Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Design Illustrator Foundations How to Draw in Illustrator The Pencil Tool

Posted by ramseydennis
ramseydennis
4,530 Points

Path doesn't close with pencil tool when I hold alt - is there something I'm doing wrong?

Hey everyone,

Mat says when using the pencil tool, that if you hold alt while creating a shape, then Adobe will automatically close the path for you -

I have tried this numerous times to no avail - does anyone have an idea as to why this isn't working for me?

Thanks -

4 Answers

Anh-Kim Nguyen
Anh-Kim Nguyen
4,040 Points
Anh-Kim Nguyen
Anh-Kim Nguyen
4,040 Points

Hey Ramsey,

I was actually running into the same issue as well, and thought I was doing something wrong!

But after doing some quick research, it seems that with the newest release of Illustrator CC, they've updated the tool; now, Illustrator automatically senses when you want to close a shape when you get close to a point. Holding down Alt with the Pencil Tool now allows you to draw straight lines.

Check out this video from Adobe for further info:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/how-to/new-pencil-tool-in-illustrator.html

Kim

Jason Anders
MOD
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points
Jason Anders
Jason Anders
Treehouse Moderator 145,860 Points

Hi ramseydennis, I don't use Illustrator that much, but with the pencil tool, it is the alt key that closes a path, but you have to make sure that your last point and the starting point is obviously the logical path. In other words, you have to make sure the path between the two is clear from other paths and anchor points.

Hope that helps. Jason :)

Jorge Berbena
Jorge Berbena
10,016 Points
Jorge Berbena
Jorge Berbena
10,016 Points

A little bit late, if your are using CS6 first click, while holding click (or drawing) press the Alt key.