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Penwork features

Everything Penwork includes, from the first anchor point to the finished brand.

136 features in 11 groups

Penwork Join early access

Pen, pencil and shapes

Every curve, exactly placed.

  • PenPlace points and pull handles for precise curves.
  • Live curve previewSee the next curve before you click.
  • Curvature penClick through points and the curve flows through them.
  • Add, delete and convert pointsReshape any path, corner or curve.
  • PencilDraw freehand and Penwork smooths the line.
  • SmoothBrush over a jagged path to relax it.
  • Path eraserErase part of a path and keep the rest clean.
  • Paintbrush and blob brushPaint strokes that become clean, filled shapes.
  • Calligraphic and art brushesStrokes with the feel of a pen nib or a painted mark.
  • Pressure and tiltLines that swell and taper with your stylus.
  • Scissors and knifeCut paths at a point, or slice shapes freehand.
  • Draw inside and behindAdd to a shape without disturbing the layers.
  • Rectangles and rounded rectanglesDrawn in a drag, adjusted at any time.
  • Ellipses, polygons and starsChange the sides, points and radius live.
  • Lines and arcsStraight segments and smooth arcs.
  • Live shapesShapes remember what they are, so you can change them later.
  • Live cornersDrag a corner to round it, or set rounded, inverted and chamfered corners.
  • Expand a shapeTurn a live shape into plain paths when you're ready.

Paths and combining shapes

Build complex marks from simple ones.

  • Direct selectionEdit single points and handles.
  • Join and connectClose paths and link loose ends.
  • Cut at a pointSplit a path wherever you need.
  • Outline a strokeTurn a stroke into a filled shape.
  • Offset pathGrow or shrink a shape evenly on every side.
  • SimplifyRemove extra points and keep the shape.
  • Compound pathsShapes with holes, like the inside of an O.
  • Clipping masksShow artwork only inside a shape.
  • BlendsMorph one shape into another in even steps.
  • Width toolPush and pull a stroke's width at any point.
  • UniteMerge shapes into one.
  • SubtractCut one shape out of another.
  • IntersectKeep only where shapes overlap.
  • ExcludeKeep everything except the overlap.
  • DivideSplit overlapping shapes into separate pieces.
  • Merge by draggingDrag across regions to join them into one shape.
  • Erase by draggingDrag with a key held to remove regions.

Select, arrange and transform

Everything lined up, exactly.

  • Select, group and isolateWork inside a group without touching the rest.
  • Select similarPick every shape with the same fill, stroke or style.
  • Align and distributeLine up shapes and space them evenly.
  • Align to the artboard, a selection or a key objectChoose what everything lines up to.
  • Transform panelExact position, size and angle, typed in.
  • Rotate, reflect, scale and shearFree by hand or precise by number.
  • Repeat a transformDo it again with a key, for perfect step-and-repeat.
  • Scale strokes and effectsChoose whether they grow with the art.
  • Smart guidesSnap to points, edges and centers as you draw.
  • Snap to pixelsCrisp edges for screen graphics.
  • Rulers, guides and gridsBuild icons and logos on a steady grid.
  • Outline viewSee only the paths, for precise work.

Strokes

Lines with character.

  • Stroke weightFrom hairline to bold.
  • Caps and cornersRound, square and pointed ends and joins.
  • Align strokeInside, centered or outside the path.
  • Dashed linesEven dashes that fit neatly at corners.
  • ArrowheadsMany arrow styles, scaled to the stroke.
  • Variable widthStrokes that thicken and thin along the line.
  • Several strokes on one shapeOutlines inside outlines, for bold looks.

Type

Letters that belong in a logo.

  • Point and area typeShort lines or text that flows inside a shape.
  • Type on a pathWords that follow any curve.
  • Auto-size text boxesBoxes that grow with their text.
  • Character controlsKerning, tracking, scale, baseline shift and rotation.
  • Paragraph controlsAlignment, spacing, bullets and numbering.
  • Character and paragraph stylesConsistent type across a whole document.
  • GlyphsEvery alternate letter and ligature in a font.
  • Variable fontsSlide between weights and widths.
  • Color fontsFonts with built-in color and emoji.
  • Font browserPreview, filter and find recent fonts.
  • Find, replace and spell checkClean copy across the whole design.
  • Create outlinesTurn letters into shapes you can reshape.

Color, gradients and transparency

A palette that stays in step.

