Adjust both handles on anchor point simultaneously locking their relationship

when using pen tool,
CTRL uses last used selection tool, (for me I set it to direct selection)
ALT uses convert anchor point tool,
another option that I`d like to see is when using ALT (convert anchor point tool) when adjusting dragging an anchor handle is to press ALT/CTRL to lock the angle of both handles, ( whether smooth or non smooth anchor handles) to adjust them simultaneously,
why would I want this?
see, sometimes you want to keep that angle just as you created it, but if you move one anchor you lose it and have to now adjust the other, or sometimes you want to nudge one side of the path coming from the anchor down or up a little, but maintain the handles relationship to the handle angle with the path on the other side of the anchor, this would be the quickest way to maintain all of that,

Bugs in Illustrator do occasionally result in both of an anchorPoint's handles being located on the same side of the anchorPoint and "locked" together in such a way that their lenghts can be individually adjusted, but their angles cannot be separated. You may have encountered one of those situations.
Bezier, by the way, is not a verb. It's a mathematician's name. And a straight Bezier curve is still a Bezier curve. It's control points still exist; they either correspond with the start and end points, or they at least occur on the straight segment.
JET

Similar Messages

Question about controlling both handles or one at a time

I am using a trial version of Illustrator CS5 on Windows 7. I know how to select an anchor or its handle(s). But I do not know why I sometimes am controlling both of an anchors handles when I move one of them, or when I am moving only one at a time.
My question is: how to make it so I move both handles at the same time or how to make it so I am only moving one at a time?

yes you can use the direct select tool plus alt (option keys) or the convert anchor point tool to adjust only one handle at a time and you use the direct select tool without the alt (option key) to adjust both at the same time but be aware that once you adjust one of the anchor points independent of the other then you have made a corner (angle) anchor point and just using the direct select tool will not bring back the control over the two anchor points.
That means you have t use the convert anchor point to convert it back to a smooth anchor point, which will require you to adjust the path in a radial way that is both segments on both sides of that anchor point will move out of the position and follow a different form than it had before converting to a smooth anchor point.
The way around this is to go to the control Panel and use the button to convert to smooth anchor point which will give you a more desired result nd you can use the convert to corner anchor point button as well as yet another way of converting
So you should experiment so you understand the use of the direct select tool the pen tool the convert anchor point tool and the keyboard controls and the control panel.

Photoshop CS6 clear anchor point

Hi
Small problem with paths :/
Clearing anchor point so that it's cuts the path line also to the next anchor (like point to point, cuts segment of path) not the whole path...
Sometimes it works using delete or backspace But no clue why does not always work ? and getting work is like F* hell
Is there some option or is it just CS6 problem

Seems to be a systemic issue with Photoshop CS6.
The Direct Selection Tool is supposed to select one point in a path, but I find, like you, that it can get into a mode where it's as though all the other points are selected and remain selected. This leads to you deleting the entire path.
When it's working "correctly", clicking a point with the Direct Selection tool will make that path point black and show both handles, while the two points to either side will show as squares with a light center and only one handle exposed. Clicking another point will change the "focus" to that point, and make the prior selected point have a light square, indicating it's no longer selected. When it's working like this, I can delete one point.
But once I delete a point the behavior reverts to the bad one you're describing, where clicking on a point leaves all the points black and shows both handles of the point clicked AND any other ones clicked (sort of like if the shift key is down or something). At that time pressing Delete will clear all of the points - deleting the entire path.
As I don't use paths as much as some, so I've never thought to report it as a bug.
Edit: I've just reproduced the same behavior in Photoshop CS5. This implies it's some kind of "by design" modal behavior, and that my unfamiliarity with using Path tools may be showing.
I've noticed holding down the control key, clicking, then holding down the control key and clicking again seems to revert it to the "correct" behavior where only one point at a time gets the focus. Dragging a box around the point you want with the Direct Selection Tool also seems to net the proper behavior.
-Noel

Anchor points on line segments.....

