Redefine control handles for a point on a path

To redefine the control handles for a point on a path

  1. In the Tools panel, click Direct Selection.

  2. Select the path containing the point (or vertex) that you wish to modify.

  3. While holding Alt, click on a node when the cursor looks like one of the following cursors, and then drag away from the node to redefine the control handles.

    Cursor

    What it does

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    Convert point cursor

    Makes any sharp corner smooth (if already smooth, changes the angle of the curve as it passes through the clicked point)

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    Convert segment cursor

    Takes a segment and bends it into a curve to pass through the mouse position

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    Convert tangent cursor

    Adjust the selected tangent independently of the other side

    Alternatively, you can click a node or a segment of a path to make the tangent handles appear, and then click and drag one of the tangent endpoints when the cursor changes to the move tangent cursor 716ef857-03a9-4225-b301-e23ab4a27efa.

    For more cursor descriptions, see Direct Selection tool modifier keys (Blend) and Pen tool modifier keys (Blend).

See Also

Tasks

Draw a free-form path

Draw a curve

Delete part of a path

Change the shape of a curve