Convert anchor points to curve affecting adjacent points

I was excited about the "convert anchor point to curve" function in illustrator CS3
However, when i select a corner point and convert it to curve, it only extends the handlers of the selected points, but doesn't affect the exit handler and entry handler of the adjacent anchor points. As a result the curve is just a smooth round transition,not a curve.
For instance, in FH3, if I "convert to curve" to the anchor points of a square , i'd get a circle and viceversa:
If i convert to curve the anchor points of a square in illustrator i get a square with rounded edges.(see example below)
I'd prefer a behaviour similar to Aldus Freehand-It gave me an accurate fast control of curves while drawing-What does other user think?
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Can't add, delete, convert anchor points

Finally upgraded to CS3, and I find that I can't can't add, delete, convert anchor points on a path in certain documents. I get the "Please use the XX tool on a segment of a path. The appearance tells me I have a path. I can paste the paths into a new file, and everything works. I saved to CS2 and can manipulate to my hearts content. These are not a complicated paths (4-12 points).
On a related note, when I tried to draw the path, the anchor point would not appear where I clicked but up and to the right or down and the left. Moving points with the mouse or the arrow tool constrains the angle and length. Moving in the transform palette, i can move it freely
Obviously, I can copy and paste these into new docs, but is there I did in setting the original documents that caused this behavior, because I'd like to avoid it in the future.
Sorry if this is an obvious question, I'm more of 'Shop person. Thanks in advance.

Yeah, removing grid saved me too. The irony here is we use grids to try and be more accurate, yet the paths can't even be found with snap on. Really dumb 'gotchya' for anyone moving over to this software IMHO

Put convert anchor points options in Keyboard Shortcuts

I have two objects with the exact same border path and multiple types of points within the border. I believe that the only way to covert two corner points (at the exact same location) into smooth points (and thus maintain the exact same path for both) is to use the Control panel method (paste in from Help, below). This requires going clear up to the Control panel. I wish that both of these Control panel options where available under Keystroke Shortcuts. This would allow much faster operation that the long trip for my mouse or pen on my large Wacom board.
-------> From AI Help file:
Convert one or more anchor points using the Control panel
To use the anchor point conversion options in the Control panel, only relevant anchor points, not the entire object, should be selected. If you select multiple objects, one of the objects must be only partially selected. When entire objects are selected, the Control panel options change to those that affect the entire object.
To convert one or more corner points to smooth points, select the points and then click the Convert Selected Anchor Points To Smooth button in the Control panel.
To convert one or more smooth points to corner points, select the points and then click the Convert Selected Anchor Points To Corner button in the Control panel.

The buttons are not recordable.
> I believe that the only way to covert two corner points (at the exact same location) into smooth points (and thus maintain the exact same path for both)
Unless I'm misunderstanding your description, Illustator's new but lame convert buttons do not really meet your criteria anyway. The Convert to Smooth button does not merge two coincident corner points on the same path into a single smooth point. You still have two points.
If the two coincident points are actually endpoints of two separate paths, CtrlShiftAlt-J will average their positions, join and merge them.
The convert point type commands should be located in proper contextual cursor menus in AI. But AI does not really have proper contextual cursor menus.
AI's confused interface has pretty much run out of practical keyboard shortcuts.
Illustrator's new convert anchorpoint buttons are very lame compared to the features that have long existed in Adobe's other drawing program, FreeHand. The convert to corner button should not retract existing handles. The convert to smooth should not always extend handles. Provision should be made for individual retraction/auto-extension when converting.
We are not seeing Adobe leverage the rights to better functionality it gained when it acquired Macromedia. We are only seeing cheap, piecemeal imitations and lip-service toward the still-superior functionality in the acquired program.
JET

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?

