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To learn about the Curvature tool and how to draw and edit curves with the Curvature tool in Illustrator, readers can refer to the following article by Mytour.
Drawing and editing curves with the Curvature tool in Illustrator
1. Using the Curvature tool in Illustrator to draw curves
To draw curves in Illustrator, we can use the Pen Tool, but this tool requires accuracy and precise placement of anchor points to pull directional lines. The Curvature tool offers a more intuitive approach, making drawing and editing curves easier.
Before getting started, readers can refer to some useful shortcuts for using the Curvature tool, including the Cmd / Ctrl, Option / Alt, and Shift keys.
To draw curves in Illustrator, first select the Curvature tool, then click to create the initial anchor point, and click and drag to create the second anchor point. As you drag, Illustrator will determine the curve between the two anchor points based on your mouse position.
The illustration below demonstrates how to create curves with the Curvature tool in Illustrator. Note that 2 anchor points are created along the path and as you move the mouse, the curve is generated based on the mouse position.
Continue clicking to add anchor points along the path, as the Curvature tool determines the necessary curves to connect each anchor point. While drawing, you can adjust previous anchor points by clicking and dragging them to new positions.
If anchor points are adjusted, the curve will also be affected. If you return to the initial anchor point, i.e., the first anchor point created, the Curvature tool allows you to click on that anchor point to close the path.
By default, the Curvature tool will close the path and create a curved segment. However, we can create a corner point (used to create straight segments) by double-clicking on the initial anchor point.
Double-click on any anchor point you've created to switch between a corner point (straight segment) and a smooth point (curved segment).
2. Editing Curves with Curvature Tool
The Curvature tool allows you to adjust the position of anchor points on any path by clicking and dragging to reposition the anchor points and adjust the connections between those anchor points. To add additional anchor points to an existing path, use the Curvature tool to click on the path and add anchor points at that location.
To delete an anchor point on the path, click on the anchor point and press the Backspace / Delete key to remove it. If drawing an open path (a path that is not a closed shape), you can press the Escape key to signal the completion of drawing the object, or press and hold the Cmd key (on Mac) or Ctrl key (on Windows) and click anywhere on the canvas to deselect the object.
Additionally, the Curvature tool allows previewing the line segments we are about to draw, a feature that can be helpful for new users or those who dislike the Pen tool.
To disable the preview or Rubber Band, navigate to Illustrator preferences. To open this dialog, press Cmd + K (on Mac) or Ctrl + K (on Windows) and click on Selection & Anchor Display. At the bottom corner of the dialog, options will appear to enable or disable Rubber Band for the Pen tool or Curvature. Choose any option you prefer.
This article from Mytour just guided you on how to draw and edit curves with the Curvature tool in Illustrator. Additionally, readers can explore more articles on Mytour to learn how to change the default background color in Illustrator.
Along with the curve drawing function, the method of bending text in Adobe Illustrator is also specifically and meticulously instructed on Mytour, how to bend text in Adobe Illustrator is not too difficult, you can explore and exploit it yourself.
