Illustrator CS4 arseache

[WD Forte]

OK here's the thing
I decided to install Illustrator CS4 to maybe get a wee bit more creative
when designing vector stuff to cut out on the mill.
the current vector software is OK but more technical then arty

Anyway I install it and whilst getting up to speed via youtube vids I see
a simple exercise to practise using the pen tool
Looks easy enough says I and have go holding down the shift key to constrain the lines

But as you can see by the pic, the fecker don't/won't constrain
I go from straight line to first bezier ok, but second downward bezier stops short!
Shit piss and bollocks! that's no good to me.
I tried to google the fault of course but got confused and frustrated
snap to grid is turned off

In the pic you can see where the first curve stops short and I use the pen tool to continue
On the second curve, the pen is in the position I wanted it to stop and it's well off

It's pissing me off such simple but important thing wont work

Is it a feature or my hardware or my stupid fingers?
USB keyboard and wireless mouse btw
Win7/32, Athlon IIx4 4 core cpu, 4GB ram

Any idea chaps and chapesses?

TIA

https://i.imgur.com/X3dXg9n.jpg
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bikers smell of wee

[MahatmaAndhi]

I can't get on with the pen tool. It's incredibly valuable from what I understand, but I've never managed to make it work.
If you're trying specifically for a semi-circle, I would draw a circle over the top and use the Pathfinder tool to get rid of the circle you created.

This tutorial explains it better than I could:

https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-a-vector-ticket-icon-in-illustrator--vector-5245
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2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

[Jayy]

I did this before but whilst it was rendering my pal turned up and we went out for a few hours on the bikes.

Cut a quick video for you:-

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1mSWf6fP3N2TEFheEUyM2U2WGM

[WD Forte]

Thanks for replies and vid
I managed to constrain it OK just now but it was much more finicky then I would have thought, so may well be due to my newbieness and impatience
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bikers smell of wee

[Jayy]

Typically, you would use the pen tool to trace something, i.e. if you did some graffiti drawing on paper, scanned it and wanted to turn it in to a vector.

Or

In Photoshop, it's mostly used to cut out photos from background, you draw round the person/object with the pen tool then cut it out.

For what you're doing there, it's easier to work with circles and cut them up or use that designtuts method and use pathfinder and subtract shapes from other shapes, etc.

It's not an easy tool to get the hang of either, takes a good bit of practice to get a feel for the way it draws curves!

[nowhere.elysium]

For those who struggle with the pen tool in Illustrator, try this out: https://bezier.method.ac/
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project