Adobe ILLUSTRATOR 10 Using Manual page 57

Adobe Illustrator Help
Using Help | Contents
To add or delete an anchor point:
1 Using the direct-selection tool , select the paths to which you want to add or delete
anchor points.
2 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.
3 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:
1 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
the endpoint.
2 Click the endpoint.
3 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 will
be 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 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 point
appears next to the pointer when it's precisely positioned.
To override automatic switching to the add- or delete-anchor-point tools:
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:
1 Choose Edit > Preferences > General (Windows and Mac OS 9) or Illustrator >
Preferences > General (Mac OS X).
2 Under General Options, 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.
Using Help | Contents
| Index
| Index
Back
when it's precisely positioned over
Back
Drawing
57
57