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roo · 26-02-2008, 11:24

Hello everyone. I've been using Illustrator for a number of years now, but one thing I cannot seem to master is drawing nice smooth curves straight off the bat.

It's possible for me to draw smooth curves, but requires a lot of time fiddling with anchor points to get it right... does anyone have any tips/methods/links on how to do this efficiently?

Herr Kurm · 26-02-2008, 11:28

keep the handles at about approx 1/3 of the length of the curve.

Do Gooder · 26-02-2008, 11:29

agree with Herr Kurm - though for simple shapes i pull one handle long... like the tree below

pasted from an old thread:

to learn it's worth starting from scratch in illustrator... spending a bit of time doing a new drawing. don't need to be anything pretty - i learnt by tracing a crap cartoon christmas tree and then a cartoon face.

there's three basic tools you will need to pick up:

the pen tool
for drawing points
and when clicked and dragged - adding curves to the point

direct selection tool (white arrow)
selecting points
moving points
adjusting whole curves

the convert anchor point tool
adding/removing curves on points
adjusting half curves

the trick to producing good quality curves is in using as fewer point as possible in a drawing. see attached crap christmas tree.

emil · 26-02-2008, 11:36

also use perpendicular handles, don't draw them randomly.

roo · 26-02-2008, 11:42

I always try to use handles that snap to 90/45/0... didn't know it was an emil-approved way tho

How about tracing letters? Going from long straight curves to small rounded corners and back?

Thanks for the tips so far, should be a handy thread this!

Herr Kurm · 26-02-2008, 16:15

perpendicular doesnt mean that they "snap" to 90, 45 and so on. It means that you have to keep the handle angles the same.

CharmingMan · 26-02-2008, 16:23

Also there is a smooth path tool next to the pencil in illustrator

You can draw your path quickly and smooth it after. It alters the path by removing points and and ccreating a simpler line.

bellepeppers · 14-03-2008, 18:45

I use the simplify command and reduce the points. You can preview it until it looks the way you want it too. It usually smooths things out quite nicely.

boblebob · 05-04-2008, 18:38

i use the smooth tool.
never knew about the one third thing and the perpendicular, thannks for the tips

26-02-2008, 11:24	#1 (permalink)
roo Scatterbrained. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Posts: 224	Smooth, flowing curves in Illustrator? Hello everyone. I've been using Illustrator for a number of years now, but one thing I cannot seem to master is drawing nice smooth curves straight off the bat. It's possible for me to draw smooth curves, but requires a lot of time fiddling with anchor points to get it right... does anyone have any tips/methods/links on how to do this efficiently?

26-02-2008, 11:28	#2 (permalink)
Herr Kurm bloody peasant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 2,679	keep the handles at about approx 1/3 of the length of the curve. __________________ refreshed portfolio

26-02-2008, 11:29	#3 (permalink)
Do Gooder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,070	agree with Herr Kurm - though for simple shapes i pull one handle long... like the tree below pasted from an old thread: to learn it's worth starting from scratch in illustrator... spending a bit of time doing a new drawing. don't need to be anything pretty - i learnt by tracing a crap cartoon christmas tree and then a cartoon face. there's three basic tools you will need to pick up: the pen tool for drawing points and when clicked and dragged - adding curves to the point direct selection tool (white arrow) selecting points moving points adjusting whole curves the convert anchor point tool adding/removing curves on points adjusting half curves the trick to producing good quality curves is in using as fewer point as possible in a drawing. see attached crap christmas tree. Attached Thumbnails __________________ anti social marketing

26-02-2008, 11:36	#4 (permalink)
emil dt immigrant Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bucharest - Romania Posts: 6,830	also use perpendicular handles, don't draw them randomly. __________________ SEPTEMBER Q X R

26-02-2008, 16:15	#6 (permalink)
Herr Kurm bloody peasant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 2,679	perpendicular doesnt mean that they "snap" to 90, 45 and so on. It means that you have to keep the handle angles the same. __________________ refreshed portfolio

26-02-2008, 11:42	#5 (permalink)
roo Scatterbrained. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Posts: 224	I always try to use handles that snap to 90/45/0... didn't know it was an emil-approved way tho How about tracing letters? Going from long straight curves to small rounded corners and back? Thanks for the tips so far, should be a handy thread this!

26-02-2008, 16:23	#7 (permalink)
CharmingMan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,065	Also there is a smooth path tool next to the pencil in illustrator You can draw your path quickly and smooth it after. It alters the path by removing points and and ccreating a simpler line.

14-03-2008, 18:45	#8 (permalink)
bellepeppers Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2	I use the simplify command and reduce the points. You can preview it until it looks the way you want it too. It usually smooths things out quite nicely.

05-04-2008, 18:38	#9 (permalink)
boblebob Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 25	i use the smooth tool. never knew about the one third thing and the perpendicular, thannks for the tips

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