: Tips for creating and editing paths in Illustrator I'm new to Adobe Illustrator, but I have used extensively Inkscape. While I recognize that Illustrator is vastly superior in many fronts, I

@Caterina889

Learn the shortcuts for the pen tool and think symmetrically when drawing.

Think Symmetrically

If you're drawing a shape think about where you are placing anchors rather than just roughing out a shape. If you get familiar with how bezier paths are drawn you can plan ahead a bit when creating curves.

Learn shortcuts especially for the drawing tools.


space bar to move an anchor while you are clicking to place it
option with the pen tool to start a non-symmetrical handle
option-click a bezier handle with the pen tool to convert it from symmetrical to non-symmetrical
Turn on the auto-add/delete option in the prefs in order to simply click a path to add an anchor or click an anchor to remove it.

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@Merenda852

Keyboard shortcuts make living in Adobe so much easier.

I see you have most of them, but just to have a list:


P = Pen tool
+ = Add Point
- = Remove Point
Shift+C = Convert Anchor Point tool
Ctrl+J = Join two points
= Line Segment tool
M = Create rectangle
L = Create ellipse


While using the Pen tool, Shift locks into specific angles, Alt gives you quick access to the Convert Anchor Point tool, and Ctrl lets you move the whole object you're working on.

While creating rounded rectangles, polygons, or stars, see what happens when you use the up/down/left/right arrows as well as Ctrl and Alt for the stars.

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@Vandalay110

It might really help to use smart guides: View > Smart Guides or Ctrl+U or Cmd+U. This way, if you hover over an object like an anchor, a small word appears, saying 'anchor'. Be sure that Snap to Grid is off: View > Snap to Grid or Shift+" or Cmd+".

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@Jamie315

You can get slightly bigger handles and/or anchor points by selecting displays from the 4 boxes that I've highlighted.

The size difference isn't big, but it should help a little.

You can get to preferences from the top menu or Ctrl+K ( or cmd )






If you want help in other areas, you need to be a bit more specific.

For example: "In inkscape I was able to do this like that. How could I do it the same way in illustrator?"



This site could help a tiny tiny bit, even though it's meant for transfering from illustrator to inkscape.
wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Inkscape_for_Adobe_Illustrator_users

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