Closed path made with pen tool in Flash MX comprises of line segments & curved segments both.While adding anchor points on segments it is noticed
that pen tool adds anchor points on curvaceous segments but not on line segments. Why is it so ? Is their any way to accomlish this task ?

If you hover over the pen tool in its toolbar you should get a selection of different pen tools, at least one of which will allow you to add an anchor point on a straight line.

Anchor points: Photoshop to After Effects

Hello!
I have imported some shape layers from photoshop into after effects. I would like to make them swing in three dimensional space, so I am trying to change the anchor point to the top of shape so that it will swing from that point. I cannot see the anchor point as you would with text, and it seems to be rotating around some random place further down. Perhaps this photoshop layer is rotating around the centre of the photoshop composition?
What would be the fastest way to rectify this situation. There are 24 shapes but I will remake these shapes in AE if that is going to be the fastest way to make it happen.
Thank you!

Hi Trill:
Use the Pan Behind (Anchor Point) Tool (‘y” is the keyboard shortcut) to click and drag the Anchor Point to where you need it to be for your animation.
This behaves very much like moving the Anchor Point while using Free Transform in Photoshop. Also, it will retain the registration (or placement) of your layers relative to how they were stacked and aligned in Photoshop by changing both the layer Anchor Point coordinates and Position coordinates at the same time.
Assuming that you’re importing your layered Photoshop document as a Composition, the Anchor Point for each layer defaults to one of two locations:
The center of the respective layer if imported as “Composition – Retain Layer Size”
The center of the Photoshop document Canvas Size if imported as “Composition”
From what you’ve described, it sounds like you’re choosing as “Composition”. Although, you’ll need to use the Pan Behind (Anchor Point) Tool layer by layer regardless to achieve what you’ve going for.
There’s a behavior in AE that you could take advantage of to speed this up if you have pre-positioned your Photoshop layers such that the offset for the Anchor Point value change and the Position value change are the same for each layer. If that’s the case, you could select all the layers in After Effects and when you change the values for one layer After Effects will change the like values for all the currently selected layers as well. Since it looks like each of your layers currently has the PS Canvas Size, this might work right now.
- Warren

Anchor Points Disappeared

I was playing around with the guides making margins ect.
I typed some text & went to grab it to expand it & now it wont work? It seems the anchor points are locked or something?
I cant drag out the corner of a box to make it bigger or smaller either?
Any help appreciated.

Did you by chance turn off the bounding box feature? Go to View>Show Bounding Box
Hope that helps, if not give a bit more info or a screen capture of the problem and we'll try again.
Michael Riordan
http://www.learnadobesoftware.com

Adjusting two handles of an anchor point at the same time?

Hi,
Is it possible to adjust two handles of an anchor point at the same time?
I want to edit the top shape of this egg shape so that it would be symmetrical on both sides when I do adjust it.
What is the easiest way to accomplish this?
Thanks!

When I move the right handle, I need the left handle to move the opposite way and it doesn't. I don't get what you mean by saying that it "should behave just like you want them already."

How do I edit a single handled anchor point

I find myself with a corner that only has one handle (screen shot below), to which, I want to add a second handle. I could convert it to a smooth curve but this averages things out and moves my existing handle's position.
I want to add the second handle without affecting the path, to do this the new handle would be aligned to the vertical path. I would then be able to edit the second handle as desired, and the whole process would leave the existing curved path untouched.

froodster,
To keep the left segment unchanged, you may:
1) Cut the path by Clicking the Anchor Point with the Scissors Tool;
2) With the straight path (still) selected Click the Anchor Point with the Convert Anchor Point Tool, then ClickDrag it to drag out the new Handle;
3) Select both paths (you may ClickDrag across the Anchor Point with the Direct Selection Tool) and Ctrl/Cmd to Join, ticking Corner (or all will be in vain).

