Basic Drawing with the Pen Tool in Flash CS3	Home • Tutorials • Forum • Webwasp Members • Templates • Mates • Food • Contact

Free Flash Tutorial - The Pen Tool

Free Flash Tutorial

Step Eleven: Drawing Basic Shapes - Techniques Introduced in Flash CS3

What this section will show you is show you just how much more flexible the Pen tool is in Flash CS3. Theoretically once you can draw basic shapes you can draw anything. It is really worth the effort as you will be able to use these skills in other graphics programs. In each instance I will give you an example of a line with two Segments and three Anchor Points. I would like you to think about how a line changes as it goes through the central Anchor Point. For example how a straight line changes in to a curve or visa versa. Try and draw the following shapes:

Important Note: This section is not applicable to versions prior to Flash CS3.

Example: Download the Flash Drawing Template  Draw 224k  (11a & 11b)

Step 11a  Straight Line to Curve - One Direction Point

Select the: Pen Tool

1. Click on: Point 1
2. Click on: Point 2
   Release the: Mouse
   Hover over point 2 until you see the small Convert Icon next to the Pen Cursor:
   Click and hold onto: Point 2
3. Drag to and release at: Point 3
4. Click at: Point 4
   
   
   
   
   To finish the line: Ctrl Click

Step 11b  Curve to Straight Line - One Direction Point

1. Click on: Point 1
2. Click and hold onto: Point 2
3. Drag to and release at: Point 3
   Hover over point 2 until you see the small Convert Icon next to the Pen Cursor:
   Click on: Point 2
4. Click at: Point 4
   
   
   
   
   To finish the line: Ctrl Click

Step 11c  Straight Line to Curve - Three Direction Points

Example: Download the Flash Drawing Template  Draw 224l  (11c & 11d)

1. Click on: Point 1
2. Click on: Point 2
   Release the: Mouse
   Hover over point 2 until you see the Convert Icon:
   Click and hold onto: Point 2
3. Drag to and release at: Point 3
4. Click and hold onto: Point 4
5. Drag to and release at: Point 5
   
   
   
   To finish the line: Ctrl Click

Step 11d  Curve to Straight Line - Three Direction Points

1. Click and hold onto: Point 1
2. Drag to and release at: Point 2
3. Click and hold onto: Point 3
4. Drag to and release at: Point 4
   Release the: Mouse
   Hover over point 3 until you see the Convert Icon:
   Click on: Point 3 (This will delete the Direction Point at point 4)
5. Click on: Point 5
   
   
   
   To finish the line: Ctrl Click

Step 11e  Curve to Curve - Uneven Direction Points

Example: Download the Flash Drawing Template  Draw 224m  (11e & 11f)

1. Click and hold onto: Point 1
2. Drag to and release at: Point 2
3. Click and hold onto: Point 3
4. Drag to and release at: Point 4
5. Hold down the: Alt Key
   Grab hold of the direction handle at: Point 4
   Drag down to: Point 5
   Release the: Mouse
   Release the: Alt Key
6. Click and hold onto: Point 6
7. Drag to and release at: Point 7
   
   
   
   To finish the line: Ctrl Click

Step 11f  Curve to Curve - Uneven Direction Points

1. Click and hold onto: Point 1
2. Drag to and release at: Point 2
3. Click and hold onto: Point 3
4. Drag to and release at: Point 4
5. Hold down the: Alt Key
   Grab hold of the direction handle at: Point 4
   Drag up to: Point 5
   Release the: Mouse
   Release the: Alt Key
6. Click and hold onto: Point 6
7. Drag to and release at: Point 7
   
   
   
   To finish the line: Ctrl Click

Step 11g  Curve to Curve - Angled Direction Points

Example: Download the Flash Drawing Template  Draw 224n  (11g)

1. Click and hold onto: Point 1
2. Drag to and release at: Point 2
3. Click and hold onto: Point 3
4. Drag to and release at: Point 4
5. Hold down the: Alt Key (The cursor will change to the Convert Tool: )
   Grab hold of the handle at: Point 4
   Drag down to: Point 5
   Release the: Mouse
   Release the: Alt Key
6. Click and hold onto: Point 6
7. Drag to and release at: Point 7
   
   
   
   To finish the line: Ctrl Click