Adjusting straight and curved segments
You can modify the shape of a path by moving any of its anchor points or by moving the direction points of direction lines attached to a curve segment. Editing existing segments is slightly different from drawing them. Keep the following guidelines in mind as you adjust existing segments: - If an anchor point connects two segments, moving that anchor point always changes both segments.
- When drawing with the Pen tool, you can temporarily activate the last-used selection tool by holding down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) so that you can adjust segments you've already drawn.
- When you draw a smooth point with the Pen tool, dragging the direction point changes the length of the direction line on both sides of the point. However, when you edit an existing smooth point with the Direct Selection tool, you change the length of the direction line only on the side you're dragging.
To adjust a straight segment: Using the Direct Selection tool , drag the anchor point on either end of a segment. Shift-drag to constrain the adjustment to multiples of 45°. If you're simply trying to make a rectangle wider or narrower, it's easier to select it with the selection tool and resize it using one of the handles on the sides of its bounding box.
To adjust a curved segment: - Using the Direct Selection tool
, select the anchor point on either end of a curved segment. Direction lines appear on the anchor point and on the adjacent anchor points, if present (some curved segments use just one direction line). - Do one of the following:
- Drag the anchor point. Shift-drag to constrain movement to multiples of 45°.
- Drag a direction point. If you're adjusting a smooth point's direction lines, both direction lines revolve around the anchor point. Shift-drag to constrain the direction line angle to multiples of 45°.
To split the direction lines of a smooth point, use the Convert Anchor Point tool to drag them.
To move anchor points using the keyboard: - Using the Direct Selection tool
, select the anchor point. - Click or hold down any of the arrow keys on the keyboard to move a pixel at a time in the direction of the arrow. Hold down the Shift key in addition to the arrow key to move the anchor point 10 pixels at a time.
To change the keyboard increment value: - Choose Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (Mac OS).
- Enter the value you want in the Keyboard Increment text box, and click OK.
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