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KaossKid
KaossKid
Known Participant
February 9, 2019
Answered

Using the pen tool

  • February 9, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 7330 views

I am knew to Illustrator, and every time I try to draw using the pen tool it creates effects I am not wanting, it won't let me us select normal pen!! Help!! I don't want an elipse tool I want a pen!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer jane-e

    "The pen tool has been existing for 30 years in all kinds of different software (including even Photoshop and the likes). Good luck changing its behaviour." One who sees no more room for growth logic and progress is one who is on the road to decay no doubt.


    KaossKid  wrote

    One who sees no more room for growth logic and progress is one who is on the road to decay no doubt.

    Hi,

    At its core, the way that paths work is math, and that part may be difficult, if not impossible, to change. I have been using Bézier curves in CorelDRAW, QuarkXPress, and Adobe products for 30 years, and the math part does not change.

    The Illustrator team has introduced many new ways over the years to use the Bézier curves that does make it easier for new users as yourself. One is that if you have a straight line (line tool, rectangle, etc.), you can use the Pen tool with Option (Alt) and drag the line itself to add a curve. Some of the new ways of working with the Pen tool that the Illustrator team has introduced are only in Illustrator right now. I have hopes that they get added to Photoshop soon. Road to decay? Personally, I don’t see it, not in Illustrator.

    Certainly start with the Pencil tool if you like it. But if you are going to be serious about using Illustrator, Bézier curves are at its core, so you might add them to your list of things to learn.

    We are users like yourself. This is a user forum. There is a second forum for feature requests, which is what you have, so you might want to post here:

    Adobe Illustrator Feedback

    As users, we can’t change the program. We can only tell you how it works.

    Cheers,

    Jane

    6 replies

    C
    CitrusBookBindery
    Known Participant
    February 10, 2019

    As others have pointed out to you - the pen tool has existed for like 30 years. It's entire intent is bezier curves - this is a vector program, which means everything you do has a mathematical origin, even if raster effects are applied over it.

    You are screaming at the devs for not making it do what YOU want it to do...but it does exactly what it is SUPPOSED to do.  You can still draw naturally - the pencil tool is right underneath. PENCILS for sketching, PENS for precision? In any case, any one of thousands of youtube videos will show you how this works if you werent shown in an educational environment, but dont expect the behaviour to change any time soon.

    KaossKid
    KaossKidAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 9, 2019

    I figured it out people, the ctual pen is not under  or in the Pen Tool, it is in the one below it and you have to go into it to choose pencil. I have to say I love Adobe but they should hire real artists to help them design this tuff because only geeks get that many objects can be wrapped within one object,, and although it might be a real treasure hunt for geeks to program this way it is nothing but hell for real artists trying to use these products. A tool should be clear and easy to use, one should not have to hunt for the most basic of functions related to a tag name for an option.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 9, 2019

    KaossKid  schrieb

    but hell for real artists trying to use these products.

    It's supposed that for a mighty tool such as Illustrator you read the documentation. When painting with acrylic for the first time you don't expect to get it onto the canvas correctly either. You have to learn to master the tools first. You have to learn which paintbruch does which kind of stroke. It's the same with software.

    Here's how you can adjust the toolbar to your needs:

    How to work with tools in Illustrator

    KaossKid
    KaossKidAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 9, 2019

    Yeah I get that, but if your a programmer creating for artists you need to think "how can I get the artist creating right away?" The answer is quite simple, if the tag on an option says "Pen" then it SHOULD act like a real pen simply and easily as the main default. To use the option of a real pen by having to go to the "Shaper" tool tag instead of the "Pen Tool" tag is not logical. Just sayin'..

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 9, 2019

    KaossKid,

    Appearance (palette)>New Art has Basic Appearance.

    KaossKid
    KaossKidAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 9, 2019

    ???

    KaossKid
    KaossKidAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 9, 2019

    Actually found that and it is already set at that.

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 9, 2019

    Which version of Illustrator are you using? Please explain in detail what you do not want to achieve in general with the Pen tool. What are you doing and what do you get?

    mjbelt,

    your screenshot is taken in Photoshop, not in Illustrator.

    KaossKid
    KaossKidAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 9, 2019

    As far as I can tell I am using the most current version. When I click on the Pen Tool it turns my Apple Pencil into a tool that draws weird lines based on geometric circles I am assuming, this is NOT what I want out of a pen tool, I want it to simply act as a real pen, one that draws and shows only what I draw. I find this is a total creativity crusher, every time I try to use this app I find it to be full of effects but rarely does it act like just a pencil, pen or brush when I select any of those options, it makes me want to scream!

    KaossKid
    KaossKidAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 9, 2019

    I did not post a screen shot.

    M
    mjbelt
    Participating Frequently
    February 9, 2019

    Try using the Curvature Pen Tool.

    Draw straight lines and smooth curves with precision and ease |

    KaossKid
    KaossKidAuthor
    Known Participant
    February 9, 2019

    "new" not "knew" typo sorry

      L
      LorraineinKalispell
      Participant
      January 10, 2020

      It's not you, it's the new pen tool. It ABSOLUTELY SUCKS. The old pen tool worked just fine but some committee of morons at Adobe decided to "improve" it so that now it's absolutely miserable to work with. I've been using Adobe products since they were first released (yeah, I'm old) and each time they come out with an "improved" version, I hold my breath to see what they've f'ed up next. But this is THE WORST of all the botches they've ever done. I can only hope enough people complain that they go back to the old version but I'm not hopeful.

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 10, 2020

        Before posting wrong information into every available thread, please tell us what exactly you are seeing that you don't like.

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