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Participant
January 30, 2019
Question

Pen Tool Techniques

  • January 30, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 546 views

To create a shape like the one in the image below, which option would you use and why?

As you can see option "A" only uses anchor points at the peaks and then uses broken handles to achieve the curve in between points. Option "B" also uses anchor points at each peak but with no handles, so an extra anchor point with handles is needed in the middle to achieve the curve.

Personally I have found that option B is the faster technique even though it requires more anchor points. Option A requires a lot of finessing of the handles to get the curves just right. But which option would you use?

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4 replies

Participating Frequently
January 31, 2019

Version A the best, but Version B okay also.

Hi Jeff!

Eugenio.NYC
Participating Frequently
January 31, 2019

Yes I agree, A is better... but at the end whatever’s more comfortable for you, B maybe will be easier

Daniel E Lane
Inspiring
January 31, 2019

Version A for sure. Less anchor points on all of those curves tends to make for cleaner curves.

Jeff Witchel, ACI
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 31, 2019

Like Jacob, I prefer A, because there are less anchor points.

My friend Batman agrees.

Jacob Bugge
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 30, 2019

Scot,

Fundamentally, the fewest possible number of Anchor Points. If you compare, placing on top of each other and have a closer look (you may change the colour of one and then the other to something different, such as red to get a contrast for the comparison), you may be able to see why see why (unless you have managed to get the Handles made corresponding to what you would get by adding Anchor Points).