Illustrator Oddness

[SatanicPenguins]

Its probably just me but, I just started using illustrator and the pen tool seems so counter productive compared to the photoshop version? Lookin for some help on how to do mundane tasks with it lol

For instance

1. In photoshop when i wanna drag a point with the pen, i hold control and drag it, Thats not working in illustrator. (It highlights the overall object of the entire path, and starts moving it)

2. In photoshop you can right click>add point and then have a point ready to use. Apparently in illustrator all u have to do is click (no held down keys) and it makes one, but wtf can i do with this new point lol, i figured out i can hold alt to convert it to a curvy one(bezier), but doesn't help me because of for-mentioned number 1, I cant move it at all lol

Thats enough to start it off, hoping some of u illustrator gurus could clue me in

[SatanicPenguins]

Ugh so i've figured out i can do what im wanting if i use the selection tool (to move individual points)

But i have to kinda hover over the path until a white box pops up which is where the point is, because if i have the path selected in anyway itll drag the whole thing?

I've GOT to be doing this the wrong way :(

[Cwilk]

SP.....there are two selection pointers in Illy...the direct selection and the other one. You should be using the white selection tool when working with vectors because the other one will select the entire path all at once. At least thats what it sounds like you're doing wrong.

Hope that helps.

[SatanicPenguins]

I've figured all that out so far but, isnt there a way to drag points WITH the pen tool? like in photoshop? its stupid having to change tools to do it :( lol

[Cwilk]

Actually Illy had these tools before PS did.

Okay, there's a pen tool, it's 2 boxes under the black arrow in your tools. When you have the pen tool selected, hold down the option key while clicking and dragging the point. You'll see 2 handles that you can pull out. If you just click and drag on the individual handles, you can move them where you'd like.

[SatanicPenguins]

Windows lol.

I know the alt key will convert the point and let me swing the Trajectories, i THINK alt is like options on mac.

I mean i can do everything perfectly with the pen tool right now, just from my photoshop experience. But its god awfully slow having to switch tools to move the actual points. I'm figuring theres some hidden shortcut that i dont know about, that i can hold down to move anchor points with the pen tool (without switching to the direct selection tool).

[LeadMagnet]

I don't really use illustrator, but what you're looking for seems like something that really should be there, so i googled and found this:

Originally Posted by http://www.nobledesktop.com/shortcuts-illustratorcs2-mac.html

Move anchor point while drawing with Pen tool - Spacebar

Does that do it?

[SatanicPenguins]

spacebar?..... that is RETARDED, that better not work (starts opening illustrator)

[LeadMagnet]

I know yeah, spacebar is universally used for panning in photoshop. I guess it must not be the same in illustrator.

[SatanicPenguins]

aw :(, when i hit space it turns into a hand and drags the entire document...

I thought that was gonna work too lol