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
A 'compound path' created from pen-drawn shapes is useful for:
Answer: Creating holes or knockouts in a shape
Compound paths let inner shapes cut holes through outer shapes, like the center of a letter O.
When two direction handles on a smooth point are very long, the curve becomes:
Answer: Broader and more rounded
Longer direction handles pull the curve outward, making it broader and rounder.
The Average command (Object > Path > Average) on selected points will:
Answer: Align them to a common horizontal, vertical, or both position
Average aligns selected anchor points along an axis to share a common position.
To retract (remove) just one direction handle from a smooth point, you:
Answer: Alt/Option-click the handle or use the Convert tool on it
Alt/Option-clicking a direction point or clicking the anchor with the Convert tool retracts the handle.
Which setting affects how forgiving the Pen tool's snapping is, measured in pixels?
Answer: Snap to Point tolerance in Preferences
The Snap to Point tolerance preference sets the pixel distance within which points snap.
After drawing a path, the fastest way to select all of its anchor points for editing is to:
Answer: Click the path with the Selection tool, then switch as needed
Selecting the whole object with the Selection tool selects the entire path for transformations.
Why do professional illustrators often draw paths in a consistent direction (e.g., clockwise)?
Answer: For predictable compound path behavior and easier editing
Consistent path direction makes compound paths and knockouts behave predictably and eases editing.