Pen Tool Line Drawing

Copy Illustrator Template

  1. Go to the Pen Tool Line Drawing Template (Illustrator)

  2. If you aren't already signed in to Adobe, click "Sign in" in the top right corner.

  3. Click "Copy to Files"

  4. Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.

  5. Right-click on the file and click "Rename"

    • "Last Name, Pen Tool Line Drawing"

  6. Right-click and click "Open"

Adjust Your Workspace

  1. Adjust your workspace (go to "Window" > "Workspace" > "Essentials Classic"


Choose Your Stroke Color

  1. On your left side toolbar, double-click the black outline square to open the color picker.

  2. Choose a color for your stroke.

Adjust Stroke Weight

  1. In the top left corner, next to "Stroke:" make sure it is adjusted to "1 pt"

Practice Tracing "VECTOR"

  1. Zoom in to view "V" by clicking "Ctrl" and "+"

  2. Follow the written directions around the letters to trace all the letters.

Choose a Line Drawing

  1. In the "Layers" panel click the "Line Drawing" layer.

  2. Choose a line drawing - either:

    • Copy and paste a continuous line drawing online

    • Choose one from the group to the left of the text

  3. Once your line drawing is on your artboard, adjust the size to fill your artboard and lock your "Line Drawing" layer.

  4. Click

  5. Trace your chosen line drawing and make sure to use all three of the following to create one connected line:

    • Straight lines

    • Curves

    • Curves with corner points.

Trace the Line Drawing

  1. In the "Layers" panel, click on the "Your Path" layer.

  2. Trace your chosen line drawing and make sure to use all three of the following to create one connected line:

    • Straight lines

    • Curves

    • Curves with corner points.

Hide Line Drawing Layer

  1. In the "Layers" panel, click the "Line Drawing" layer and click the eye icon to the left of it to hide the original drawing.

Save as .aic and .pdf

  1. Go to "File" > "Save" to make sure to save your .aic file (if it is grayed out then it is already saved).

  2. Go to "File" > "Save As..."

  3. Choose "On your computer"

  4. Click "Creative Cloud Files" folder on the left menu

  5. Name: "Last Name, Pen Tool Line Drawing"

  6. Click "Save"

  7. Click "Save PDF"

  8. Once you save as a .pdf, exit out of Illustrator. If you need to edit again and resave, make sure to edit your .aic file and re-save as a .pdf.

Turn in to Canvas

Turn in your .pdf file on Canvas in the "Pen Tool Line Drawing" assignment.

More time in class?

If you have more time in class, your options are:

  • Start a new Illustrator file and practice drawing with the pen tool

  • Play the Bezier Game online and screenshot your best score (email to Mrs. Hodges to add the scoreboard)

  • Help a classmate with the assignment