Why doesn't the width tool work?

[roncurington]

OK I;m using CS 6 installed locally on a Windows 7 machine

Trying to use the width tool for the first time and so far it's not working. I've looked a  number of videos dealing specifically with the Width tool . They all seem to be pretty straight forward. I'm not seeing any steps that I might be missing. I draw the line with the pen tool. I give it a 3 pt. stroke and select the Width tool "shift-W" , I then try to click on the line / path but it doesn't allow me to engage the line at all. it gives me nothing.

Ok, so what am I missing, what is the secret handshake???

[Doug A Roberts]

not sure from that description. show a screenshot?

[roncurington]

Actually I think I may have sorted that one out. However, I found another issue. When the control points run into an anchor  point they do weird things to the line. is there any way to make the width flow smoothly over the anchor points/

here's a screen shot..

This is a width control from either side of an anchor point.

[Monika Gause]

You will need to be careful when setting them. You need to delete some of the width points, there are too many.

[roncurington]

Actually on this one I ended up with extra points when I was trying to move them around. Mostly because the points are so small it makes it hard to position the mouse on them.

In fact because of the effect I was getting I was trying to maybe pick up the width on the other side of the anchor point.

That particular segment is the upper part of  an "s" lower case script so the line enters a rather tight loop right there and  I kind of have to place the anchor points close.

So I gather from your response that there is no way around this behavior.

[jane-e]

roncurington  wrote

I kind of have to place the anchor points close.

So I gather from your response that there is no way around this behavior.

The width tool will change the width of a segment.

Are you drawing the "S" with the Pen tool? How well do you know the Pen tool?

You might try drawing a circle with a thick stroke to practice and learn with. Then draw a line with the line drawing tool. Then type an "S" and convert it to Outline and practice on that. Then go back to the "S" that you drew and see if it makes more sense after you've played with simple shapes.

[Monika Gause]

roncurington  schrieb

That particular segment is the upper part of  an "s" lower case script so the line enters a rather tight loop right there and  I kind of have to place the anchor points close.

I don't understand.

Please show the complete shape. Maybe upload the file for someone to check. You file looks like there are unnecessary width points.