Adding and deleting anchor points
You can add or delete anchor points on any path. Additional anchor points can give you more control over the path, or extend an open path. You can also connect two open paths. Similarly, you can delete anchor points to change the shape of a path or to simplify the path. It's a good idea to delete any unnecessary points to reduce the complexity of the path. You can use the Simplify command to remove extra anchor points on a path without changing the path's shape. (See Simplifying paths.)
Regardless of the tool with which you created a path, you add or delete anchor points on it using the Pen tool, which automatically changes to the Add Anchor Point tool or the Delete Anchor Point tool as you position it over a selected path. The Add Anchor Point tool adds the necessary type of point (corner or smooth) to preserve the existing shape of the path. Note: Delete an anchor point by using the Delete Anchor Point tool or the Simplify command. The Delete and Backspace keys, and the Edit > Cut and Edit > Clear commands deletes an anchor point and any line segments attached to it, splitting the path.
To add or delete an anchor point: - Use the Direct Selection tool
or the Lasso tool to select the paths to which you want to add or delete anchor points. - Select the Pen tool
, Add Anchor Point tool , or Delete Anchor Point tool . All of these tools share the same location in the toolbox; if necessary, position the pointer over the Pen tool and drag to choose the tool you want. - Do one of the following:
- To add an anchor point using either the Pen tool or the Add Anchor Point tool
, position the pointer over a path segment and click. - To delete an anchor point using either the Pen tool or the Delete Anchor Point tool, position the pointer over an anchor point and click.
To extend an open path or connect two open paths: - Using the Pen tool, position the pointer over the endpoint of the open path you want to extend. A small slash appears next to the pointer
when it's precisely positioned over the endpoint. - Click the endpoint.
- Do one of the following:
- To create a corner point, position the Pen tool where you want to end the new segment, and click.
- To create a smooth point, position the Pen tool where you want to end the new curved segment, and drag.
- To connect the path to another open path, click an endpoint on the other path. When you position the Pen tool over the other path's endpoint, a small hollow square
appears next to the pointer when it's precisely positioned.
To override automatic switching to the Add Anchor Point tool or Delete Anchor Point tool: Hold down Shift as you position the Pen tool over the selected path or an anchor point. This is useful when you want to start a new path on top of an existing path. To prevent Shift from constraining the Pen tool, release Shift before you release the mouse button.
To turn off automatic adding or deleting of anchor points: - Choose Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (Mac OS).
- Click Disable Auto Add/Delete to turn off the option. Then click OK.
To add anchor points using the Add Anchor Points command: With the selection tool , select the object and choose Object > Path > Add Anchor Points.
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