Draw curves and shapes

To draw precise curves with the Pen Tool:

Select the Pen Tool.
On the context toolbar, click one of the modes:
- Pen Mode—click-drag on the page to create repeated nodes; repositioning the displayed off-curve control handles at each node defines the shape of the next segment as you lay down nodes.
- Smart Mode—click repeatedly on the page to lay down each node; a best fitting curve is created without need for control handle adjustment.
- Polygon Mode—click repeatedly on the page to lay down each node; a line is created with sharp nodes made up of straight segments.
- Line Mode—click and drag on the page to create a simple single-segment straight line.
To complete the curve without closing it, press the . To close the curve, click on the starting node.

Another three modes in the Mode section can be used in conjunction with any one of the four modes above:

Preserve selection when creating new curves—when enabled, it keeps the previously drawn curve(s) selected so that their nodes and geometry can be more easily snapped to as you draw.
Add new curve to selected curves object—when enabled, the mode creates additional curves on the same layer as the initial curve—this gives better management of a multitude of curve layers. For example, the character 'a' is made up of two curves that can be a single 'curve object'. From Layer>Geometry, choose Separate Curves to separate each curve into separate layers or Merge Curves to consolidate selected curves into one layer.
Rubber Band Mode—when enabled, it previews the next segment to be drawn before placement of the new leading node. Use with pressed for straight-line segment previews.
Rubber Band Mode—when enabled, it previews the next segment to be drawn before placement of the new leading node.

To continue an existing curve:

To close curves to create a custom shape:

Do one of the following:

With the curve selected with the Pen or Node Tool, click Close Curve on the context toolbar.
When creating the curve with the Pen Tool, click on the starting node to join it to the final node and create the shape.

To simulate pressure-sensitive pen strokes:

On the Stroke panel, click Pressure.
From the displayed profile chart, select an end node on the profile's line and drag it vertically to a new position; nodes can be added by clicking on the line and then positioned freely.
Repeat for other nodes as needed.

To add arrowheads to a stroke:

With a line or curve selected, from the Stroke panel, select an arrowhead style from the Start and/or End pop-up dialogs.
Choose where to position the start and end styles from Place arrow within the line and Place arrow at the end of the line.
With arrowhead styles selected, you can then enter a percentage to the Start and End styles to adjust the size of your selected arrowheads in proportion with the stroke width.