  • Color picker and exact color codesAny color, picked or typed.
  • SwatchesSave colors and keep them in groups.
  • Global colorsChange one swatch and it changes everywhere it's used.
  • Recolor artworkChange a whole design's palette in one move.
  • Color wheel editingDrag colors around a wheel and keep their harmony.
  • EyedropperCopy color and style from any shape.
  • Swap fill and strokeFlip them in a keystroke.
  • Print-ready colorWork for screens or print from the start.
  • Linear and radial gradientsDrag them right on the artwork.
  • Freeform gradientsPlace color points anywhere for soft, painterly blends.
  • Stops and midpointsFine control over every transition.
  • Opacity stopsGradients that fade to clear.
  • Gradient presetsSave and reuse your favorites.
  • OpacityMake any shape see-through.
  • Blend modesMultiply, screen, overlay and more for rich color.
  • Opacity masksFade artwork with a shape or a gradient.

Patterns, styles and symbols

Build a look once. Use it everywhere.

  • Make a patternDesign a tile and see it repeat live as you draw.
  • Grid and brick layoutsDifferent ways for the tile to repeat.
  • Tile size and spacingAdjust the rhythm of the repeat.
  • Edit a patternReopen any pattern and change it.
  • Move patterns inside shapesShift, scale and rotate a pattern without moving its shape.
  • Several fills and strokesStack fills, strokes and effects on one shape.
  • Reorder and hideChange the order of a look's parts, or switch one off.
  • Saved stylesSave a whole look and apply it in a click.
  • Redefine a styleChange the style and every shape using it updates.
  • Drop shadow, glow and featherSoft depth that stays editable.
  • Round cornersSoften any shape's corners as an effect.
  • Roughen and zig zagHand-made edges and lively lines.
  • WarpArc, arch, flag and wave, without losing the paths.
  • SymbolsReusable artwork; edit the original and every copy follows.
  • Replace symbolsSwap one symbol for another everywhere it's used.

Image tracing

From sketch to clean lines.

  • Trace an imageTurn sketches, scans and photos into vector shapes.
  • Tracing presetsLogo, line art, sketch and a few colors to start from.
  • Colors and detailChoose how many colors and how much detail to keep.
  • Paths, corners and noiseSmooth or sharp results, without speckles.
  • Ignore whiteLeave the paper behind.
  • Compare viewsSee the tracing, the outlines and the original.
  • Expand to shapesTurn the tracing into paths you can edit.

Vector to 3D

Flat shapes, real depth.

  • Extrude and bevelGive a flat shape thickness and crafted edges.
  • RevolveSpin a profile into a vase, a bottle or a coin.
  • InflatePuff a shape into a soft, rounded form.
  • Rotate in 3DTurn objects to any angle, with perspective.
  • MaterialsMetal, plastic, wood and more, with your artwork wrapped on.
  • LightingLight presets and your own lights with soft shadows.
  • Realistic renderTurn on lifelike light for the final image.
  • Still editableChange the outline and the 3D object follows.
  • Send to ArmatureTake a shape into a full 3D scene.

Artboards, layers and export

A whole brand in one file, every asset at every size.

  • Many artboardsLogos, icons and layouts side by side.
  • Artboard presetsScreens, social sizes and paper.
  • Move art with its artboardRearrange boards and keep everything attached.
  • Fit to artworkSize an artboard to its contents.
  • Layers and sublayersOrganize, show, hide and lock.
  • Layer colorsSee which layer every shape lives on.
  • Release to layersEvery shape on its own layer, ready to animate.
  • Place imagesBring in photos and keep them linked or embedded.
  • Export artboardsEvery board as its own image or document.
  • Export assetsDrag icons into a panel and export them all.
  • Several sizes at onceEvery asset at every size it's needed.
  • Names, prefixes and suffixesClear file names, made for you.
  • Remembered settingsExport again with the same choices.
  • Export a selectionJust the piece you need.
  • Open what you haveVector files from other apps, documents and images.
  • Autosave and recoveryYour work is kept safe.
  • HistoryStep back through every change.

Lab Partner in Penwork

Your partner, at the drawing board.

  • Logo directionsYour AI sketches a range of marks for you to refine.
  • Extend an icon setNew icons in the same grid, stroke and style.
  • Palette ideasColor schemes that fit your brand, applied in one move.
  • Tidy the pathsFewer points, cleaner curves, same shape.
  • Explain any toolAsk how to do something, and it shows you.
  • Always yoursEvery change is reviewable, and you can undo it.
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Penwork

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