| One of the most important tools in any graphics program is the Pen tool. Fortunately InDesign has a Pen tool that lets you create much more sophisticated shapes in your layout than can be created with the basic shape tools. (See Chapter 4, "Working with Objects," for more information on working with the basic shapes.) Tip If you are familiar with the Pen tool in Adobe Illustrator or Macromedia FreeHand, you will find it very easy to master the Pen in InDesign.
If you've never used a Pen tool in any graphics program, you will understand more if you first become familiar with the elements of paths. Elements of Paths Paths are defined by points and line segments. When you draw with the Pen tool you create the following: Anchor points define a path at points where the path changes  . These can be plain corner points, smooth curve points, and corner curve points as explained on the following pages.
The elements of a path.  Segments are the paths that connect anchor points . Control handles extend out from anchor points; their length and direction control the shape of the segment's curves .
The Father of Bezier Curves Some people call the curves created by the Pen tool Bezier curves. This is in honor of Pierre Bézier (Bay-zee-ay), the French mathematician. Monsieur Bézier created the system of mathematics that is used to define the relationship of the control handles to the shape of the curve. Adobe Systems, Inc., adopted this mathematical system when it created the PostScript language which is used as the basis of graphics programs. InDesign, along with many other programs, uses Bezier curves as the mathematics behind each curve. |
Drawing in a Page Layout Program? I limit using InDesign's Pen tool to simple things. If I need some sort of curved or wavy line, I use InDesign's Pen tool. For instance, all the curved arrows in this book were created with the Pen tool. However, if I want a perfect spiral, I use Illustrator's Spiral tool. (See Chapter 8, "Imported Graphics," for how to bring Illustrator paths into InDesign.) If I need to jazz up some text, I stay within InDesign. But if I need a complete map of New York State with highways, rivers, and scenic attractions, I work in Illustrator. |
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