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Graphic Design vocabulary · Design Software & Tools

Pen tool

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

/ˈpɛn ˌtuːl/nounCommon term

In graphic design, pen tool means: A drawing tool in design software that creates precise straight lines and smooth curves by placing anchor points and dragging handles to shape them.

In Turkish: kalem aracı, pen tool

How it is used

Used in vector drawing, logo design and cutting out photos. Learning the pen tool is a basic skill for designers; you draw, trace or cut something out with the pen tool.

Example sentences

  1. I traced the hand-drawn logo with the pen tool to get clean vector curves.

  2. Use the pen tool to cut out the bottle; the automatic selection leaves rough edges.

Common collocations

  • use the pen tool
  • draw with the pen tool
  • master the pen tool
  • pen tool path
  • anchor pointOne of the points along a vector path that define its shape. Handles attached to an anchor point control how the curve bends.
  • vector graphicAn image made of points, lines and curves defined by mathematics rather than pixels, so it can be scaled to any size without losing quality. Logos and icons are usually vector graphics.
  • strokeThe outline or line drawn along the edge of a shape, path or text, with its own colour and thickness. The colour inside the shape is called the fill.
  • clipping maskA software feature that uses one shape or layer to show only part of another image or object, hiding everything outside the shape without deleting it.

More terms: Design Software & Tools

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