1

In the Tools panel, if the Variable Stroke Pen tool is not showing, select it from its pop-up menu.

2

Double-click the Variable Stroke Pen tool.

3

In the Variable Stroke Pen dialog box, select tool options:

Enter a value from 1 to 10 in the Precision text box, or adjust the slider. Choose a high value to follow minor variations as you draw. Choose a low value to smooth minor variations as you draw.

Select Draw Dotted Line to draw paths faster by displaying a dotted line as you draw. The final path is still solid.

Select Auto Remove Overlap to remove unnecessary path segments and create a composite path.

Original (left) and Auto Remove Overlap applied (right)
 

Note: Using the Auto Remove Overlap option may slow the redrawing of an image. You can also remove any overlap by selecting the path and choosing Modify > Alter Path > Remove Overlap or clicking the Remove Overlap button on the Xtra Operations toolbar.

For Width, set the minimum and maximum possible stroke widths, measured from the centerline, between 1 and 72 points.

4

Click OK.

5

Use the stroke and fill color selectors in the Tools panel to set color attributes for the path.

1

In the Tools panel, select the Variable Stroke Pen tool from its pop-up menu.

2

Drag to draw a path.

3

To draw a straight line, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Macintosh).