Variable-Width Strokes

Variable-width strokes let you create expressive paths with varying thickness along their length. Create tapered lines, calligraphic strokes, and organic shapes with precise control.

The Width Tool

Press Shift + W to activate the Width tool. This tool lets you add, edit, and remove width points along any stroked path.

Adding Width Points

Select a stroked path

The path must have a stroke applied (stroke width > 0).

Activate the Width tool

Press Shift + W or select it from the toolbar.

Click on the path

Click anywhere along the stroke to add a width point. A diamond handle appears.

Drag to adjust width

Drag the handles outward to increase width, inward to decrease. The stroke smoothly transitions between width points.

Editing Width Points

Move a point - Drag the width point along the path
Adjust width - Drag the handles perpendicular to the path
Asymmetric width - Hold Alt/Option and drag one handle independently
Delete a point - Select and press Delete
Reset to uniform - Double-click a width point to reset it

Tip

Hold Alt/Option while dragging to adjust only one side of the stroke. This creates asymmetric width variations, perfect for shadows and 3D effects.

Width Profiles

Apply preset width profiles for common stroke effects. Select a stroked path and choose a profile from the Properties Panel.

Uniform

Constant width throughout (default)

Taper

Thick at start, thin at end

Bulge

Thin at ends, thick in middle

🦴

Bone

Thick at ends, thin in middle

Calligraphy

Natural pen stroke variation

Creating Custom Profiles

Create a path with width points arranged as desired
Open the Stroke panel
Click "Save Width Profile"
Name your profile
The profile is now available in the profile dropdown

Use Cases

Calligraphy & Lettering

Create elegant hand-lettered text with natural thick-thin variation. Apply the Calligraphy profile or manually add width points for precise control.

Line Art & Illustrations

Add depth and character to line drawings. Thicker lines in foreground, thinner in background creates visual hierarchy.

Decorative Elements

Create ribbons, swooshes, and organic shapes. The Bulge profile works great for banner-style elements.

Technical Drawings

Use tapered strokes for arrows, callouts, and connecting lines that draw the eye to important elements.

Tips for Great Results

Start subtle - Small width variations often look more natural than extreme changes
Use fewer points - Too many width points can make transitions look choppy
Smooth transitions - Space width points evenly for gradual transitions
Match endpoints - For closed shapes, ensure start and end widths match
Preview at 100% - Check how your strokes look at actual size

Pro Tip

Combine variable-width strokes with the Expand Stroke command to convert them to filled shapes. This is useful for exporting to formats that don't support variable-width strokes.

Expand to Fill

Convert variable-width strokes to filled paths:

Select the path with variable-width stroke
Choose Object → Expand Stroke (or ⌘/Ctrl + Shift + O)
The stroke becomes a filled shape you can edit with normal path tools

Note: This is a one-way conversion. The original stroke data is replaced with a filled path.