Learn the process of using the pen tool to recreate and adjust parts of a vector graphic, such as a clipboard and a pair of shoes, for improved visual representation. This article gives step-by-step instructions on how to manipulate, copy, and paste objects and how to use the shape builder tool to create or modify shapes within an image.
Key Insights
- The pen tool can be used to recreate objects within an image, enhancing the graphic's clarity and detail. It can be used to trace and replicate shapes, such as a clipboard in the example given.
- The shape builder tool is a vital asset for creating and adjusting shapes within an image. It was used in the process to eliminate gaps and add new sections to the graphics.
- Adjusting anchor points and handles allow for precision in reshaping parts of the graphic. This comes in handy in fine-tuning parts of the image, like aligning the jacket with the clipboard or adjusting the shape of the shoe.
Note: These materials are provided to give prospective students a sense of how we structure our class exercises and supplementary materials. During the course, you will get access to the accompanying class files, live instructor demonstrations, and hands-on instruction.
In this video, we'll be recreating the clipboard. So let's start by zooming in on the clipboard and we'll be using the pen tool to recreate this.
To do this, we'll go to the pen tool and we'll simply recreate this clipboard. Dragging over and we'll create a rectangle. We'll close off the rectangle then hit V and with the clipboard selected, let's hit CTRL C to copy it and we'll then delete it.
Remember, it's still on our computer's clipboard. We'll now select the clipboard behind and hit delete. From here, we can hit CTRL shift V to paste our new clipboard in place.
Next, let's move the hand in front of the clipboard. To do this, we'll hit CTRL shift close brackets and we now have our clipboard in place. However, we have a little bit of a gap on the bottom.
Let's remove this gap by zooming in and selecting the jacket, clipboard, and hand and from here, we'll use the shape builder tool to click and drag in the open space adding our jacket and then clicking the hand adding the open space to create the hand. It's okay right now that it's yellow. We'll hit V on the keyboard select the hand hit I and match the skin tone.
Next, we'll need to fix this bottom section right here. So let's zoom in scroll to the left. As we can see, there's a slight gap between the shirt, jacket, and our clipboard.
We'll hit A on the keyboard to select this bottom anchor and simply move it in line. We'll then select the anchor with the jacket and move that so it touches as well. If we zoom out we'll now want to use the shape builder to fix this.
We'll hit V on the keyboard selecting the jacket and holding shift. We'll also select the shirt and the clipboard and we'll use the shape builder tool to recreate these shapes. Clicking first on the jacket then on the shirt and then on the clipboard adding in this small slice.
We'll hit V then and select our shirt going to fill and clicking white and then we'll select our clipboard and using I on the keyboard we'll match the color of the pen. I'll then hit V and zoom out and we've now adjusted our clipboard. As we can see the pants and the bottom of the suit look good.
However, let's fix her feet. Looking at this here we have a nice bottom of the shoe. However, it's bent a little bit on the inside of the shoe.
We'll zoom in and using A on the keyboard we'll select this object and the anchor point and all we need to do is move the handle inside to adjust the shoe. We'll then hit V on the keyboard selecting the foot and holding shift. We'll select the shoe and we'll use the shape builder tool to click and drag into this open space making it part of the foot.
We'll hit CTRL shift a to deselect and I think this bottom foot looks good. Next let's fix the right foot. First we'll work on the heel.
We'll zoom in and scroll right holding CTRL and with A we'll use our direct selection tool dragging the selection box to capture this bottom anchor point. From here simply drag it down and to the right and it seems like we need one more anchor point here for the other side of the heel. To do this I'll use the pen tool shortcut P on the keyboard and simply click on the path.
I'll then use A to drag this path down and let's reduce the handle on this path so we have a more solid bottom. I'll then select both anchor points and move them down and to the right and select this anchor point moving it up and moving this handle back. Obviously it sometimes just takes a little playing around to see what best fits and to recreate the right shape.
I think this looks good for the shoe. Let's now adjust this end anchor point here I'll hit CTRL Z as I accidentally selected the foot and I'll select this anchor point and I'm simply going to bring it in a little bit and reduce the other handle here the foot I'll then select the shoe and the anchor point and reduce it like that and from here, we'll select the foot the shoe hold in shift and we'll use the shape builder tool to create foot with the empty space. I'll then hit CTRL shift A to deselect all and using A I'm going to drag a selection box here to select both anchor points and simply move them in a little bit more Zooming in I'll select this anchor point and just want to move it up here.
I'll then select the other anchor point and drag down on the handles and have it now intersect with this other anchor point. I'll then zoom out and as we can see, I'll need to adjust the top anchor point to have it bend a little bit more and I think that looks good. And finally, we'll fix the top of her ankle Selecting this anchor point I'll drag it down into the right and see that our handles both skewed and in order to make this a right angle I'll go to the top and click convert selected anchor point to corner so that it's not curved I'll then drag the anchor point to the top of the path and we've now fixed her foot And as we can see here, we've made good changes to our recruiter I Think this looks good Let's hit CTRL S on the keyboard to save our work and in the next video.
We'll be adding color to our recruiter See you there