Adobe Illustrator Pencil Tool Tutorial! 

I've just released a course all on the mighty PENCIL TOOL.✏ Check it out here: www.abiconnick.co.uk/pencil-tool-course How else I can help you ⬇ 👉 Wow your clients with easy-to-customize templates www.abiconnick.co.uk/templates 👉 Transform into a highly-skilled, confident logo designer www.abiconnick.co.uk/pencil-tool-course 👉 Elevate your biz with these FREE resources www.abiconnick.co.uk/free-resources 👉 Where I get all my mock-ups & fonts: 1.envato.market/abidesign 👉Free weekly tips, advice & exclusive videos: www.abiconnick.co.uk/newsletter ---------------------------------------------------------------------- After more content from me? ⬇ Instagram: instagram.com/itsabiconnick TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@abiconnick Disclaimer: some links in the descriptions of my videos may be affiliate links which means I receive a small commission. it is no cost to you to use the links, it is totally free.

For whoever is having pain with the pencil tool, double click it to open its settings, and make sure that "Edit Selected Paths" is enabled and its value is at 20 pixels(Max). After making that change, using the pencil tool has been faster and easier to work with. You can experiment a bit with its settings like Making the Fidelity more smoother so your lines are more cleaner (less points). I have the fidelity on max smooth, which for me reduces a lot of how much I have to fix. This video has taught me a lot of the power of the pencil tool. I've used it only a few times here and there since most of my work isn't organic form, but recently I wanted to expand more of what I can do and your video helped me a lot! Thanks for sharing!

STOP IT THIS IS INCREDIBLE!!! This is exactly why you are my favorite designer and educator! So much value in a single video omg

I just went to your site and I can't believe how many things you share for free. Really a lesson in how success follows when you provide value. Thank you Abi!

Absolutely inspiring video, following the exercises now. Thank you :) For those who (like me) are using the pencil tool for the first time and are running into issues with editing/erasing the existing path, double-click on the pencil tool icon to bring up the "Pencil Tool Options" and make sure "Edit selected paths" is turned on (it was off for me by default). I also turned up fidelity halfway to "smooth" for fewer anchor points. Not entirely sure if I'm following Abi's settings and/or if this was mentioned somewhere and I completely missed it, but I thought I'd share!

That "Mighty Swirl" Video was a massive dose of motivation to use the Pencil tool. Eventually, after spending days watching tutorials on pencil tools, I ended up making a brand pattern that I was blown away by myself xD. And now, this video--- I am speechless. If anyone is reading my comment, you can be sure that this is the only video you need to watch to master the Pencil tool. Don; 't miss out. Do the practice, and you will fall in love with the pencil tool. Once again, thank you so much, Abi, for the tutorial and Exercise sheet. You are an absolute Queen in Brand Designing!

I don’t normally comment but I just want to express how much I love your content Abi!! You’re such a motivation and an inspiration. I’m someone who’s interested in learning graphic design as a hobby- and maybe something more in the future- and I came across your channel last year. So much value in all your content I’m in love!! Thank you very much! As a beginner, your content really helps. Appreciate you loads🤍

Abi, I'm truly so thankful to you! You're such an inspiration and your content is always there to guide me in every step, thank you so much! My favorite design content creator for sure :3

When I use the pencil tool, it simply draws it doesn't edit the letter. How can I fix this?

Been watching your channel obsessively and it has got me started on a graphic design journey. This is going to be such a game changer!! Abi thank you so much for all the wonderful content that you share!

To be honest I was really intimidated by the pencil tool at first until I saw one of your videos that it was one of your most used tool together with the smooth tool. I tried it and couldn't believe, it became one of my go-to tool as well 😆. Big thanks 💛

You are such a great teacher! I would take your class soon as you dropped it!

I discovered your channel about a year ago & totally love the cozy vibes of it 🥰 You are such a kind, honest and outgoing person! Your videos are a breath of fresh air! I'd love to go for a coffee & on a girly shopping trip with you one day 🤍 Forever a big fan of you and your content 🥹

"Tricky to use and envious of the pen tool". I love that line. Lol. Abi, you're an amazing teacher!

I never used the pencil tool until I started using Illustrator on the IPad. It is so powerful and I’m glad it finally made it into my tool rotation! Great videos, better than most!

omg, thanks a million. these exercises are similar to the “zen of the pen” exercises from the very first Wow illustrator books written years ago by Sharon Steuer. i did them over and over again till I became a master of the pen. I’ve avoided the pencil for the simple reason that my wrist is fused from a car accident. I didn’t realize that wobbly lines can be redone and redone. i can now incorporate the pencil in my tool box. I love the joy, dedication, and excitement of your videos….and the “rubber” comment/phrase (condom in US). I’m sure many US viewers have teased you. Reminds me of that quote “US and Great Britain …..two countries separated by one language.” lol. thank you!

