| Fireworks
Pen Lesson: Corner Point with Two Handles |
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A corner point with handles is the trickiest type of
point. However, if you master it you will be well on
your way to working with the Pen. A
heart is an excellent example of an object with corner
points with curved handles. I have spent many
hours just "doodling" with the Pen tool drawing
hearts. |
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Choose the Pen tool and move the cursor over to where
you want the bottom point of the heart positioned. The
first point needs to have handles that are shaped in
a "V." Start by dragging down and to the right
to extend the handles out. |
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Then, without releasing the mouse button, add the OPTION
key on the Mac or the ALT key on Windows, and move the
mouse
up. This pivots the handles into the correct shape.
Now remember, you've made the both handles for this point:
the one that controls the first curve of the heart
as well as the one that controls the last curve. |
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Move the cursor over to where the side of the heart
should be. Drag straight up to make the smooth side of
the heart. |
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Move the cursor over to where the top point between
the two curves of the heart should be. Drag down and
to the left to extend the handles out from this point
but don't release the mouse button! |
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Add the OPTION key on the Mac or the ALT key on Windows
and pivot the second handle so it creates the "V" shape.
Now you can release the mouse button. |
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Move the cursor over to where the other side of the
heart should be and drag down to make the smooth side. |
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To close the heart, move the cursor back to the original
point. Because you created both handles at the start
of the exercise, all you have to do is click on that
point to close the heart. Don't worry if your
heart isn't "perfect." Practice makes perfect! |
