# Pen Tool
Use the Pen Tool to draw custom vector paths made of straight lines and bezier curves. Paths can be open or closed, styled, and animated.

## Activate the Pen Tool

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Press **P**</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Click the **Pen** icon in the left sidebar</ListItem>
</List>

The Pen Tool stays active until you switch tools.

## How paths work

Paths are built from a few core elements:

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>**Path anchors (anchor points)** – points that define the shape of the path</ListItem>
  <ListItem>**Path segments** – straight or curved lines between anchors</ListItem>
  <ListItem>**Bezier handles** – controls that shape curves</ListItem>
  <ListItem>**Open path** – start and end points are different</ListItem>
  <ListItem>**Closed path** – end point connects back to the start</ListItem>
</List>

## Draw straight lines

1. Select the Pen Tool
2. Click to place the first path anchor
3. Click again to place another anchor
4. A straight segment forms between points
5. Continue clicking to add segments
6. Press **Escape** or **Enter** to finish

**Tips**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Click the first anchor to close the path</ListItem>
</List>

## Draw curves

1. Select the Pen Tool
2. Click and drag to place a curved anchor
3. Release to set bezier handles
4. Click and drag the next anchor to form a curve
5. Repeat as needed
6. Press **Escape** or close the path

**Curve control**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Longer handles create wider curves</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Shorter handles create tighter curves</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Handle direction controls curve direction</ListItem>
</List>

## Control anchor behavior

### Curve anchors

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Created by clicking and dragging</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Handles are aligned and move together</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Used for smooth, flowing shapes</ListItem>
</List>

### Sharp anchors

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Created by clicking without dragging</ListItem>
  <ListItem>No handles</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Used for corners and angles</ListItem>
</List>

### Disconnected anchors

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Disconnect the anchors in Path Editing mode on the Right Side Panel</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Handles move independently</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Useful for curve to straight transitions</ListItem>
</List>

## Close or continue paths

**Close a path**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Click the first anchor point</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Or right click and choose **Close Path**</ListItem>
</List>

**Continue an open path**

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Select the Pen Tool</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Click an end anchor to continue drawing</ListItem>
</List>

Closed paths can display fills. Open paths use strokes only.

## Pencil Tool

Click and draw directly on the canvas to create freehand vector paths.

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>
    Dial in your stroke quality with the Drawing Smoothing slider, from raw and gestural at 0% to clean and polished at
    100%
  </ListItem>
</List>

## Appearance and animation

<List type="bullet">
  <ListItem>Fills and strokes work on paths</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Fills appear only on closed paths</ListItem>
  <ListItem>Strokes work on open and closed paths</ListItem>
</List>