MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-USING FLASH Use Manual page 141

When you use the Pen tool to create a curved segment, the anchor points of the line segment
display tangent handles. The slope and length of each tangent handle determine the slope and
the height, or depth, of the curve. Moving the tangent handles reshapes the curves of the path.
See "Adjusting segments" on page
To draw a curved path:
1.
Select the Pen tool.
2.
Position the Pen tool on the Stage where you want the curve to begin, and hold down the
mouse button.
The first anchor point appears, and the pen tip changes to an arrowhead.
3.
Drag in the direction you want the curve segment to be drawn. Shift-drag to constrain the
tool to multiples of 45°.
As you drag, the tangent handles of the curve appear.
4. Release the mouse button.
The length and slope of the tangent handles determine the shape of the curve segment.
You can move the tangent handles later to adjust the curve.
5. Position the pointer where you want the curve segment to end, hold down the mouse
button, and drag in the opposite direction to complete the segment. Shift-drag to constrain
the segment to multiples of 45°.
6. To draw the next segment of a curve, position the pointer where you want the next segment
to end, and drag away from the curve.
Adjusting anchor points on paths
When you draw a curve with the Pen tool, you create curve points—anchor points on a
continuous, curved path. When you draw a straight line segment, or a straight line connected
to a curved segment, you create corner points—anchor points on a straight path or at the
juncture of a straight and a curved path.
143.
Using the Pen tool 141