How do you draw a tick? - briefly
Begin with a short diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right, then add a longer diagonal line from the lower left to the upper right, forming a checkmark. Keep the strokes smooth and the line weight consistent for a clear symbol.
How do you draw a tick? - in detail
A tick, also called a check mark, consists of two strokes that intersect at an acute angle, forming a compact, right‑leaning shape. The upper stroke is short and slopes upward, while the lower stroke is longer and slopes downward, meeting the first stroke near its apex. The overall height typically equals the length of the longer stroke, and the angle between strokes ranges from 45° to 60° for a balanced appearance.
To produce the symbol by hand, follow these steps:
- Place a light guide line vertically to set the desired height.
- Draw a short, upward‑sloping line from the lower left, ending about one‑third of the total height above the guide.
- From the endpoint of the first line, draw a longer, downward‑sloping line that reaches the baseline, intersecting the first line near its tip.
- Adjust the junction so the two strokes meet cleanly; erase the guide line.
Using a ruler or a drafting triangle improves precision. Align the short stroke with the ruler’s 45° edge, then pivot the ruler to a steeper angle (approximately 55°) for the longer stroke. Ensure the intersection point lies roughly one‑quarter of the way up the longer stroke to maintain visual harmony.
In vector graphics software (Illustrator, Inkscape, etc.):
- Create a line segment of the desired length.
- Apply a rotation of 45°–55° to the segment.
- Duplicate the segment, rotate it oppositely, and position the duplicate so the ends meet at the intended junction.
- Merge the two paths, adjust stroke weight, and optionally round the corners with a small corner radius to soften the angle.
Unicode provides a ready‑made glyph (U+2713 ✔) for electronic text. Most fonts render it with a slightly rounded form; select a font that matches the surrounding typographic style if consistency is required.
Common errors include excessive length of the short stroke, too shallow an angle, and uneven line thickness. Correct these by shortening the upper segment, increasing the angle toward 60°, and applying a uniform stroke weight or a subtle taper from base to tip.
By controlling proportions, angles, and line quality, the tick can be rendered clearly across paper, screen, and print.