Adding, deleting, and converting control points

You can add or delete control points on any path. Additional control points can give you more control over the path or extend an open path. Similarly, you can delete control 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.

To add or delete a control point:

1. Using the pen selection tool , select the path you want to edit.
2. Select the pen tool .
3. Do one of the following:
• To add a control point, position the pointer over a path segment and click. The angled slash next to the pointer becomes a plus  when it's positioned over a path segment.
• To delete a control point, position the pointer over a control point and click. The angled slash next to the pointer becomes a minus  when it's precisely positioned over a control point.

To delete a starting control point:

Select the starting control point with the pen selection tool  and press the Delete key.

To extend an open path:

1. Using the pen selection tool , click the path you want to extend.
2. Position the pointer over the endpoint of the open path you want to extend.
3. Click the endpoint. If you want to lengthen the end line segment, drag the pointer.
4. Select the pen tool.
5. Do one of the following:
• To create a corner point, position the pen tool where you want to end the new segment, and click. If you are extending a path that ends at a smooth point, the new segment is curved by the existing direction line.
• To create a smooth point, position the pen tool where you want to end the new curved segment, and drag.

To switch between smooth points and corner points:

1. Using the pen selection tool, click the path you want to modify.
2. Position the pointer over the control point you want to convert, and press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS). The pointer changes to a hollow arrowhead.
3. Do one of the following:
• To convert a corner point to a smooth point, click the point and drag through 45 degrees away from the required curve direction.

Dragging direction point out of a corner point to create a smooth point
• To convert a smooth point to a corner point, click a smooth point, and drag180 degrees toward the required curve direction.

Clicking a smooth point to create a corner point

Dragging to convert a smooth point to a corner point