Adobe Illustrator is software that allows you to create graphics for a variety of purposes. When working in a program and some other graphic editors, you often have to draw with the Pen tool, creating paths. A pen is a tool that takes some time to get comfortable. For beginners, the process of creating and manipulating anchor or anchor points can be particularly difficult. Before diving into the study of anchor points, you first need to learn about the paths that are the basis of work in the program.
What is the way
In Illustrator, paths are central to creating various shapes. They are the baselines that make up the objects. A path is a black line that appears when you draw a line in a graphics editor. It consists of a series of control points and line segments between these points. The points at both ends of the path have guides that can be used to control the curved line. The definition of control points is quite simple - those that create a path or path. There are three main types of points. Some create a smooth curve, others - corner points - are at the top of an acute angle, between two straight line segments, and there are also hybrid points with a curved line on one side and a straight line on the other. Converting one anchor point in Illustrator to another is fairly easy, but mastering the tool requires a bit of practice.
What is an anchor point
In fact, the path is one line, which can consist of several points. The main path with two end points is called open, and the figure without end points is called closed. When two or more segments are connected, the resulting structure is called a composite path. Anchor or anchor points at the ends of the path give graphic designers control over the direction of the path and the curvature of the line. Corner points can connect straight lines, curved lines, or a combination of the two, but in all cases they exist so that the path can change direction. On the other hand, points creating a smooth curve are designed so that the path continues as one smooth line, without any unexpected changes in direction or curvature.
What are anchor points for?
When designing graphics in Adobe Illustrator, you will need to create your own lines using these points. It does not matter which tool you will use. Pencil, pen or brush - they are all connected with reference points that set the direction of each path in the drawing process. Understanding how to create and modify control points can help you create detailed and stylish logos, illustrations and graphics for the web, allowing you to better control your project in Illustrator.
How to add or remove a network of control points
Ideally, your design should use as few points as possible so that the lines are smoother and the pattern can be changed quickly. If the Pen tool is selected, then when you hover over the outline, it will be replaced by a tool to add an anchor point, and when moving above it, by a tool to delete a point. To delete several points, you need to select them, and then use this tool. To add an anchor point, just click on the part of the path that you want to change.
How to draw an arc
Anchor point training can be started using the Pen tool. First, draw an arc. You can draw this arc by placing a point on the artboard, placing another point next to it and pulling on the guide's antennae. You can do otherwise by placing a point and immediately extending the antennae, and then draw a second point and pull its guide to form a smooth arc. Using the same method, you can draw multiple arcs and then connect them to create some kind of shape.
Point alignment
Aligning anchor points works the same way as aligning objects. For example, if you need to combine several points and set them in one line, using the anchor that is located above all the others, you can use the alignment tool. First, make sure that the Align to Key Anchor option is active in the Align palette. This usually happens automatically when you select points manually. Then click the Vertical Align Center button. You will notice that the point located above the others did not move at all. All the rest were aligned in accordance with the coordinates of the reference point, which was located higher vertically.
Create shapes and smart guides
Creating a shape in Adobe Illustrator is done by adding additional points to the original segment. If you want to fill the shape with color or gradient, you need to close its outline. This means that you need to eventually return to the starting reference point. When you hover over it, a circle will appear. It means that this is the beginning of the path and the circuit can be closed. You can turn smart guides on and off in the View menu. These are visual help lines showing guides for all the control points that you walk in the 2 pixel range of 0, 45, or 90 °. By default, in the Illustrator settings, smart guides try to find and show optimal directions between them. You can cancel their action if you press the Esc key, and then click on the last point of the contour.
Using different types of points
Using straight corner anchor points is best to draw objects with hard angles like rectangles, triangles. That is, it is all that consists exclusively of straight lines and is not curves. Reference points, allowing you to create a smoothly curved transition from one line to another and smooth arcs, are needed for drawing characters, landscapes and other purposes. The curve will bend to follow two points of direction. If you want to use the Pen tool to draw rounded rectangles, you need a combination of two types of anchor points. In this case, you can see special guides that are only on one side and bend one of the line segments, and leave the other straight. They control a curved segment, not a straight one - this is important to keep in mind.