InDesign CS Selection, Type, and Line Drawing Tools

The Pencil Tool

Draw freehand lines with the Pencil Tool

Image by J. Bear

You use this tool as if you were using a real pencil and paper. If you simply want to draw an open path:

1. Click on the Pencil Tool
2. With the left mouse button pressed, drag it around the page.
3. Release the mouse button when you have drawn your shape.

Quick Tip: Fix a Mistake in InDesign

If you want to draw a closed path,

1. Press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac Os) while you drag your Pencil Tool around
2. Release your mouse button and InDesign will close the path you have just drawn.

You can also join two paths.

1. Select the two paths,
2. Select the Pencil Tool.
3. Start dragging your pencil tool with the mouse button pressed from one path to the other. While you do that make sure you hold down Control (Windows) or Command (Mac Os).
4. Once you have finished joining the two paths release the mouse button and the Control or Command key. Now you have one path.

• The Selection Tools
• Selecting Objects in a Group
• Selecting Objects Under Other Objects
• Selecting All or Some Objects
• The Pen Tool
• The Type Tool
• The Pencil Tool
• The (Hidden) Smooth Tool
• The (Hidden) Erase Tool
• The Line Tool