Chapter 7. Pen and Beziers

I remember the first time I tried to use the Pen tool in a computer graphics program. I clicked the tool and dragged across the screen in the way I thought would create a simple curve. Instead, I got a wild series of lines that shot out in different directions. When I tried to change the shape of the curves, things got even worse. I was so startled I immediately closed up the program and didn't use the Pen tool for a long, long time.

However, I really wanted to use the Pen tool, as I knew it was the best way to create curved shapes. So I forced myself to try the tool again. It took a lot of trial and error but eventually I was able to understand the Pen and Bezier controls. Later on, working with tools such as the Pencil and Eraser made it even easier to work with Bezier curves.

Once I got it, I realized the principles are simple. Even better, if you have used the Pen tool in Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop, you will find InDesign's Pen tool almost the same.

I just wish someone had written out easy to understand, step-by-step instructions. So think of this chapter as the instructions for the Pen tool that I wish I had had back then.

Multimedia Pen Lessons

This chapter contains everything you should need to master the Pen tool in InDesign. However, if you would like to learn the Pen tool using movies and audio narration, may I suggest you visit www.zenofthepen.org. It has an online tutorial you can purchase that can help you learn the Pen tool in InDesign, as well as in other programs such as Adobe Illustrator.