Pen Tool -- adjust an existing handle length without changing its angle?

Is it possible to adjust an existing handle's length without changing its angle? The reason I want to do this is because the companion handle (for a smooth point) in my path-in-progress happens to be exactly where I want it, and I want to constrict my adjustment of the handle on the path's open-ended side to the length only. Possible? Seems like a sure candidate for a modifier key.. but alt is for making corners and shift constricts to only specific angles. I want to do this on the fly.
If no, I suppose I'll go make a feature request

If you do this and other handle manipulations frequently, a 3rd-party plug-in might be worth buying. The PathScribe tool (part of the VectorScribe plug-in) can do this plus a lot more.

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Photoshop CS3, using pen tool to make selection or path without any color

OK, here is my problem. I'm using CS3 photoshop right now. Last time I was using it regularly was in 2001, so it was version 5 or 6. At that time you could use the pen tool to make a selection or a path without ANY color. I'm trying to cut out something that needs precision (therefore the pen tool) but I need to be able to see what I'm doing. Therefore, would prefer no color option. This used to be easy, with paths, it was the default.
Can't figure it out now, HELP is no help. And, the User Guide is no longer available on Adobe.com. Looked for the one for the CS4 suite, not much much luck there either. I can call them tomorrow about that. *Right now, all I'm trying to do is put together a little pasted together thing for my niece. Two stuffed animals with antlers and santa hats on a Xmas background. Everything is done but cutting out around the stuffed animals. They need their little tufts of stuffing, so I need a tool that can create a smooth path without blocking what I'm doing with color.* Any help will me appreciated. I've tried for days to figure this out on my own, since last time I posted, I figured it out before someone responded. And, the response was quick, so I didn't want to waste anyone's time.
The pdf user guide for this is unavailable, I just ordered a book to help me with the stuff I can't figure out by myself. Thanks for everyone's quick help. –Suze

{quote:title=Suze159 wrote:}
I'm trying to cut out something that needs precision (therefore the pen tool) but I need to be able to see what I'm doing. *Right now, all I'm trying to do is put together a little pasted together thing for my niece. Two stuffed animals with antlers and santa hats on a Xmas background. Everything is done but cutting out around the stuffed animals. They need their little tufts of stuffing, so I need a tool that can create a smooth path without blocking what I'm doing with color.*{quote}
Suze,
I too use CS3 and I may be confused about your post. If so, I apologize for wasting any reader's time.
When I need a precision tool for rotoscoping a subject, I usually choose the Polygonal Lasso tool. Of all the Lasso tools, using the polygonal is the most labor intensive, but gives you the highest degree of control. With a little practice you can get quite good at it. If necessary, blow up the image to help you see what you are doing.
-- Duplicate the background layer
-- Rotoscope the subject
-- Click Refine Edge and adjust Radius, Contrast, Contract/Expand, Smooth and Feather to taste
-- Choose New>Layer via Copy or Cut
-- Hide background layer(s) and Save As or Move this layer onto your original graphic.
There may be other ways of doing it but this is what works for me. I hope that helps.
Eddie

Pen tool - can't see handles

Hi, I'm hoping this is a really simple enquiry. Basically I'm tracing a photograph using the pen tool. When I release the mouse to use the 'alt' key to drag anchor point in, I can't see the handles. It never used to be this way. Any ideas? Thanks

Just restarted Illustrator and it seems to be ok now - must be a glitch of some sort because this is happening intermittently.
By the way just found a great site for photoshop/illustrator etc. cheat sheets:
http://www.allgraphicdesign.com/graphicsblog/2008/11/26/27-adobe-photoshop-cheat-sheets%20 -and-quick-reference-cards-for-adobe-photoshop-cs4-cs3-cs2-and-below/

How to hide a output field without changing its layout

Hi
My requirement is that i ahve a field which is just for calculation purpose and I do not want it to show as output.
I want to know how to do that without changing layout.

Hi,
If your are using module pool. Goto the field attribute, in attribute select Display-> select Invisible check box.
Regards,
Bhaskar

Pen Tool and Pathfinder Problems

Help.....I am trying to follow a tutorial creating a leaf vector image(first time) I use the pen tool to draw the curve in a an elipse shape and then divide in pathfinder but it always adds an extra line when I hit the pathfinder button from the last pointto the first and fills my path instead of remaining as one line that I can remove from the shape...anyone help please.

