Explore the intricacies of the Pen tool. Learn advanced techniques and how you can use the tool across Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Overview
Syllabus
Introduction
- Welcome
- Bézier curve fundamentals
- Working with Bézier curves
- Dragging an unconstrained path
- Dragging a constrained path
- Creating a smooth point
- Drawing a curved segment
- Adding segments to a Bézier curve
- Closing a path with a curved segment
- Extending and connecting curves
- Creating a cusp point
- Alternate ways to create cusp points
- Hidden Pen tool tricks
- How Bézier curves really, truly work
- The zero-or-two rule
- The two-thirds rule
- The oval-and-arc rule
- The tangent rule
- The straight-to-curve rule
- Introducing a tracing template
- Drawing a flexible compound shape
- Signposts and stacking order
- Advanced transformations
- Dynamic round corners
- Variable-width strokes
- Advanced Width tool tricks
- When to use the Pencil tool
- Combining drawing tools
- Using variable-width profiles
- Converting strokes to closed paths
- Shape building and angled objects
- Gradients and clipping paths
- Working with the Gradient tool
- Experimenting with dynamic effects
- The finishing touches
- Vector-based paths in a pixel-based world
- Working with a vector-based shape layer
- The Pen tool and the Paths panel
- Filling and stroking a path outline
- Turning a path into a vector-based mask
- Why and when to use vector masks
- Tracing a complex image with the Pen tool
- Converting a selection to a path outline
- Using a vector mask in a composition
- Repurposing a mask as a path outline
- Drawing a shape layer with the Pen tool
- Using a shape layer as a clipping mask
- Stroking a path with the Brush tool
- Custom symbols and page ornaments
- Drawing a custom symbol in InDesign
- Drawing in Illustrator and pasting into InDesign
- Creating inline graphics
- Converting shapes and anchor points
- Creating type along a path outline
- Creating text around a circle
- Creating text inside any path outline
- Wrapping text around an offset path
- Customizing text converted to outlines
- Next steps
Taught by
Deke McClelland