The pen tool

The pen tool.

What is it?

The pen tool is probably the most powerful and versatile tool in Illustrator. It can be used to create countless lines, curves and shapes, and serves as the building block for illustration and design. The tool is used by creating “anchor points,” and then by connecting those points with lines, which can be connected further to create shapes, (that you would be unable to make with regular straight lines or angles). Use of the pen tool is perfected through practice. Unlike many graphics software tools that have clear use and limitations, the pen tool is extremely flexible and encourages creativity. This can be used from the beginner stages or first time of use, right up to the 'adobe master' stage of life. Where I aim to be in the future... 

Below I've staged out the steps to use it and the different variations of it and its use. 

How to Use Adobe Illustrator Pen Tool.

(I used the following images from wiki how as they aided my explanation the best).

1.

The Pen Tool contains four tools inside, they are - Pen Tool(P), Add Anchor Point Tool(+), Delete Anchor Point Tool(-) and Convert Anchor Point Tool(Shift+C)

2.

The first is the Pen Tool, you can use this tool to create a vector, there are handles present in every point you made, this handle is used to adjust a curve or change the position of the point.

3.

To adjust the object shape, Select the Direct Selection Tool and click at the point you want to change, the handle will appear. Click at the handle an adjust it

4.

The second is Add Anchor Point Tool, This tool is used to add a new anchor point in a path. You can use it by selecting this tool and clicking at the position you want to add a new point on the path.

5.

The third is Delete Anchor Point Tool, it use to remove the point you don't need from your path, select the object to make it show the points, select this tool and click at the point you want to remove

6.

The last is Convert Anchor Point Tool, it use to change your path shape such as, from curve line to straight line.


Theres not really any health and safety concerns with this other than sitting a safe distance away from the screen to not strain your eyes as it is just using a mouse and monitor. other than that, you should be fine to just use this at will.