Adjusting Pen Paths in Flash using SubSelect tool

Using the pen and subselect tools allows us to make precise adjustments to our flash drawings. In this tutorial you will use the subselect tool along with the pen tool to modify and adjust a circle shape into a human profile.

• You will need this file to complete this tutorial.

1. Open your subselect.fla movie. Notice there is a layer called draw here and a folder that is locked on the timeline. Make sure you are on the draw here layer for the lesson.

2. Select your sub selection tool from the tool box. Move the sub selection tool over the stoke line. When it is over the stroke line you will see a black square for on the lower right of the cursor. Click on the outline stoke for the circle. This will display the anchor points of the path which defines the fill and stroke boundaries.

3. Move the sub-selection tool over the anchor point that is at about 10 oclock on the circle. The sub selection tool will display a white square under it when it is over the anchor point. Click to select it.

Click and drag the anchor point to the bridge of the nose on the silhouette below.

4. Click and drag the anchor point at 9pm to the angular point under the nose. Notice how the tangent handles cross on your image.
 

5. Grab the 1st tangent handle and while holding the Alt key, drag up. The alt key allows the tangent handle to act independent of the one on the opposite side of the anchor.

Grab the first tangent handle and while holding the shift key down, rotate it counterclockwise to almost horizontal, until the path between the two anchor points nearly match the pattern below.

6. Select the pen tool Click halfway between the bridge of the nose (1st anchor point) and the very top anchor point to activate the path. Your pen tool will then display an x under it untill you are exactly over the path, when it will change to a + symbol form below the pen tool. Click when you see the + symbol. This will add an anchor point on that line segment, dividing the segment into 2 (or more) segments. If flash needs to it will insert more anchors to keep the path, so don't worry if there are more)

Select the Sub selection tool. Click and Drag this new anchor point to the forehead.

7. Click back on the 1st anchor and grab the tangent handle that is on the top side of the anchor from the one we adjusted before.. This will control the arc above that anchor. Clickand with the alt key held down, Drag the tangent handle up and out so the forehead matches the S curve there. Adjust the new anchor point tangent handle down,. also with alt key pressed,  to better match the s curve.
8. Go around the entire figure trying to adjust your circle to the sillouette. Add points where needed, adjust tangent handles to anchor points with and without the alt key. To delete an anchor that is in the way, click it with your subselect tool and then hit your delete key. You should be able to do it in less then 20 anchors, preferably 14 or 15.

When you have mastered the sub selection tool it is time to trace an object with the pen tool and use the sub selection tool to adjust it for a closer approximation of the image. That is the next tutorial!