Converting anchors to simple curve

I have exported an .ps file from a scientific visualization application (Tecplot) and i want to make some adjustments in illustrator but a have a problem. The exported file contains millions of useless anchor points (i suppose Tecplot export to eps is bad programmed). So a simple ellipse curve is exported as a hundred of simple anchor points that are connected together with straight lines. There are so may anchor points that the final result is a smooth ellipse. The file contains a lot of shapes and as a result there are million of anchor points, so practically cannot be edited because illustrator falters. Does anyone have any idea if there is a way to convert all these useless anchors to a simple curve?
Thanks in advance for any help!

Shouldn't that be feature requested?
It's been requested many times over the years in one way or another.
It's not that big a deal to press Ctrl and tap U a few times. The only reason I said to Ungroup repeatedly first is because exprorts from CAD programs often come in with the kazillion facet paths associated with a particular curve being grouped. Someone not well familiar with the problem selects such a Group and the display leads him to think it's a single path with a kazillion straight segments. Then he wonders why Simplify doesn't work on it, when in fact it's just a group of a kazillion 2-point paths that cannot be further simplified.
If, after ungrouping as much as possible it becomes clear that the imported "curves" are really just a huge number of individual facets, then the next step is to resort to some method trying to batch-join them before then trying Simplify. But all methods of joining paths are problematic because the auto routine can't intelligently decide where to stop and start joining. You're left with having to cut stuff after the joins, or tediously select arrays of segments which should be joined, etc. etc.
It's at that point that one often resorts to flood-filling (LivePaint) the visible voids, and/or flood-stroking the only visibly-connected strokes, Expanding the LivePaint Group, etc., etc. All of which is also problematic.
With some kinds of files, I'll resort to running an Action which:
Ungroups, Ungroups
Compound Path>Release
Simplify
Set stroke weight. Round endcaps.
Outline Stroke
Uniion
Copy
Paste In Front
Compound Path>Release
Union
Fill white, no stroke
Send To Back
That results in the line art for a particular discrete part (a bearing, a bracket, etc.) being a compound filled path (outlined along both sides of the original open strokes, rather than consisting of strokes) with a single white-filled path behind the line art. But as always, practicality of that method is also dependent on the consistency of the nature of the incoming file.
I have been facing files (often clip art) that are made of countless grouped paths.
There is no way to do a "total" ungroup, or an ungroup everything as you said, besides re-applying the command multiple times?
The similar problem one often runs into with clipart (and PDF files) is an excruciating conglomeration of nested Clipping Paths and/or Groups. Many of Illustrator's constructs result in sloppy nestings like that, especially when saved as PDF. The confusion and tedium when trying to bust it all down to base paths is compounded by the way Illustrator often shows Ungroup as an available selection (not greyed) when in fact it can't be applied to the selection. Up until just recently, Illustrator's Appearance palette labled a Clipping Path as a Group--further bewildering those not familiar with AI's less-than-intuitive interface.
JET

Convert anchor point tool problem

I'm new to illustrator.. when I want to move tangents independently it only works with the first one I grab, the other one disappears, and reappears while I hold the first one.. bug?

1) Both handles reappear and I can move them as I should be able to with the convert tool
2) that also works fine with the direct select tool,I don't even have to convert so that kinda solves my problem
3) when point is converted I can drag handles with the direct select tool
Thx!

Please use the convert anchor point tool on an anchor point of path

whenever i try to pull out a path i get this error
i'm new to illustrator

Hello,
Could you please check if you do not have 'Snap to Grid' turned ON and 'Snap to Point' unchecked in the View menu? If yes, please turn ON 'Snap to Point' or uncheck both. Please let me know your observation.
Regards,
Dhirendra

Smooth a curve through an anchor point

want to smooth a curve through an anchor point, it has a slight kink in it & it isn't smooth on the templates I've cut out, it's a guitar body curve.
just want to make it smooth without effecting the surrounding shape?

