Drawing lines and curves with the Pen tool

You can draw lines and curves by using the Pen tool. You do this by first drawing a path and then, optionally, stroking it with a brush.

 

To draw one or more line segments

  1. Select the Pen tool or press the shortcut key P.
  2. Click on the point in the image where the line (or path for it) will start.
  3. Move the pointer to where the line will end. To draw a line segment exactly horizontal, vertical, or at a 45-degree angle from them, press Shift while moving the pointer. At the line end point, click.
  4. (Optional) Click on additional points to add connected line segments.
  5. Press Ctrl and click to stop drawing line segments.
  6. (Optional) To move a line anchor point, which is identified by a small square at each line end point, hover over one, press Ctrl, and drag.
  7. (Optional) To have the line, which is currently a path, colored with the brush, select Stroke with Current Brush, which is in the tool options bar under the menu bar.

 

To draw one or more curves

  1. Select the Pen tool or press the shortcut key P.
  2. Click on the point in the image where the curve (or path for it) will start and drag. To have the first part of the curve nearly horizontal, vertical, or at a 45-degree angle from them, press Shift while dragging.
  3. Move the pointer to where the curve will end and then drag. To have the last part of the curve nearly horizontal, vertical, or at a 45-degree angle from them, press Shift while dragging.
  4. (Optional) Move the pointer to other locations and drag to add connected curve segments.
  5. Press Ctrl and click to stop drawing curves.
  6. (Optional) To move a curve anchor point or control point, hover over one, press Ctrl, and drag. Anchor points are identified by small squares at curve end points, and control points are identified by small circles at handle end points.
  7. (Optional) To delete the handles connected to an anchor point or redraw them, hover over an anchor point, press Alt, and click or drag.
  8. (Optional) To have the curve, which is currently a path, colored with the brush, select Stroke with Current Brush, which is in the tool options bar under the menu bar.

 

 

 

To draw multiple connected line and curve segments

  1. Draw a line or curve, but, before ending it (by pressing Ctrl and clicking), draw another line or curve. Information on drawing lines is in the subsection on To draw one or more line segments, and information on drawing curves is in the subsection on To draw one or more curves.
  2. Draw additional lines and curves as needed.
  3. Press Ctrl and click to stop drawing.

 

To change options for the Pen tool after selecting it

  • In the tool options bar under the menu bar, change the options as needed:
    • Mode: Select one of the following three modes, which each provides different capabilities and controls in the main panel.
      • Build: Select to draw new lines and curves.
      • Edit: Select to modify anchor and control points in existing lines and curves. Also, in this mode you can right-click on anchor points to see an associated shortcut menu.
      • Transform: Select to change the overall size and aspect ratio of existing lines and curves.
    • Show Rubber Band: Select to temporarily show a line or curve between the last anchor point and the pointer while moving the pointer to create a new line or curve.
    • Convert to Selection: Select to convert currently drawn paths to selections. Also, this button activates the Selection tool and deactivates the Pen tool. Information on using the Selection tool is available in Selecting image areas for modification.
    • Stroke with Current Eraser: Select to erase along currently drawn paths using the current Eraser settings. Information on settings for the Eraser tool is available in Erasing parts of an image.
    • Stroke with Current Brush: Select to color currently drawn paths using the current Brush settings. Information on settings for the Brush tool is available in Painting in an image with a brush.
    • Stroke with Current Smudge: Select to smudge along currently drawn paths using the current Smudge settings. Information on settings for the Smudge tool is available in Smudging part of an image. Note that at least two colors need to be present on the canvas in order to have one smudge into the other.

 

 

Related topic

Painting in an image with a brush