Pen and direct selection usage
Path objects create very versatile shapes because they are defined by points and tangents, which you can modify when you draw the path or after you complete the path. You can also join paths and add or remove points.
Using the pen tool
The following table describes how to modify a path when you are creating the path with the Pen.png "Cc294807.d514358f-185a-412f-a55d-36633b25dc8a(en-us,Expression.10).png")
tool. You can also use the Pen tool to add or remove points on a path, or join two paths.
Pointer |
What it does |
How to activate |
|
|---|---|---|---|
.png "Cc294807.0bfb1b71-80ac-4ad4-aed8-40e09f8b7ab8(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen pointer |
Adjust last tangent without the smooth constraint, allowing you to make a sharp corner |
Click + hold ALT |
|
Pen pointer |
Aligns the new point horizontally, vertically, or diagonally based on the closest plane of the clicked point |
Click + hold SHIFT+ALT |
.png "Cc294807.b004ad5a-33a4-46ae-81c0-20be0d819332(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen insert pointer |
Adds a new point at location of click |
Click |
.png "Cc294807.317e5475-b70c-489f-9477-110a98639ade(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen adjust pointer |
Click the selected endpoint to reduce the last tangent to zero length |
Hover over an endpoint and click |
|
Pen adjust pointer |
Use when you modify a tangent |
Click and drag |
.png "Cc294807.08a64b78-f3df-4730-8169-c56b5631b071(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen delete pointer |
Removes a point at the location where a point is clicked |
Hover over an existing point and then click |
.png "Cc294807.a12fd3b4-a553-4762-b01c-c35efa594362(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen close pointer |
Click the nonactive start or endpoint to close a path with a sharp corner |
With a start point or endpoint active, hover over the nonactive start point or endpoint and then click |
|
Pen close pointer |
Close a path with a smooth point |
Click and drag |
.png "Cc294807.c5615244-bf8f-44ce-b892-8a30cd2514ab(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen extend pointer |
Indicates that the pointer is over an endpoint or start point and can be extended at the next click |
Hover over a start point or endpoint |
.png "Cc294807.bd12dfa4-112e-4f37-9765-3479e6b69894(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen join pointer |
Creates a sharp corner on click when two paths are joined |
Select two paths, click the Pen tool, hover over an open point of one of the paths and when the Pen extend pointer appears, click the point. Hover over an open point on the other path to see the Pen join pointer, and then click the point to join the two paths sharply. |
|
Pen join pointer |
Creates a smooth corner on click and drag when two paths are joined |
Select two paths, click the Pen tool, hover over an open point of one of the paths and when the Pen extend pointer appears, click the point. Hover over an open point on the other path to see the Pen join pointer, click the point, and then drag before letting go of the mouse click to join the two paths smoothly. |
.png "Cc294807.69758176-5f53-465b-808c-f13fd1a0b3f2(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen start pointer |
Create a new path |
Click |
|
Pen start pointer |
Creates a tangent to start a curve |
Click and drag |
.png "Cc294807.592e00d8-d920-49e2-b285-4e4006534f9e(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Pen tangent pointer |
Indicates that a tangent is being dragged |
With the Pen extend pointer showing, press and hold the mouse down on an open point |
.gif "Cc294807.7e183f1f-37d8-4dcb-980c-19a5d61ca087(en-us,Expression.10).gif")
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Using the Direct Selection tool
The following table describes how to use the Direct Selection .png "Cc294807.6dd6571f-c116-451d-8dd2-1f88b8406362(en-us,Expression.10).png")
tool to modify the shape of an existing path object.
Pointer |
What it does |
How to activate |
|
|---|---|---|---|
.png "Cc294807.cfcc5f41-a666-4524-a958-50b9051130ca(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Move point pointer |
Makes tangent handles appear for a point on a path |
Click a point on a path |
|
Move point pointer |
Moves a point on a path |
Click and drag a point on a path |
.png "Cc294807.2ace930f-98fa-410b-92cf-7a4b88503ee7(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Move segment pointer |
Makes tangent handles appear for a segment between two points on a path |
Click a segment of a path |
|
Move segment pointer |
Moves a segment between two points on a path |
Click and drag a segment of a path |
.png "Cc294807.beb1a907-1e50-450c-aab3-4d7026f5e426(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Move tangent pointer |
Changes the angle of a tangent for a point on a path |
Click a point or a segment of a path to make the tangent handles appear, and then click and drag one of the tangent endpoints |
.png "Cc294807.fa3b547b-47b3-4c01-98bb-ee7b42e6f85a(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Convert pointer |
Moves you into tangent-editing mode |
Press ALT |
.png "Cc294807.21197b10-aba4-4a9d-8145-647d0ba8e518(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Convert point pointer |
Makes a point into a sharp corner or reduces the tangent to zero |
Press ALT when you hover over a point and then click |
|
Convert point pointer |
Makes any sharp corner smooth (if already smooth, changes the angle of the curve as it passes through the clicked point) |
Press ALT when you hover over a point and then click and drag |
.png "Cc294807.975a855a-8536-441f-97ed-2f1496e416bf(en-us,Expression.10).png") |
Convert segment pointer |
Changes a curve segment into a straight line |
Press ALT when you hover over a segment in a path and then click |
|
Convert segment pointer |
Takes a segment and bends it into a curve to pass through the mouse position |
Press ALT when you hover over a segment in a path and then click and drag |
|
Convert tangent pointer |
Adjust the selected tangent independently of the other side |
Direct select a point or a segment, press ALT, hover over a tangent point in a path, and then click and drag |
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