To delete an endpoints tangent line, you can also Tab-click
the anchor point.
To simultaneously delete both tangent lines of an anchor
point, Tab-click the point.
Straightening curve segments
You can straighten a curved segment by selecting it and using the
Straighten command in the context menu. This command deletes the
tangent line(s) that are curving the segment.
To straighten a segment: With the object in edit mode, Ctrl-
click (Mac) or right-button click (Windows) the curved segment that
you want to straighten. Choose Straighten in the context menu.
Reshaping curve segments
To adjust the shape of a curve, in addition to moving points and seg-
ments along the path itself, you can adjust the tangent lines that con-
trol the curve. The angle of the tangent line affects the curve shape,
while the length of the tangent line affects the size of the segment.
At a smooth anchor point, adjusting the angle of a tangent line affects
the curves on both sides of the anchor point. At a corner anchor point,
you can reshape the segments on each side independently. For more
information, see Reshaping paths by editing anchor points on
page 23.438.
To reshape a curved segment
1
With the object in edit mode, click one of the segments anchor
points to display its tangent lines.
2
Drag the handle of the tangent line to change the shape of the
associated curve. In the case of a smooth point, the tangent line
affects both adjacent curve segments.
Path editing shortcuts
To do this
Shortcut (Mac)
Shortcut (Windows)
Add an anchor point
Option-click path
Ctrl-click path
Delete an anchor point
Option+Shift-click anchor point
Ctrl+Shift-click anchor point
Change the length of the tangent lines on both
sides of a smooth anchor point at the same time
Option-drag tangent line handle
Ctrl-drag tangent line handle