The Triad of Vector Animation: Pencil vs. Pen vs. Brush tools in Adobe Animate CC

When I first started animating in Adobe Animate CC, I was overwhelmed by the variety of drawing tools available. The Pencil Tool, Brush Tool, and Pen Tool each promised unique ways to create vector art, but I wasn’t sure which one to use for different parts of my projects. Over time, I learned that understanding the strengths and ideal uses of each tool can transform your workflow and the quality of your animations. In this post, I’ll share what I’ve discovered about these three essential tools, practical tips for using them, and examples that highlight their best features.

Understanding the Pencil Tool: Quick and Freehand Vector Sketching

The Pencil Tool in Adobe Animate CC is like a digital pencil that lets you draw freehand lines and shapes. It’s perfect for sketching rough ideas or creating organic, hand-drawn looks.

Unique Features and Advantages

• Freehand drawing with smooth curves: The Pencil Tool automatically smooths your strokes, making your lines look cleaner than raw mouse or tablet input.

• Editability: After drawing, you can adjust the points and curves easily, which is great for refining shapes.

• Pressure sensitivity support: If you use a graphics tablet, the Pencil Tool can respond to pressure, allowing for natural line variation.

• Simple and fast: It’s ideal when you want to quickly capture an idea without worrying about perfect precision.

  
  

When to Use the Pencil Tool

• Sketching character outlines or rough poses.

• Creating hand-drawn style animations where a natural, imperfect line is desirable.

• Drawing quick backgrounds or props that don’t require exact shapes.

• When you want to experiment with shapes and forms before finalizing.

  
  

Example Artwork

I once created a short animation of a bouncing ball character using the Pencil Tool. The tool’s natural stroke variation gave the character a lively, hand-drawn feel that matched the playful tone of the animation.

Hand-drawn animated character outline using Pencil Tool

Exploring the Brush Tool: Painterly Strokes with Vector Flexibility

The Brush Tool offers a different approach by simulating brush strokes with vector paths. It’s more expressive and versatile for creating textured or calligraphic lines.

Unique Features and Advantages

• Customizable brush shapes: You can choose from various brush styles or create your own, adding personality to your strokes.

• Pressure and tilt sensitivity: Works well with tablets to mimic real brush pressure and angle.

• Variable stroke width: The Brush Tool can produce thick-to-thin lines in a single stroke, adding dynamic flair.

• Vector scalability: Unlike raster brushes, these strokes remain sharp at any size.

  
  

When to Use the Brush Tool

• Designing characters or objects that need a painterly or calligraphic look.

• Adding expressive details like hair, fur, or textured shading.

• Creating decorative elements or stylized backgrounds.

• When you want to combine the freedom of painting with the scalability of vectors.

  
  

Example Artwork

For a recent project, I designed a fantasy forest scene using the Brush Tool. The textured strokes gave leaves and branches a natural, hand-painted appearance while keeping the artwork crisp and scalable.

Mastering the Pen Tool: Precision and Control for Clean Vector Paths

The Pen Tool is the most precise of the three, allowing you to create exact paths using anchor points and handles. It’s essential for clean, professional vector work.

Unique Features and Advantages

• Complete control over curves and lines: You place points and adjust handles to create smooth or sharp edges.

• Ideal for geometric shapes and logos: The Pen Tool excels at creating clean, sharp designs.

• Editability: Paths can be modified at any time, making it easy to tweak your artwork.

• Supports complex shapes: You can combine multiple paths and shapes for detailed vector art.

  
  

When to Use the Pen Tool

• Creating logos, icons, or typography where precision is critical.

• Designing character rigs or assets that require clean outlines.

• Tracing scanned sketches or photos for exact vector conversion.

• When you need smooth, scalable lines without the imperfections of freehand drawing.

  
  

Example Artwork

I used the Pen Tool to create a sleek robot character for an educational animation. The clean lines and sharp edges gave the robot a polished, mechanical look that suited the theme perfectly.

Clean vector robot character designed with Pen Tool in Adobe Animate CC

Practical Tips for Choosing the Right Tool

• Start with the Pencil Tool if you want to quickly sketch ideas or create loose, organic shapes.

• Switch to the Brush Tool when you want expressive, textured strokes that feel hand-painted but remain vector.

• Use the Pen Tool for any work that demands precision, such as logos, icons, or detailed character outlines.

• Combine tools in a single project: For example, sketch with the Pencil Tool, refine with the Pen Tool, and add texture with the Brush Tool.

• Practice with pressure-sensitive tablets to unlock the full potential of Pencil and Brush tools.

• Use the Smooth Tool after drawing with Pencil or Brush to clean up lines without losing their character.

  
  

Adobe Animate CC interface showing Pencil, Brush, and Pen Tool options

Experimenting with these tools will help you find your preferred style and workflow. Each tool has its place depending on the project’s needs and your artistic goals. Don’t hesitate to mix and match them to create unique vector animations that stand out.

If you want to dive deeper, Adobe offers excellent tutorials on each tool. Exploring those will give you hands-on experience and new techniques to try.