The Bezier Game!

 The Pen Tool

The pen tool is one of various tools available in Adobe Illustrator (and other software) that is used to create vector based graphics. It allows you to make straight and curved lines by simply clicking or clicking and dragging to form a shape. In doing so, a path is created which can then be altered by tweaking anchor points and handles.

When you first start learning to use programs that have the pen tool feature, it can be quite uncomfortable and makes the drawing process a lot longer. However, there are a couple keyboard shortcuts that can make using the pen tool a lot more efficient by giving you the ability to further edit handles before you finish clicking.

Bezier Game

A while ago I was introduced to a program called the Bezier Game. It is an online game which gives you different shapes you must recreate using the pen tool. The aim is to create the shape in the least amount of anchor points possible. This is because the less anchor points used, the smoother the vector shape. In the end, this exercise helps train users to get accustomed to using the pen tool. As a result, making the design process in software like Illustrator a lot faster. 

After trying out the game a couple times I can definitely say that I have seen an improvement in my use of the pen tool. Although there is still room to get better, my speed has increased and I feel like I can maximize my design process a lot more.

Below are some examples of my attempts at some of the stages of the Bezier Game.

References

• Adobe.com. (2022). Draw shapes and paths with Pen tool. [online] Available at: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/tool-techniques/pen-tool.html.