Pen Tool and Curves

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Fireworks Zone

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22-05-2006

Fireworks is primarily a vector editor and it is largely taken for granted that Fireworks users know how to use the pen tool and Bézier curves. Well, if you don't have the necessary expertise to move the pen tool and draw curves, this article is made for you.

You will learn how to master the pen tool and bézier curves to create vector objects and unleash your artistic skills. Now please, take your pen.

Section 1: Introduction

First let's take a look at the cursors or symbols you will see when using the pen tool.

Table 1: Browser Cursors

Cursors	Description
	Subselection Tool which will switch to Vector arrow (see below)
	Vector arrow. The Subselection tool switches to the vector arrow as soon the cursor is getting closer of a vector point
	Precise Cursors replaces tool icon pointers with the cross-hair pointer when Precise cursors is selected in Preferences.
	The Pen Tool is the common tool to draw bézier curves. It is replaced by the Precise cursors when ticked in Preferences (see Fireworks Preferences).
	This symbol appears when you start drawing a path.
	This symbol appears when you start drawing a path or retract the path to its initial point.
	This symbol appears when you are inserting a new point to a path.
	This symbol appears when you are deleting a point to a path.
	This symbol appears when you are closing a path.

Before using the Pen Tool, we set some parameters. To open Fireworks Preferences > Edit > Preferences and click on 'Editing' tab.

Section 2: Mastering control handles

You are, now, ready to draw your first curve.

Table 3: Draw your first curve

Steps	Description
	Step 1- To Draw your first curve, select the Pen Tool from the Tool panel, first click on your document with the Pen Tool then draw a line and click a second time.
	Step 2- Then Shift-left click and (Constrains control handles to a straight line) and draw the handle to the right.
	Step 3- Third and last click then double-click to end the figure.

Table 4: Tweaking the handles

Pictures	Description
	We have now a curve with 2 control handles a left and right handle.
	With the Subselection tool, you can reduce or expand the right or left handle
	When you move the right handle upwards (or downwards) with the Subselection tool the whole curve is affected and modified (see blue line)
	The same with moving the left handle upwards
	With the subselection tool, select the curve point, hold down and move it downwards (see blue line) and the whole curve is going downwards.
	Hold down Subselection tool + Alt and you are able to move handles independently. Here the right handle is dragged downwards
	Here the right handle is dragged upwards and see how the curve is affected.