Thank you for demystifying this tool! You've just helped me cut my production time in half on some vector illustrations I'm making. I was point and clicking to build shapes with the pen tool and getting frustrated with that tedious flowless process. Now I feel Like I'm drawing again!

Thank you so much Abi. This really means a lot to me. Im going to master the pen tool

Didn't knew I needed this tutorial soo much until now!! best 12 minutes I've spent on RU-vid today and on my way to grab the practice kit 😍. Can't wait to try it and I know better than I'm sure it's gonna remind me of the days practicing handwriting in preschool 🥺🥺. Luv you Abi! Keep being you ❤️❤️

Can't believe you gave this for free many RU-vidrs would charge for this type of material, and your tutorials are so clear and precise. Really helping my Graphic Design game. THANK YOU !!!!

EEEKk I can't tell how much useful is this. ALways struggling with using pencil but this helping us alottt. ALso busy with exams so wanted to be over them so I can see your videos in peace. I have seen your stories previously and All I wanted to say that it;s okay not to post every tuesday. It's okay abi. I can't see tears in your eyes.🥺 You will got this. We all are with you and if no one I am here. Take a break enjoy some boogie and me time. Then come back with double energy. We all feel stressed and it's totally okay.❤

See, THIS is the content we love to see! Every time I see one of your tutorials and the magic you work with the pen tool, my thought is....but hoooooow does it behave like this! It listens to her! She must speak its language!

You're definitely blowing my mind with the true functionality of the pencil tool. I've avoided it for so long! In my years as a designer, I've occasionally downloaded fonts that "do not permit modification." Is this something you come across frequently or ever really concern yourself with? It's prevented me from wanting to play in that space too much, but I'm probably overblowing it.

I'm so glad I came across your content! I just began my illustrator journey and I sure needed this video! Thanks again!😊

Every time I’m stuck at something all I do is come to your channel and I always find some answer! You’re great Abi, thank you so much for the dedication to your content ❤

Thanks for the video! The pencil tool never was in my mind for "drawign". When doing vectors I always was using the path tool... I need to use the pencil regularly now, it will make sooo many things soooo much easier... Thanks for the great video!

I seriously had no idea the pencil tool could do all that. Most of the time I use it just to get a rough outline as a starting point and then I’d use the smooth tool and anchor handles from there to refine the shape. I will be trying it more to refine paths now that I know it can do all that! Thanks!

Omg!! I learnt so much more in this than any other Illustrator tutorial. Simply incredible. Thank you for putting this together for us. 💝

I love educational videos like this. more please, more!! 😀

I appreciate your hardwork for teaching us in such an Easy way so that we can also master the Pencil Tool. Thank you so much Dear !!❤️

I wish I knew about all these cool things I can do with the pencil tool before, I've been struggling with a design for two days and I just used this tool and it added a very nice touch.

I'm really enjoying your videos! I stopped doing graphic design over covid and am feeling very rusty coming back to it so your videos and downloads are so helpful

You are doing the lords work Abi, THANK YOU!

Abi Connick? More like Abi Iconic. This is fantastic, thank you sm 😍

Thank you Abi! This is very helpful👏👏 Regards from the Philippines🇵🇭

Great video Abi. I have just gotten into branding and I use your videos as a reference all the time. Keep on going!! Also, maybe sometime in the future, can you do a live video of you designing a brand. I would love to see the entire process, not leaving out anything.

a little hug from my side abi thank you

Finally found a best tutorial that I am looking for, please make more like this 👍

I woke up in the morning in saturday to watch ur video and anjoy, thanks you for great content!

I purchased your pencil tool course and I just wanted to say THANK YOU!! I have learned so much from it and I can charge more for logos now! :D

I was struggling with this tool but not anymore! Thanks for the video, Abi! 🙏

u r the best designer i've watched ever

I WAS SO DISCOURAGED! BEFORE i found this video, i literally thought it was impossible to learn this! But you saved my life lol and i now feel more advanced and can now create better logos thank you so much !!

I've finally finished the pencil tool exercise sheet. It is brilliant! And it has definitely taken my design skills to the next level! XD Thank you! 🤩

@abi in my designing career I didn't use a pencil till now, Thanks for sharing the usage of a pencil tool + a masted sheet for practice. Willing to know something new work from you.

Great. That's why i never miss your videos. Take love abi ❤️. You are my favorite, creative, problem solving mentor..😇

I still don't understand how come I am just getting to know your page. You are awesome!!!

I've been searching for some pencil tool tutorial. This is great and atleast motivates me to use pencil tool? I don't know I will start practicing!

