Paths for a top shine?

Question

I want to create a top shine for the rectangle in the image. I use the Pen tool to start the shape by drawing the left side of the path, with my plan to copy the path, paste it, flip it, and join the two parts together, fill it with white and lower the opacity.
1. Why does this path drawn with the Pen look a bit pixelated?
2. After selecting both the original path, and the newly pasted one, I select them both and Join them via Modify >Combine PAths>Join, though they do not stay connected when I click on the individual sides?
3. Is there an easier way to create a top shine type shape like this?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Here's something to consider if you're using your Pen tool method to create the 'top shine' shape. If you select both open paths using the Pointer tool and then apply the Join command, you'll create something called a Composite Path. Composite paths are especially useful for rendering complex shapes that contain negative space, like this:
But this method won't actually fuse your two open path segments into a single path. To see what I mean, try using the Pen tool to join the top ends of your newly joined 'top shine' curve, and you'll find that the path refuses to close. Because it's not a single path, there's no way to close it.
So instead, use the Subselection tool and drag-select the overlapping points where the two paths connect, then apply the Join command. Now you'll have a single path.
Alternatively, you could explore some of the commands available in the Path panel. "Weld points" offers another way to fuse together two path segments into one. "Join points" could be used to complete your 'top shine' shape horizontally along the top.