Using the Line Tool - multiple lines

[martinuk1001]

Hello, I have just started using Illustrator for the first time. It's the latest version, updated and all preferences have been reset to default.

I am trying to create a simple shape by drawing several lines using the line segment tool. When I drew the first line I was hoping to be able to simply click the mouse again to start a new line at the anchor point of the first line and then repeat this several times to create a shape. But when I hold down the mouse to create a second line the first line rotates rather than creating a new second line segment.  Do I need to create all the line segments for the shapes individually or is there a way to quickly draw multiple lines the are joined together? Thanks.

[Ton Frederiks]

View > Hide Bounding Box should fix it.

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

But if you want multiple lines joint together, just click with the Pen tool.

[martinuk1001]

Many thanks for the quick response

[Ton Frederiks]

Good to hear that helped.

[Raymond26965993n8ct]

I've had the same problem. I had given up on the pen tool becuase it seemed to be doing too many things at once -I'd draw a line and then it wouldn't let go and would curve the line. Now I know that clicking the "handle" turns it into an "anchor".  The next trick was learning how to get it to let go and not keep trying to draw another line. In Corel, the esc key would release this. Eventually, I found clicking on the pen tool would stop it from continuing to try to add a line segment. Interestingly, after clicking the tool was still selected, but the new line wasn't. These very, very basic things are the hard part of adapting to the new (to me) interface. I went through multiple tutorials for drawing lines and paths that did not cover the fundamentals of getting the handle to let go or getting the tool to let go. I should search out a "going from Corel Draw to Adobe illustrator" topic. Thanks for the tip.

[Ton Frederiks]

"I'd draw a line and then it wouldn't let go and would curve the line." 

That behaviour can be turned of in Preferences (actually the first thing I do after a new install):

Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display > Enable Rubber Band for: Pen Tool

[Ashutosh_Mishra]

Hi Martin, 

Glad to hear you found the solution. In addition to response given by Ton, please check out help articles below:

1. https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/using/transforming-objects.html#transform_using_the_bounding_...

2. https://helpx.adobe.com/in/illustrator/using/drawing-pen-curvature-or-pencil.html#drawing_with_the_p...

Hope it helps.

Regards,

Ashutosh