Inkscape Tutorial: Bezier Pen Tool for Beginners 

You are the only guy on here that thoroughly teaches how to use the tools. That might have been remedial but it was sure what I needed. Let's do some more of this teaching.

Wow! I've been working with bezier curves for years in Inkscape, and I didn't know that you can click>drag>release>continue-to-form-curve. So, I'm amazed.

Man I gotta tell you, I have watched so many videos but I keep coming back to yours because you explain everything in a way that I totally understand. And you make it entertaining as well. Thank you so much. I would pay to take a online beginners course from you if you have. one.

After watching this tutorial twice and following along ... my confidence has expanded exponentially! I cannot wait to follow your other tutorials!

You are an absolute hero! The way you explain it is super beginner friendly and very easy to understand. Thank you so much!

Thanks for this, man. I've been trying to figure out how to trace a drawing/scan and like you said, most (if not all) the tutorials are in turbo mode. This was great. It's much appreciated!

You have been so helpful. This is without a doubt the most thorough and understandable tutorial out there! Many, many thanks to you!

So glad I found you. This is soooo what I needed. Bezier Tool has been driving me crazy. You are the first to do this tutorial on how to handle this tool. My hero. Thank you, thank you.

Wow, from the bottom of my heart thank you for taking the time to make these video tutorials, they're brilliant. Teaching definitely is your God-given, natural talent. I know I'm not the only super frustrated Inkscape greenie that you've helped to feel calmer, and more confident. Moving on to the next tutorial. 👏👌

Finally!!! None of the other tutorials explained the stroke and paint. I kept creating invisible lines until now, thank you!!

After so many tutorials, I finally found this video. Thanks a ton man. You are a great teacher

I am so glad I practiced following the steps in your video. It has helped a ton. Gawd you're an awesome teacher. MORE POWER TO YOU

Thanks a lot! 💯👍This is one of the main tools I have problems with, but this tutorial really helped me know when to click and release.

I just downloaded the software and this video on its own has just solved hours of mucking around for me. Thanks!

You are a life saver! You have produced the only tutorial I’ve come across that teaches everything from the simplest of first steps onwards. I kept trying to create curved lines and they would fill in. Might be simple to tech savvy people to make sure the fill is turned off, but to a newbie like me? Not so much. Thank you!!!

Your teaching skills are the best! Thank you for sharing your knowledge in a way that's easy to digest and fun to practice!

When I have asked others before for help, the response was practice. Sure, but if you don't know certain things practice doesn't help. Sorry to go on but this tutorial has saved my hair loss.

Really nice tutorial with examples of increasing complexity. It did help in better understanding Bezier pen to draw the curves for my design. One other thing I noticed with the curves is that they are tangential to the line. Imagine the graph of an exponential function, without the y-axis. Depending on the direction of curve will have to draw the line at some angle, either outside the shape or inward. The angle of the line is tricky and needs some trial and error. Thought it might help with drawing the curves. Thanks for making this tutorial and I look forward to more on using the tools and making designs/illustrations.

Man I think I have single handedly gave this guy a thousand views alone...I can't watch enough the more I rewatch the more other options and tools seem.more fluid to use

Fantastic tutorial! Thank you! I was able to make a simple medic symbol with this this.

I’ve been using Inkscape longer than I care to share, shying away from using the bezier tool. I’m feeling confident now and can’t wait to boot up tomorrow. Thank you!

Thank you so much for your brilliant tutourial. Really appreciate the time that you took into making this video (and the other tutourials that you do). I always had a problem with the pen tools in any software..Until NOW! Thank you for repeating the steps over and over... it saves me time in having to rewind a video again and again. I love the teaching method that you apply as in repeating the commands etc.,. clear and concise! Knowing things just like deselecting the fill and thickening strokes with the pen was great to learn. I also commend you on your goal for your channel... "with a focus on using free or low cost software and tools available to everyone" as I am unemployed and cannot afford an Adobe subscription for Illustrator /Photoshop etc let alone it won't run on my old WIN8.1PC. I'm currently setting up my POD t-shirt design business and utilize your tutorials in helping me design my t-shirts. Love your other videos like Trace Bitmap / Distress and this one as it helps me design my artwork for POD products. I would like to send you some t-shirts as a gift for appreciation in doing these tutourials as they have help me tremendously in my designing... is there any design or preference that you would like on your t-shirts (e.g. like a car or truck image with a funny slogan or something or a tiger like you showed in Trace Bitmap tutorial). Anyways, keep up the outstanding work, really appreciate your time and effort... i've subscribed to your channel and will spread the word about your channel / tutorials etc.,. I hope you get millions of subscribers because you are deserving of so. Thank you.