Can't see the anchor point or bezier handles when editing an effect

Please help! This may be an easy fix, but when editing an effect I can no longer see the anchor point, keyframes, or bezier handles on the timeline image. Specifically, I am keyframing the Brush Position in the Write-on effect, and while I can move the brush position, there is no visual cross-hair on the image nor bezier handles to adjust the curve... every adjustment is therefore a guess as to where the adjustment handle is.
Is there a button that toggles anchor point and keyframe path display? Obviously, not being able to see what you're working on is very frustrating. I tried to click the icon to the left of the Write-on effect bar (4-point square with the selection tool in the upper right), but nothing happens. The write-on effect bar is selected and the Brush Position is in keyframe mode.
Thank you in advance for your help.

I worked with this the other day. Bezier handles and the hot spots are tough to see and the write-on effect is a bit wierd for me. You may have more success placing keyframes at beginning and end of a clip as I had trouble keyframing only part of a clip and still controlling the writing effect. You can then slide the keyframes later to change the duration.
Also, you may want to disable all the other effects while editing this one, as the others keep getting selected instead for me and I end up e.g. moving the image instead of the brush.

How do I get arms in both directions on an anchor point?

When I draw a line I usually only get one line on the anchor point to adjust the shape. How can I get two arms, one on each side of the anchor point, so that I can adjust the line on both sides of the anchor point?

Hi Wade,
Thank you so much for that video. I get it.
Just for the sake of clarity, here's what's important:
When you select an anchor point for the purpose of adjusting the shape
of the curve of a line on either side of that anchor point, it is
essential that you are IN THE PEN TOOL, AND that you hold down the
option key BEFORE you select the point. Then you will get TWO
direction lines on either side of the anchor point that you can use to
reshape the line.
One of the reason's it is so confusing is that you can edit a line
simply by clicking an anchor point with the direct selection tool.
It's the two added steps of 1) having to switch to the pen tool and 2)
having to hold down the option key that makes it such an arcane
process to get both the direction lines on either side of the anchor
point.
I have never seen this particular point discussed in any illustrator
book.
Thank you so much for your help.
Best,
Allen

Can't adjust anchor points of path when keyframes enabled...

I have an irregular shape layer that I'm warping over time (smaller to bigger). I'm able to adjust the anchor points of the path to the shapes I want—but once I set the two keyframes of the path that I'm interpolating with a slider, I am no longer able to adjust the anchor points to do minor tweaks e.g. I'm unable to pull out the bezier handles. If I disable the keyframes then I'm allowed to adjust the anchors again but that means I have to start over every time I need to make an adjustment. I've successfully executed the concept but need to tweak multiple shape layers in this fashion and not having access to the anchor point bezier handles is slowing down productivity.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
AE 12.2.1.5
Mac 10.9.4

As I said before, and if you look closely I have keyframes on the paths, you have to carefully roll over the right parts of your path and make sure that the path is selected and not the shape. It takes a bit of getting used to. You are probably selecting the entire path. If you press the U key twice to reveal the path and the keyframes, select the path, press the G key to select the pen tool, then roll the pen tool over the path you'll see a pen with a plus appear. move off the path and hold down the Ctrl/Cmnd key and you'll see a white arrow. Click and drag around a vertex and now you have selected a single vertex complete with the handles.
You can also do this with the selection tool (V) but the procedure is not exactly the same and I think a little more difficult. If the entire path is selected then you cannot select an individual point, but if you hold down the Cmnd/Ctrl key and move off the path you'll see the cursor change to a white arrow. Click off the path, then you can click on a vertex and get your controls back. I much prefer using the pen tool because it allows me to draw around multiple points and transform them quickly, gives me more options though the modifier keys of Alt/Option or Ctrl/Cmnd to change the tools and generally work much faster, but you can use either one.

Handles missing from anchor points in Photoshop CS4

I am trying to etch an image in PS CS4, and the handles keep disapearing from the anchor points as I click and drag, when I close the path there are no handles, and when I use the path selection tool the anchor points appear but no handles, if I use the convert anchor point tool a handles appears but disapears again as soon as it is deselected. I am definitelty clicking and dragging to create the path so the handles should be present.

