Pen Tool help!

[Dano 0]

Anyone have any pointers how to effectively use the pen tool?

I'm trying to trace an image in CS3 with the pen tool.  Block type shapes I don't have a problem with.  It's the curves.  I know how to make curves, but it seems really difficult to trace a curve. 

I like the Polly line feature in Signblazer.  Simply hit the "c" on the keyboard to turn the anchor point into a circle, then just click along the curve.  It works great.  Is there a way to do this in Illustrator? 

Thanks

-Dan 

[UpNorthPromo 3]

If you have real clean art you can use the auto trace tool

[Dano 0]

If you have real clean art you can use the auto trace tool

Thanks, I do use the live trace feature a bunch.  It works great in CS3.  But I often find myself tracing things in pictures when there is too much going on for live trace. I have come to realize that Signblazer has a better manual trace feature than Adobe.  So I have just been using that! 

[Zal 0]

This is absolute gold, it helped me a ton. I believe Joe Camaro got me the link. Check it out!

http://school.tatoland.com/illustrator/aipentool.html

[Guest Terry]

http://www.adobe.com/education/designschools/tips/livetrace.html

[Dano 0]

This is absolute gold, it helped me a ton. I believe Joe Camaro got me the link. Check it out!

http://school.tatoland.com/illustrator/aipentool.html

Thanks, that is a big help. 

Looks like I just need to practice a bunch. 

Dan