Adjusting straight and curved segments

You can modify the shape of a path by moving any of its control points or by moving the direction points of direction lines attached to a curved segment. Editing existing segments is slightly different from drawing them. Keep the following guidelines in mind as you adjust existing segments:

• If a control point connects two segments, moving that control point changes both segments.
• When drawing with the pen tool, you can temporarily activate the pen 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 pen selection tool, you change the length of the direction line only on the side you're dragging.

To adjust a straight segment:

With the pen selection tool , drag the control point on either end of a segment.

To adjust a curved segment:

1. Using the pen selection tool , select the control point on either end of a curved segment. Direction lines appear on the control point.
2. Do one of the following:
• Drag the control point.
• Drag a direction point. If you're adjusting a smooth point's direction lines, both direction lines revolve around the control point.

To split the direction lines of a smooth point, position the pen selection tool over a direction line, and then press Alt/Option (Windows/Mac OS). The pointer changes to a hollow arrowhead, and you can move the direction lines separately.