If you want to show the handles that shape a section then click on that section with the Direct Selection tool (the white arrow) and not with the Path Selection tool (the black arrow).

Can I Move the Anchor Point for Adjustment Brush in ACR CS5

It's never been a problem before, but the anchor point for the Adjustment Brush in ACR is sitting exactly where I need to see what is happening. I can delete and start again, but if there is way to move or hide the anchor point while stil being able to adjust the setting, it would be handy to know for next time it happens.

R_Kelly wrote:
You can press the V key to toggle the pins on/off.
Exacty what I was after. Thanks.

Move direction handles in synch with anchor point?

Hi all
I'm trying to nudge the anchor points on an object randomly (to get an informal look). (I know some Effects do this already.)
Maintaining corner points is no problem - you just set the direction handles to the same coordinates as their anchor.
But I can't nudge a smooth point in the way I want to, which is to move the anchor but maintain the direction handles in exactly the same relation to their anchor as they had before. That is to say, they should remain smooth points.
My script calculates the difference between 'before' and 'after' positions of the anchor, and applies that difference to the direction handles… but in practice the smooth points are converted to corners, because the direction handles don't maintain their relation with the anchor.
Would be grateful if someone can point out the flaw(s!) in my logic.
var docRef = activeDocument;
var objects = activeDocument.selection.length;
var cShift = prompt("Point shift (pt)",5);
// loop through all objects
for(var count=0;count<objects;count++)
currentObj = activeDocument.selection[count];
nudge(currentObj);
// function nudges each object
function nudge(obj)
var objPoints = obj.selectedPathPoints;
var objPointCount = objPoints.length;
for (var i = 0;i<objPointCount;i++){
var thisPoint = objPoints[i];
var va = thisPoint.anchor[0];
var vb = thisPoint.anchor[1];
var la = thisPoint.leftDirection[0];
var lb = thisPoint.leftDirection[1];
var ra = thisPoint.rightDirection[0];
var rb = thisPoint.rightDirection[1];
if(va==la && va==ra && vb==lb && vb==rb)
{ // if corner point, randomize anchor position
va = va +((Math.random()*cShift));
vb = vb +((Math.random()*cShift));
thisPoint.anchor = Array(va,vb);
// set direction handles at same position, maintaining a corner point
thisPoint.leftDirection = Array(va,vb);
thisPoint.rightDirection = Array(va,vb);
else
{ // not a corner point: keep handles in same relative position to their shifted anchor
var va2 = va +((Math.random()*cShift));
var vb2 = vb +((Math.random()*cShift));
thisPoint.anchor = Array(va2,vb2);
// this bit calculates the random shift applied to the anchor
var anchorShifta = va2 - va;
var anchorShiftb = vb2 - vb;
// these lines apply the same shift to the direction handles
thisPoint.leftDirection[0] = la + anchorShifta;
thisPoint.leftDirection[1] = lb + anchorShiftb;
thisPoint.rightDirection[0] = ra + anchorShifta;
thisPoint.rightDirection[1] = rb + anchorShiftb;

The else part modified:
else
{ // not a corner point: keep handles in same relative position to their shifted anchor
    var aShift = Math.random()*cShift;
    var bShift = Math.random()*cShift;
    thisPoint.anchor = [va + aShift, vb + bShift];
    thisPoint.leftDirection = [la + aShift, lb + bShift];
    thisPoint.rightDirection = [ra + aShift, rb + bShift];

Convert Anchor Point Tool Won't Remove Handles

I have handles on a point in Illustrator CC 2014. I am trying to click on the point with the "convert anchor tool" to remove the handles, but it is not working. I can manipulate the handles with the tool and move the points, but it will not delete the handles like normal.

Brad,
There may be something you are unaware of (Anchor Point(s) on top of Anchor Point(s) or something).
If you deselect (click an empty spot or another object), then click the Anchor Point with the Direct Selection Tool, does the Anchor Point show normally with two Handles?
If it does, can you ClickDrag each Handle into the Anchor Point and convert it that way?

Adjust both handles on anchor point simultaneously locking their relationship

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