Using paths

Drawing a curved path

The Pencil tool draws an outline as you drag it. When you release the tool, the outline gets converted to a path; knots are added where necessary, and the path is closed if you stopped drawing at the same place as you started.

One disadvantage of the tool is that it may create more knots than you want, especially if the outline isn't very smooth. However, once you've drawn the path you can delete any surplus knots with the Remove Knots tool - described below.

The Pen tool draws a path by setting its knots and tangents. You do so by clicking where you want each knot to be, and dragging out its tangents - without releasing the mouse button. As you add each knot the path from the previous knot appears, and moves as you move the tangents.

• Normally the tangents are smooth and symmetrical. To position them independently, drag until you've correctly positioned the tangent that is not under the pen. Then - without releasing the mouse button - hold down the Ctrl key and continue dragging. This moves only the tangent under the pen. Once that is correctly positioned, release the mouse button, then the Ctrl key.

• If you just click (i.e. you don't drag out the tangents), the knot's tangents will lie on top of the knot, and you'll get straight lines with sharp corners. This is how to draw triangles etc.

The way you finish drawing the path depends on whether you want it open or closed:

• For an open path, press the Esc key once you have positioned the last knot.

• For a closed path, simply place its last knot over the first knot[3].

The Ballpen tool draws a smooth curve by setting the position of its knots. You simply click where you want each knot to be. As you add each knot, smooth symmetrical tangents appear. Once you've drawn the path, you can adjust the position of the tangents as necessary.

The Ballpen tool is not available when you're drawing paths.