Working with the Pen Tool Flashcards
7 cards from real Adobe Illustrator practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Working with the Pen Tool flashcards as text
To convert a smooth anchor point into a corner point while drawing with the Pen tool, which key do you hold while dragging the direction handle?
Answer: Alt/Option
Holding Alt/Option lets you drag a single direction handle independently, breaking the smooth point into a corner point.
Which tool, accessed by holding the Pen tool, removes an existing anchor point from a path without breaking it?
Answer: Delete Anchor Point tool
The Delete Anchor Point tool removes a point while keeping the path continuous.
What does holding the Spacebar do while you are mid-drag creating an anchor point with the Pen tool?
Answer: Repositions the anchor point being placed
Holding the Spacebar temporarily lets you move the anchor point as you place it before releasing the mouse.
When the Pen tool shows a small 'o' (circle) icon next to it, what action will clicking perform?
Answer: Close the open path
The circle icon appears over the starting anchor, indicating a click will close the path.
Which keyboard shortcut temporarily switches the Pen tool to the Direct Selection tool to adjust a point?
Answer: Hold Ctrl/Cmd
Holding Ctrl/Cmd while using the Pen tool gives temporary access to the last-used selection tool, typically Direct Selection.
What is the result of clicking (not dragging) with the Pen tool to place two anchor points?
Answer: A straight line segment between them
Single clicks create corner points connected by straight line segments.
Holding Shift while clicking with the Pen tool constrains new segments to angles in increments of:
Answer: 45 degrees
Shift constrains path segments to 45-degree increments.