This is a link to the tutorial....http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/text-effects/creating-an-environmentally-friendly-gre en-type-treatment/comment-page-5/
It is part 3, divide. The image shows what happens after I hit divide in pathfinder, prior to that it is just a single line path with 2 anchor points using pen tool from left to right. I know its basic but its frustrating as helland I am sure its a simple fix!. Thanks so much for looking

Bypassing function argument without changing default value

Hi there
I’m having some problems understanding how I can bypass function arguments without changing its default value. Here are some examples:
function myFunction ( arg1:Boolean, arg2:String="default string", arg3:Number=3 ):Array
    return new Array (arg1, arg2, arg3);
trace(myFunction(true, "new string", 5));
// true,new string,5
trace(myFunction(true, undefined, 5));
// true,,5
trace(myFunction(true, null, 5));
// true,,5
trace(myFunction(true));
// true,default string,3
trace(myFunction(true, null));
// true,,3
My question is: Shouldn't I be able to call a function bypass the second argument (that has a default value), change third argument and on result second argument maintains its default value?
Example:
trace(myFunction(true, null, 5));
// not desired: true,,5
// desired: true,default string,5
I know that applying a defult value to the argument allows one to bypass it. But it will always be redefined or to null or to undefined. At the moment I only see one solution.
function myFunction ( arg1:Boolean, arg2:String="default string", arg3:Number=3 ):Array
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It just seems like too much code repeated
Regards

Hi dmennenoh,
Yup, this was just an example to show that the use of a default value only helps you to bypass the need to simulate a MouseEvent Object for an onRollOver MouseEvent argument. Other than that you can never bypass it without changing its value. You must always apply a null or undefined value and work with that.
Thanks anyway

Lost bezier handle on closing path with pen tool

Can any of you please instruct me how to avoid losing the first point’s backwards bezier handle when closing a path with the Pen Tool?
This is a longtime annoyance for me, but I cannot rule out that I simply have failed to find the proper way of turning off this behaviour.

I just did!
See my last post with the picture. I rotated not just the anchor point but the straight line that it was coupled to.
Steve.
Steve, you can rotate anchorPoints and adjacent straight segments all day long, and you will still not be replicating the behavior and intent of FreeHand's Connector Points.
We're not talking about rotating straight segments here. (I would hope that everyone knows you can do that.)
Forget rotating things. Draw a path with a curved segment and an adjacent diagonal straight segment. The straight segment has no extended handles; only the curved segment does. Now adjust the length of the handle of the anchorPoint that joins to the straight segment in such a way that you cannot break tangency of the curve with the straight segment. In other words, the handle is always constrained to the angle of the adjacent straight segment.
Don't bother coming back with the workaround of scaling the handle. That still does not ensure tangency.
Example: This is Fontographer (FreeHand's progenitor). The highlighted point at the bottom of the motorycycle's skid plate is a Corner Point. The segment to the left of it needs to be curved, while maintaining perfect tangency with the straight segment to the right of it. In the inset, the Corner Point has been converted to a Tangent Point, and its handle is being dragged out (all with one selection tool, I might add.) The handle cannot be dragged out at any angle other than that which is tangent to the right segment.
That's just an example of converting a pre-existing Corner Point to a Connector Point. But now consider ensuring tangency fluidly as you draw with the Pen. In Illustrator, click to place a CornerPoint. Click or clickDrag to place a second anchorPoint oriented at any angle from the first point such that you are guaranteed that the first segment is straight, and that the next segment will be curved and tangent to the first segment. Can you do that in Illustrator?
While we're at it, note that in FOG, as in FH, you always know what kind of point you are dealing with. Corner Points are displayed as squares, Curve Points as circles, and Connector Points (Tangent Points in FOG) as triangles (regardless of whether their handles are extended or retracted).
JET

Pen tool, handles missing?

I was wondering why some points made with the pen tool have handles (to adjust curves) and other points don't have handles. I need to curve a couple points but they can't be adjusted, just moved, anybody know why?

The points with handles are know as Smooth points and without handles Corner points. To add handles to a Corner point click and drag on the point using the Convert Anchor Point Tool. To remove handles from Smooth point click once on the point.
The Convert Anchor Point Tool can be found grouped with the Pen Tool.

