How to Use the Pen Tool in Figma

Select the Pen Tool by pressing P or clicking the pen icon in the toolbar. Your cursor becomes a crosshair, ready to place anchor points.

Click to create straight lines: Click once to place your first anchor point. Move your cursor and click again to create a straight line segment. Continue clicking to add more points.

Click and drag to create curves: Instead of just clicking, click and drag outward to create a smooth curve. The drag handles control the curve's direction and intensity. Longer handles = deeper curve.

Close your path: To create a closed shape, click back on your starting point (you'll see a small circle next to the cursor). Or press Enter/Return to leave it open.

Edit anchor points: Switch to the Direct Selection Tool (A) or hold Ctrl/Cmd to temporarily access it. Click any point to select it, drag to reposition, or adjust the curve handles.

Convert point types: With a point selected, use the toolbar options to convert between Corner (sharp angle), Mirror (smooth curve), or Asymmetric (independent handles). Right-click a point for quick access.

Boolean operations: Combine multiple pen tool shapes using Union, Subtract, Intersect, or Exclude. Select shapes and use the toolbar icons at the top to merge them into complex icons.