To change a corner point to a smooth point
To smooth out a sharp turn in curved segments, you can change the
corner point between them to a smooth point.
Note: The corner point must have two tangent lines for this proce-
dure. If it has fewer than two, first add tangent lines to the point.
1
With the object in edit mode, click the anchor point to display
its tangent lines.
2
Tab-click the handle of the tangent line you want to keep in
place; the other tangent line snaps into alignment.
Adding and removing tangent lines
An anchor point can have as many as two tangent line segments. Cor-
ner points can have one, two, or no tangent lines, and smooth points
must have two. You can quickly convert a smooth point to a corner
point by deleting one of its tangent lines. Also, to convert a corner
point with one or no tangent lines to a smooth point, you must add
tangent lines.
To add a tangent line
1
In path edit mode, select an anchor point with one or no tan-
gent lines. The anchor point cannot be an endpoint with one tangent
line, because endpoints can have only one tangent line.
2
Press Tab and drag away from the anchor point to place a new
tangent line segment. You can also Ctrl-click (Mac) or right-click
(Windows) and choose Add Handle in the context menu. As you do
this, the new tangent line begins altering the segment based on how
you drag to position the tangent line.
3
Repeat the previous step to add a second tangent line.
To delete tangent lines
1
In edit mode, click an anchor point to display its tangent lines.
2
Depending on how you want to edit the anchor point, do one of
the following:
To delete one tangent line, Control-click (Mac) or right-
click (Windows) the tangent line handle and choose Delete
Handle in the context menu. You must use this method for
anchor points with only one tangent line, and to delete one
of two tangent lines attached to an anchor point.
Tab-click a corner points
handle to snap the other
tangent line into alignment
and smooth the path