Intro to the Pen Tool

The pen tool allows us to make very precise paths for outlining and filling. In this tutorial you will use the pen tool to create straight lined polygon, a circle, and an S curve.

• You will need this file to complete this activity.

1. Open the pentool.fla file.

2. Make sure your active layer is the draw here and that folder 1 is locked and visible.

3. Select the pen tool  from the tool box. Set red as your fill color and blue as your stoke color

Polygons

4. Start with the hexagon. Notice as you move the pen tool around it displays an x on the lower right. This means wherever you click it will put an anchor point. Click on point 1. An Anchor point appears on your stage in red.
 

Click on point 2 to add an anchor. Notice that a red line (the color determined by the outline color on your layer) appears connecting the two anchors.

Click on point 3, point 4 point 5 and then point 6.  With each click you are setting and anchor point. A connecting line will appear between the anchors. Each of these anchors are called corner anchors since the attached lines are straight and they meet at a distinct angle.

5. To close this shape, move the pen tool over your first anchor. you will see a small circle appear on the lower right of your pen tool cursor. This indicates that clicking there will close the shape. Click to close. Notice how the lines become blue stokes and the hexagon is filled with red as soon as you close the shape.

Circles

6. The circle requires a curved anchor instead of a corner anchor. A circle will show you how to make corner anchors using the pen tool.  Start at point 1. Click and drag from point 1 to the right following the dotted line to the right. Notice that your cursor has changed to a modified subselect tool. Release when you reach the end of the dotted line.

7. Click and drag on point 2 of the circle. Drag straight down following the dotted guide line till you reach its end. Notice how the line connecting the two curved anchors is curved!

8. Click and drag from point 3 to the left until you reach the end of the dotted line guide. Click and drag from point 4 upwards to the end of point 4 guideline.

9. To close this shape, move over point 1 until you see the circle on the lower right of your cursor.  Click and drag on point 1 to the right.

S- Curve

10. The S curve changed the arc direction in the middle. Follow the same scheme to click and drag from point 1. Then do point 2, then 3, then 4. Notice the change in curve and you change the curve direction of the anchor.

Then do 5 and 6. To close this shape, Mouse over point 6 until you see the Pen with the circle under it and click on 6 again.

Select your arrow tool and you will see the blue line appear with no fill.

EASY? The next lesson on the Pen Tool shows you how to use the subselect tool with the pen tool to adjust shapes!