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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Default illustrator CS pencil tool keeps starting new line

    I`m using illy cs, when I draw a line with the pencil tool and keep adding to it, to extend the line in other directions, sometimes the line created so far disappears and a new line starts, how can I prevent this, ? , puh illy !
    IP

  2. #2

    Default Re: illustrator CS pencil tool keeps starting new line

    I dont' have it in front of me, but seems like to continue a line, you need to hold down ctrl or alt, or shift in order for the pencil to continue rather than start new. InDesign did that as i recall.

    Just try one of those combos. I recall illustrators help to have a decent pen/pencil tutorial in it, but that might have been after CS though.
    IP

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Default Re: illustrator CS pencil tool keeps starting new line

    Start drawing your path as normal and if you want it closed hold down the "Alt" key in windows and that would be the "Options" key on the Mac. What I would say that it should not be drawing single lines. The other thing I would say that the pencil tool is really a free form tool to be used with brushes and sketches try a learn to use the Pen Tool for closed paths as that is where the power of Illustrator is.
    Design is thinking made visual.
    IP

  4. #4
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    Default Re: illustrator CS pencil tool keeps starting new line

    I wish I could record this thing, but dont have camtasia,
    i just want to be able to keep drawing from the end of the previous line and keep adding with the pencil tool, so one very long swirly line, just keep drawing squirls and swirls, but at some point it starts a new line, I have edit selected paths ticked, aswell as keep selected ticked, these from the options when you hit enter after drawing with the pencil tool, enter brings up the dialogue box with options...
    below is a sample with the brush tool, the 2nd picture shows an extension from the end of the first line, then the 3rd picture shows a continuation from the end of the 2nd line but the previous lines all disappear

    if you untick "edit selected paths" in the pencil options dialogue box you cannot continue from the end of the previous path so it has to be ticked..probably just a limitation I have to deal with for now in CS, may be updated now were at CS4.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Click image for larger version. 

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    IP

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    UK
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    Default Re: illustrator CS pencil tool keeps starting new line

    Hi

    what I think is happening is this:

    even when the pencil tool is set to no fill color, illustrator keeps track of fill space

    if you convolute the line so that it is not possible for it to have just one fill space, then illustrator removes the previous line/fill space and procedes with the most recent one - hence the previous line 'disappearing'
    -------------------------------
    Nothing lasts forever...
    IP

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Default Re: illustrator CS pencil tool keeps starting new line

    aaah, that makes sense, I can see that logic, although I thought the tool would allow multiple fill spaces or atleast not track fillspace if fill is unselected, I can see that when I stop and start by adding again its ridding its previously stored calculations, I wanted to scribble a continuous line, but wanted to stop to see where Im going too, the run around is to sketch it on paper first then I can just do one constant line from there...cheers.
    IP

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Dallas, TX
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    1,127

    Default Re: illustrator CS pencil tool keeps starting new line

    Quote Originally Posted by markJ View Post
    I wish I could record this thing, but dont have camtasia...
    You might be interested in CamStudio, a free alternative although not as powerful. I've also heard Windows Media Encoder is another option, but have never used it.
    IP

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2002
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    Dunoon, Scotland
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    4,778

    Default Re: illustrator CS pencil tool keeps starting new line

    Can I repeat what I said in my earlier post try using the Pen Tool. Don't worry at all about trying to be accurate just get the rough shape down and then use the Direct Selection Tool on each node. The Pen Tool is what gives Illy its power and strength and all that is required is a bit of practice and if you select the correct brush you have have the most wonderful swirls. Here is a video showing a different way of doing swirls which might help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKWgtn_axTY
    Design is thinking made visual.
    IP

 

 

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