Thanks for taking the time in showing how to use this tool. Always confused me and this tutorial is great, look forward to watching more and learning.

Great ! in less than 10 minutes I finally understood basics of that Bezier tool ! Thanks a lot.

Many thanks for the very basic skill tutorial but very important for beginner like me. This is the best tutotial video for inkscape basic

Thank you so much for a fabulous lesson. You answered so much that I was struggling with. Definitely subscribing for more lessons. Cheers.

this is exactly what i needed to get my project started!, bestier tutorial for bezier!!

Awesome tutorial, thanks!

I just learned more from you than I did studying someone else's 25 min tutorial for over an hour. Thanks!

Another great tutorial!

big help, thanks for the video!

You are a wonderful teacher. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Very good tutorial on how to use bezier pen. A real step by step tutorial.

Thank you very much for this tutorial.Finally i get it 😃

Thank you for this tutorial. I had a lot of fun creating nr 5, way too much fun and it came out perfect :) I would also like to add that by some accident I noticed that instead of double click, you can mouse right click and the outcome will be the same. I'm on to the next lesson, will try creating silhouettes as they seem so much fun. Thank you again!

Another amazing tutorial thanks

Of all the tutorials, you HAVE THE BEST, and thank you

It's great you can still remember what it's like using this stuff for the first (few) times 👏👏

You're awesome at teaching this! Thank you!

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐 I can't thank you enough for this tutorial. I have been using InkScape for more than 5 years to do minor things, never want to be a pro and not a graphics designer. But all this time I never used the bezier pen because I didn't understand it. I watch InkScape related videos once in a while when I need to do something and for inspiration. I found your channel by accident and watch your videos now and then because you explain very well. Instead I would use rectangle tool and reduce the width to make a line (silly I know, probably there is a pencil tool) and for curves use the circle tool and cut shapes with object menu. From now on probably I would use bezier tool more often thanks to you. I watched it several times and took notes to help me remember. Thank you agiain for this wonderful video. 💐💐💐💐💐

You are really amazing... 🔥 Before watching this vedio I was terrified by this bezier pen but now feeling confident... 🔥❤️ Thank you so much

Thanks for this video! It solved a problem with using the Bezier pen that I was having. :) Not really new to working with Vector but have not done this in nearly a decade. Definitely new to Inkscape though and I am really enjoying it. - Heidi

Your teaching way is so cool and unique

Best bezier tool tutorial ive seen👍

I love the tutorial.

Your the man, man, I can make stickers now because of your help 🙏

Folks, THIS is the way to teach. When I first got Inkscape, I saw a few bezier pen videos that frankly made me stop trying to understand. This instruction style is just perfect. Can’t thank you enough.

This is pretty similar (although not identical) to the Paths tool in GIMP. (I gather that it used to be called the Bezier tool in early releases, and its shortcut there is still "b"). Many thanks for the great tutorial. I learned more from this than from several tutorials by others combined.

You are the first person who has explained the Bezier Tool bit by bit how it works. Thank you so very much as it had been driving me crazy.

cheers, great vid, so simple once you know...

The words from start soo true😁😁i love how u teach....thanks soo much

Yea, this one gets bookmarked at the top. Well done!

Thanks INKSCAPE has been frustrating! You explain much better

Omg I can't thanku enough 😭😭😭😭thanku so much I ve watched so many videos but this curve was so difficult to understand

Very helpful!

Damn good tutorial. Spot on.

Fantastic IronEcho this video is old yet it still serves the value of learning fundaments and in-depth practical tuts and also develops instant muscle memory to use this tool called Bezier Pen

Love this vid!!

Nice tutorial 😍 Love it

That was immediately useful, and you got a knack for tutoring Rick. Thanks. Mark Martens, Accidental Scientist.

haha, Rick, that was a fun to watch tutorial. thanks

Good tutorial, Rick. I look forward to the medium/advanced tuts. I've used illustrator before, but several years ago, and I've forgotten most of it. Inkscape seems to work differently and I'm struggling.

Awesome, the simplest, direct, cleared my gotchas! :0)

Omg thank goodness I found you lol. Watched a tutorial where it looked so easy until I tried: had the full thing going on, couldn’t find how to get rid of, then could t see any lines only boxes- believe me it went on🤣But you dear sir are an absolute blessing. 😊

Thank you thank you so much,

GOOD TUTORIAL LOVEU SIR

Nice tutorial

Thank you!!!

