Vector Drawing with Illustrator: Easier Than You Think

By David Karlins.
Jan 11, 2008
Article is provided courtesy of Peachpit Press

You've probably been creating bitmap art fo years, or even decades. David Karlins think it's about time you investigated th possibilities of creating vector drawings. Th concepts and terminology are a bit less lik working with paint on canvas - but the technology is a lot more powerful.

Selecting, Adding, and Deleting Anchors
To select, move, and delete individual anchors, you use the Direct Selection tool. The easiest way to select a handle and activate the control lines is to click an anchor point with the Direct Selection tool. As you hover over an anchor point, the Direct Selection tool cursor displays an open square.

To delete anchor points manually, click the Delete Anchor Point tool in the Pen tool flyout, and then click an anchor to remove it. Alternatively, you can select the anchor with the Direct Selection tool and press Delete (or Backspace).

To add an anchor point, select the Add Anchor Point tool in the Pen tool flyout. Click anywhere on a path to generate a new anchor. The new anchor point adopts the attributes (curved or straight) of the anchors that define the path you clicked. For example, if you click a straight line segment with the Add Anchor Point tool, you’ll create a new straight corner point.