The Pen Tool
Introduction to Making 'Paths'
Continued

Clive R. Haynes FRPS

 
Adding an 'Anchor Point'
From the drop-down list of 'Pen Tool' options, choose 'Add Anchor Point Tool'.
 
Take the cursor to around midway between positions 'E' and 'F'. When you Click this time, an new 'Anchor Point' 'G', will appear, complete with 'Handles' - See below:

Carefully click on the centre 'dot' (.Anchor Point') at 'G' and you will be able to drag it around to alter its location. Clicking on a 'handle' and moving it, will allow you to change the curvature of the 'Path' between 'E' and 'F'.

It can get a little tricky here. If you miss the 'dot' and 'click' in empty space, you may find that all your 'Anchor Points' disappear! If this happens, don't panic, either use the 'History Palette' or Ctrl + Alt + Z to multiple undo until the 'Anchor Points' reappear.

 

Deleting an 'Anchor Point'
From the drop-down list of 'Pen Tool' options, choose 'Delete Anchor Point Tool'.

 

Go to any 'Anchor Point' and click on it - and it will disappear!

Before proceeding with this exercise, restore any deleted 'points'.

 

Converting an 'Anchor Point'
You'll have noticed that simple 'Anchor Points' connect with straight lines making hard angles, however an 'Anchor Point' can be converted from a 'simple' 'point' to one with 'Handles'.

From the drop-down list of 'Pen Tool' options, choose 'Convert Anchor Point Tool'.

 
Click on a simple 'Anchor Point', as at position 'B', click on it and drag. The 'Anchor Point' immediately 'grows handles' and is converted to a more flexible 'Anchor Point'. See below:
 
 
Conversely, clicking on an 'Anchor Point' with 'Handles' will immediately remove the 'handles' and convert it to a simple (angular) 'Anchor Point'. Click on point 'C' and see what happens - the handles disappear! See below:
 
 
NB: Use 'History' to undo the two 'conversions' of 'Anchor Points' above before proceeding.
 
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