path with the pen tool, but the tool shows an asterisk, and doesn't link the points as it should- each point is seperate. Caps is not locked.

    I went to the pen tool icon top Left, and at the bottom of the drop down theres a checkbox - 'current tool only'

    I checked this box and - tada! pen tool seems to be fixed.

    Last person to use Photosop on here was my teen son... so THAT's never happening again 🙂

     

    А
    Арпине5E18
    Participant
    October 12, 2021

    Jane you saved my day.

    I did the same and TADAAAA!!!! and it worked 🙂

      katyw
      katyw
      Participant
      May 22, 2020

      So hard to draw with the crazy star. Go to AI preferences - Selection and Anchor Display, at the very bottom of the box uncheck pen tool "enable rubber bands" very frustrating when you update and it takes an hour to figure out such a simple setting. Working in Catalina 10.15.4 CC 2020. 

      L
      Luke5E9E
      Participant
      December 11, 2020

      This didn't do anything my thing won't change I can't do anything I can't reset it turning of everything doesn't do anything nothing works how do u fix this

       

       [reply edited by moderator] 

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 11, 2020

      Did you read the link that Mike posted above?

      Avadah
      Avadah
      Participant
      January 29, 2020

      As @MikeGondek mentioned, this is the starting point with the pen tool. If this is showing up over a line you are trying to add points on, this means your line isn't selected. Make sure your line is selected by using the selection tool and try again. The pen tool should show up with the + or - symbol under it. 

      Mike_Gondek10189183
      Community Expert
      Mike_Gondek10189183Community Expert
      Community Expert
      August 24, 2018

      An astersisk means that you are drawing a new path.

      PEN TOOL Variations and Symbol meanings | Get the Hook!!!

      What OS are you on? You may need to reset your prefs, or remove/update (eg: wacom driver) any nonstandard plugins that are interfering.

      ceyhun_akgun
      ceyhun_akgun
      Legend
      August 24, 2018

      The "CapsLock" in the middle of the left of the keyboard keys may have been pressed. The light on the key may be lit. This changes the look of the toolbox tools you use.

      Graphic Designer Educator / PrePress Consultant
      M
      meliinar34225305Author
      Participant
      August 24, 2018

      Thank you for your answer but that did not help. The CapsLock in not pressed.

      SULZER CONFIDENTIAL

      jane-e
      Community Expert
      jane-eCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 24, 2018

      meliinar34225305  wrote

      Thank you for your answer but that did not help. The CapsLock in not pressed.

      SULZER CONFIDENTIAL

      What is the reference to "Sulzer Confidential"? Is that part of your issue with the Pen tool?

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