Thank you 👏🏾Thank You 👏🏾Thank you 👏🏾

New subscriber...you had me at click and hold, click and curve! Thanks this has kept me from throwing my laptop over a cliff and maybe myself as well! LOL

10 / 10 instructor. 😁😃

Haven't been this happy that I was able to write the number "5", since I was 4 years old.

just recently discovered your channel an love the clear and systematic way you're able to teach the basic stuff. a question: is it possible to manipulate each handle of a node separately ? instead of both of them together ? so can adjust the way the curve bends on one side of the node but (almost) not on the other side ?

Thank You

Thanks a lot

Great tutorial! *Quick TIP:* When the curve makes you go further away, like while you were drawing "5" we can simply press *Shift + L* to break that ongoing curve and proceed with another one by the same click and drag from there. Hope this helps someone 😊

Thanks.

Thank you for this video! It makes everything so clear. I can do every design you teach with great success! But there is one thing with the nodes I am always struggling with. When I try to move nodes to make an exact shape and I want to move it ex. 2 mm, but it just jumps to cc. 5mm. It usually happens when I have an object near or under the line/shape I want to reshape. Would you be so kind to help me how can I reduce the sensitivity or whatever it's problem is :D Thank you :) (PS: It works when I zoom in, but then I can't see what I am doing :D)

this was best video

Thanks for this! ...and I love the comparison to the baby cheetah! That is me! Just want to get in and do it....and... am frustrated! Your step by step was very helpful. Much appreciated! ...now to practice. :-)

Thanks

8:15 Thank god this option is available 😂 Thanks Man 👍🏼

Finally! Now I understand how this works. I've been pulling my hair on how this pen works.

Thank you for making me giggle (ooh) and feel like a toddler.

Totally understand making the finished pen size big enough to see, but what does that matter while you are constructing it? It would be nice to be able to make the construction lines bigger too?

M'S IronEcho Desin, this is one of your fans from across the black waters, with a critical appraisal of the tutorial on "How to use Inkscape Bezier Pen Tool". I am doing this in pursuit of an objective that is gaining or imparting pure knowledge. There is a technical besides practical flaw in the tutorial, I am talking about "Click & Hold" of left mouse button for drawing curves. While using mouse, it so happens that two Events take place, Pushing the Left or Right button down and then releasing it. If this action is done in quick succession we say that a "Left or Right Click", is accomplished / committed. In your Tutorial when you say "Click & Hold" left button it is not actually "Click and Hold" It's merely "Push the left button down and Hold" and when you release the button to draw a curvature that the left click is completed. In software development both the events of a mouse click are programmed separately. Never mind Rich, Mr Johanson, it always happens while teaching. your work is commendable for educating student communities worldwide. Be happy.

Hey @IronEcho Design! I have a question. (I should note before asking my question that I'm very new to Inkscape so I'm still getting a footing on how Inkscape works, which has started out with your very awesome tutorials!) Can you use the Bezier Pen to outline your own illustrations or is there a feature on Inkscape that would work better for such a purpose?

omg.... no wonder i feel crazy every time i would delete the fill the object disappeared. who would have thought to turn on stroke... Thank you so much I was ready to pull the picture back into paint to do this. I had no clue about the double click either. I just needed a wiggly string off a balloon.

smashing the like button

You're a lifesaver. Thanks always. Although, I have a request...make a table with text inside. sometime text, numbers and etc are needed in a table. If you do this, I'll appreciate very much. Godspeed.

Can you make bezier curves symmertric? E.g., by holding some key or similar? When tracing vector like objects (such as the "5"), it is common that the curves are symmetric (e.g., rounded corners on a rectangle).

One trick is to make a path with all straight lines, then convert the curves after. It is sooooo much easier, no matter which program you are creating beziers in.

Is there a way to edit the curve while I am vectoring/drawing with the benzier tool? Not changing to editor (N)? Like illustrator?

I'm really new to all this. I would like to know how to get my laser to engrave my image from inkscape? Any help is appreciated? Thanks

I created a leaf with the bezier pen and I'm basically trying to make clip art, but I saved it as an svg and a png and if I open it on another page, u can either completely see thru it or it's like a bnw pic on a white paper type thing, I want the background to be transparent but not literally be able to see thru my leaf, what might I be doing wrong?

Excellent thank you, can we do a perfect circles with bezier??

I love you! You are the ONLY ONE I even want to listen to but why is it again that you don’t like the freehand pencil tool?

When tracing the "5" is there anything wrong with just clicking and making a bunch of short straight lines to make the curve?

I would add the info on how to change the thickness / shape of the Bezier line.

:D 07:10 I kinda gave up early on in trying to figure out brazier and I do multiple anchor points, then after all is finished I remove the extra :D