Converting objects and text to paths
Some vector objects have specialized properties and unique edit
modes instead of the standard path edit mode. For example, you can-
not directly edit the path segments of macros, concentric circles,
grids, multigons, spirals, and objects modified by the Envelope or
Extrude commands. However, you can convert these objects to paths
so you can edit them the same as any other vector object.
If you create paths from a specialized vector object, the new shape
does not have the same unique editing capabilities as the original. For
example, if you convert a multigon star object to paths, you can no
longer use the edit handles that let you adjust the depth and twirl of
the points. Similarly, placed macros are no longer linked to their par-
ent macros in the Gallery palette after you convert them to paths.
You can also convert text so you can reshape characters as vector
objects. This has the benefit of making the characters independent of
their fonts; the font is no longer required to view and print the charac-
ters properly. However, once you convert text to paths, you can no
longer perform text operations, such as editing, spell-checking, and
formatting, on the text. Also, characters with holes in them (such as
a, b, d, e, g, o, p, r, and q) are converted to composite paths, which
cannot be extruded.
Constrain tangent line to 45-degree increments
Shift-drag tangent line handle
Move tangent line segment independently
(change anchor point from smooth to cusp)
Tab-drag tangent line handle
Align tangent line segments (change corner
point with two tangent lines to smooth point)
Tab-drag tangent line handle
Add tangent line to an anchor point
Tab-drag an anchor point
Delete an anchor points tangent lines
Tab-click the anchor point or endpoint
Close an open path
Click an endpoint with a Path
drawing tool
Alt-click an endpoint
Reshape a segment without changing the tan-
gent line angles
Press Tab and drag the segment
Reshape A segment and adjacent segments
Press Command and drag a seg-
ment
Press Alt and drag a segment
To do this
Shortcut (Mac)
Shortcut (Windows)