Best video I've seen on this topic. Well done!

This content is perfect! Thanks from Brazil 🇧🇷

Your videos are so entertaining to watch. Love the effects

Hi! I love your videos, and have a video request. If you could make a video including all the shortcuts you use in Illustrator, it would be appreciated. And thank you for creating these videos it helped me soo much. :)

em cam on chi rat nhieu, em cam thay chi that su rat nhiet tinh, rat tam huyet, danh thoi gian de lam mot video mien phi nhu vay khong phai la chuyen don gian, cam on rat nhieu vi nhung cong hien cua chi

This was a super helpful tutorial. I definitely have a better understanding of the tool and feel empowered now to be creative. Thank you!

Abi you're so good with the pencil tool in the past I thought for sure you were using some kind of tablet lol! Its funny you're doing this video considering I wondered what you used to make use of that tool so well (and watched your desk tour video to see if you had some special equipment.) Anyway, this is right on time!

OMG this is incredible. You always blow my mind.

i started using the pencil tool after i watched your videos and the results were amazing , i thought it was useless ahhahahaha you are the best ❤❤ and congrats for the 100k

Love this Abi! Just what I needed! This is coming at a very good time 🥰

Such an awesome tutorial !!! So much value in a single video👍

So happy to see a video like this, how are you deleting certain parts of the letters?

I can't buy it - it just gives me an error message every time I try to pay with paypal "An error has occurred. If the issue persists, please contact your site administrator."

Another great video! You're such an inspiration, I really love what you do! 💛

these videos are so helpful, thank you so much! honestly the editing and transitions are amazing too i wouldn't mind an editing tutorial along w the design content hahaha

love it. I feel like I overlook the pencil tool. I'll give it a go. have you ever tried it with a trackpad?

Omg wow why haven’t I used this tool more I always go to the pen tool for my illustrations and always take me ages not good use of my time thanks I will defo work on this skill for sure

chi giang rat de hieu va rat nhiet tinh a, xinnnnn qua di a, cam on chi nhieu a

Amazing as always :) Great work Abi.

I love using the pencil tool compared to the pen tool ugh, especially because I typically draw on procreate… but I have a lot to learn with the pencil tool still! Also I notice that you repeat going on the lines when adjusting, but it doesn’t create a new layer? ,one does. I don’t know if it is an AI on iPad or desktop thing…but I don’t get it.

Hi Abi. thank you so much for this video, but I can't find the practice sheet that was used in the video. Do you mind sharing the link to download it again. Thanks

Pencil tool is also superior when you want to trace a really complex line art raster image when auto tracing tools all fail. In that case Pen tool or Blob brush are much slower to use and they're not accurate, compared to the Pen tool!

the editing was incredible

Thanks for all your incredible tips!

just love you.your video is so much helpful for students.

This has been the biggest help. How did you erase the different parts at the end of the last quest?

Thank you so much for this! Your content is so helpful and inspiring! I'm looking forward to practicing the pencil tool now! :)

Love to see the same for the pen tool with Figma if that comes under your expertise.

OMG LOVE THIS!!! Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ You are amazing, Abi

Very impressive explanation of each and every point, Keep rocking ...

video is so good, i really like the backgroundmusic

I use the pencil tool when need a organic trace, and the pen tool for a sharp and pro look (I believe is easier to edit and avoid repeat the line until get the right look.

I love all your videos

Girl I love you so much for this 🙏🏼💗

Abi...the one person that pushes me to open illustrator

This was really useful, thank you!

ITS REALLY WORKED LOL THANK YOU DUDE

Really really amazing and insightful! 😍✨

Abiiiiiiiiiii..... Oh My God... This is Incredible yaaa... Thanks a ton girl♥️✨

You are truly amazing!!!

Amazing thanks Abi, I need to try this.

i just love your energy

Yaasss 😍 needed this!!! 💜

Thank you so much Abi. Love you ❤

qua hay,hay hon ca hoc tren lop cam on admin nhieu nhieu va chuc ban nhieu suc khoe

Great video! But I must be missing something with the using the pencil tool as a rubber as I can't get it to work? Do you need to hold down another key when using it as a rubber?

Hi Abi! My pencil does this weird thing when i try to customize a letter where it creates a stroke over the existing one instead of modifying it. I dont know if my settings are different to yours or what's going on. Could you share your settings or general preferences? Thank you, love your content

abi! could u please give us ur pencil tool settings? especially for the removing part

Abi!!!!!!! 🚀🚀🔥❤️❤️😻 Great video. Your video editings are AWESOME

Hey Abi ! Could you do a video about what to send or how to send the deliverables that a client requests ?

Bravo! Thanks very much, Abi!

thank you for all of this content 🙂 😌