Pen Tool handles merged??

Ok I'm sure this is one of those 'duh!' questions, but when using the pen tool and you end up with two different handles being on the exact same tangent, they seem to merge on me. How do you select just one of them to get it away from the other?
TIA.

If you are talking about two curve handles being at the same angle and on the same side of the anchorPoint, and they are "locked" together such that you cannot move one without moving both—that is a bug which has existed for several versions. I recently stumbled upon a means by which to produce it, but it escapes my memory right now.
Delete the anchorPoint and create a new one.
JET

Pen Tool: Removing handles

when you create a line with the pen tool then add an extra anchor point, how do you move that point without the handles creating a curve.
Can you remove the handles?
I just want jagged angles like an ekg machine.

Make it a habit to keep one finger on ctrl and one on alt while working with the pen tool.
Ctrl temporarily switches to the direct selection/path selection tool (whichever is the active one). Alt switches to the convert point tool.
This lets you move and modify any point and any handle as you go along.

It's simple... I want the Illustrator pen tool to ALWAYS make corner annchor points and NEVER smooth. Right now I have to convert every single one of them, or I have to do a work around every time I draw a line and make one of the handles disappear. Is

It's simple... I want the Illustrator pen tool to ALWAYS make corner annchor points and NEVER smooth. Right now I have to convert every single one of them, or I have to do a work around every time I draw a line and make one of the handles disappear. Is there some simple setting out there that will just "make it so?"@

The video I am watching this guy is just dragging every line to make curves. And every anchor point is a corner. He is not switching back and forth between the pen and the anchor points tool, and he is not using the convert points tool. He draws a curved line and starts another straight line only to curve it with a click and a drag. It is super efficient, and I could save a world of time if I could figure out what he is doing.

How to use pen tool to adjust audio levels

Hi,
I've been using the pen tool to adjust the audio levels in FCE. When I do, however, I get curved line segments (kind of like a parabola) between the audio keyframes. I'd like to get something easier to control... i.e. straight line segments. Is this possible? How would I accomplish this?
Thank you!

Add a couple more keyframes and adjust them so the line is straighter. You can drag the keyframes along the audio line & move them up & down to adjust the shape of the curve.
The default shape is curved in order to align with what the human ear considers a 'normal' change in audio levels to be. Human aural sensitivity to changes in audio levels (aka loudness) is not linear - it is more or less logarithmic in shape. That's why the curve.

Pen tool without snap

I have little bit provlem with using a pen tool in Photoshop. I am conviced that solution would by somewhere in options. When I use a pen tool it snap my path to whole pixels. Is there any settings where I could set that my paths which I make with pen tool won t be snapped to whole pixels. Just want to anywhere where I click to make new path/ anchor point will be exactly at this place without snaping?
Thank you very much for advice and maybe apologize for my english. If it is sounds not fully undrestandable tell me that :-)

go to view and make sure snap is off. then make sure when you are using the pen tool that align edges is unchecked.
-janelle

Pen tool wont snap to existing paths - PLEASE HELP ME OUT!

Before, I could draw on a new layer with the pen tool and when i hovered over paths on existing other layers, they would appear red, or blue etc. NOW... I hover over those paths with my pen tool and they arent flashing up, meaning I can't use them as a reference! I am so upset, please someone give me a hand, please!

Larry, I love you. You're a hero, a life saver! I can't thank you enough!

Pen tool handle question: clear one handle only

I feel pretty comfortable with the Pen Tool; however there is one small question that I haven't been able to solve.
If a point has 2 handles, how do I get rid of just ONE handle? I can kind of do it by dragging the handle to the anchor point, but it is still there, to drag out again.
I read that Opt-Clicking (I think) the handle will do it, but that does not work for me.
Thanks,
Sonny

Sonny:
I don't think that you quite understand what the handles are indicating:
No Handles = a Corner Point;
Two handles (that move in concert) = a Smooth Point
Two handle which can move independently) = a Cusp Point
Option Click on the end of a Smooth Point's Handle to make the Point into a Cusp Point.
Option Click on the Node of a Smooth Point or a Cusp point to make the Point into a Corner Point.
Option Click on the Node of a Corner point to make the Point into a Smooth Point.
The Handles are there to help you use them to shape your Paths.

Pen Tool -- adjust an existing handle length without changing its angle?

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