The most basic way of smoothing curves is with the Convert Anchor Point tool (hidden under the Pen in the toolbox).
Click on the point you want to edit and drag. This converts a corner point to a smooth point with equally long handles on each side of the anchor.
The trouble with doing things this way though is that you lose track of where the path was when it was "nearly right".
I solve this by copying the "nearly right" path, pasting in front (Cmd+F) and then making a guide of it (Cmd+5).
After you have done that you can use the Convert Anchor Point tool on the original path.
It's a rather clumsy workaround, but that's just the way Illie is; middle-aged and overweight.

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).

Pen tool anchor points

Hello,
Is there a short cut on Mac or a way to add 1 handle to an anchor point that already has a handle - other than using the convert anchor tool?
When I use the convert anchor point tool, it resets the previous curve that I had already drawn, and I have to draw out the 2 handles to make the curve I had already made.
It would be much easier if one could just pull out 1 handle from an anchor point in order to tweak the curve or line.
Thanks

Here’s another trick if it is imperative to move only one handle:
With Smart Guides turned on, drag ruler guides to intersect at the handles.
With the Line tool draw a line between those intersections.
Scale that line with the scale tool and Shift held down. It will get longer at both ends.
Convert the line to a guide (Cmd/Ctrl+5).
Now you can drag one handle along the new guide and the opposite sector won’t move.

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

Adding extra anchor points to existing work

Hi guys
Just a little annoying thing...
If I have existing work and instead of rebuilding it add an extra point to change the shape of a flat side to curved - I usually have handles if I have created the whole artwork in one go - but not when I add extra anchor points....?
Is there a way to fix this?
bookie56

bookie,
You may use the Reshape Tool (bundled with the Scale Tool), or use the Add Anchor Point Tool followed by ClickDragging with the Convert Anchor Point Tool.
I usually have handles if I have created the whole artwork in one go
That only applies to curved paths/path segments, I believe.

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).

Help! I can't delete anchor points with the Delete Anchor Point Tool

I have a shape in illustrator CS6 that I'm trying to edit. When I try to click on a point with the Delete Anchor Point Tool nothing happens however I am able to select the point using the Direct Selection Tool and then remove it using the "Remove selected anchor points" option in the Control palette. Same issue with trying to use the Convert Anchor Point Tool.
Any ideas what's going wrong here?

Another thought. If there are multiple nodes in that one spot, you may have to use the remove anchor point repeatedly to get rid of them all. It looks like you deleted the point and nothing happens, but really you are just seeing another node that was very close to the one you just deleted.
If you select drag over them with the white arrow tool and choose remove anchor points it will remove them all at once.

Cs6 , how can i add a anchor point in the curve in the channel Red or Green?

Hi
how can i add an anchor point in the curve in the Channel R / G and B?
in cs5 , with ctrl + click i was able to click on the image and add an anchor point in the curve channel RGB
and with shift +ctrl + click i was able to click on the image and add an anchor poing in the channel Red , 1 in the channel Green and 1 in the channel blue
i know cs6 doesn't have any more ctrl+mouse click , there is the targeted adjustamanent tool
i can do it with ctrl+m and call the curve
but i can't do it with curve adjustament tool
is there a way to add a anchor point in each channel red , green and blue (like the prev photoshop)?
thanks

thanks that's correct! thanks
but it's not 100% correct
to add a multiple points in rgb shift+click doesn't work!
from adobe
Keyboard shortcuts: Curves
You can use these keyboard shortcuts for Curves:
To set a point on the curve for the selected color in each color component channel (but not in the composite channel), Shift+Ctrl-click (Windows) or Shift+Command-click (Mac OS) in the image.
To select multiple points, Shift-click points on the curve. Selected points are filled with black.
To deselect all points on the curve, click in the grid, or press Ctrl‑D (Windows) or Command-D (Mac OS).
To select the next higher point on the curve, press the plus key; to select the next lowest, press the minus key.
To move selected points on the curve, press the arrow keys.
(Curves dialog box) To set a point on the curve for the current channel, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) in the image.
If you’re instead using the Curves adjustment, simply click in the image with the On-image adjustment tool .

Convert anchor points to curve affecting adjacent points

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