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.

Similar Messages

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 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: handles snapping to grid not functioning

Since it was not answered by the Adobe Illustrator CC staff, I'll ask again:
I use the handles snapping to grid functionality extensively when creating icons and other detail-intensive shapes. How do I re-enable this feature, or is it necessary to revert to an older, more functional version of Illustrator?
This is very frustrating, such a simple feature and, for no logical reason, it has been removed from Illustrator. Makes me regret updating and paying for Illustrator CC.

there was a discussion on this when the feature was first removed. did you see it? I think a support staff member posted in it, but nothing positive...
edit: yeah, it was just people complaining and the staff guy stating that this was indeed the case.
Re: Have anchor points snap to grid changed?

Pen Tool Icons Missing in CC 2014 Windows 7

I have just noticed that I'm not seeing the Join/Add to Existing Path icon is missing in CC 2014. The little chain link icon second left in the illustration below. As far as I can tell, all the other icons are OK. I tried my Pre-2014 installation and that has the link icon. The link still works — you can join to the end of an old path, but it is frankly a PITA wondering if you are in the right place, or about to start a new path.
Just me, or known issue?

Hi Trevor,
I do see the icon Join/Add to Existing Path on a windows 7 x64 machine with photoshop cc 2014.2.2

Indesign CS5 -- Pen tool disappeared

The pen tool is missing out of my toolbox in InDesign CS5, Windows platform. Any idea how I can get it back? I recreated the preferences when I started the program this morning, but that did not help.

MarianSue wrote:
Here it is...finally. Looks like there's a blank space where the pen tool should be.
It certainly does. I've never seen that happen before, so I guess you should fell special.
Does changing to a different workspace help?
If not, I think maybe you should reinstall.

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.

CS4: rubber-band option missing using pen tool

I'm missing the rubber band option using the pen tool. I often used that feature in earlier versions. But CS4 Extended seems to not have it anymore. Help tells me it should be in the options palette once you activate the pen tool. I don't have it, though. How can I access that option? Thanx.

... and the same place as CS1. I found it. I was looking for a checkbox and didn't try to click on the small triangle next to the pen-tools. Thanks!

Pen Tool Path Prediction Missing (Show Edges doesn't fix it)

Hi all,
I just encountered a problem with Illustrator's pen tool that I don't know how to fix. As I am drawing a path, the path prediction is missing. Normally the path connects from your last point to your cursor and you can calculate where you want to place your next point.
Show edges does not solve the problem. Show edges is currently activated and the path prediction isn't visible.
Does anyone know how to fix this? A Google search didn't do me any good.
Thanks,
J

Monika Gause, Thanks for the suggestion. I am however on CC and do not see an option for rubberband. Any other ideas? This problem slows my work flow down drastically and is incredibly frustrating.

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/

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.

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

Is there a hotkey to break the handles of points while you're using the pen tool?

When you use the pen tool, it smooths the points as you add them, but sometimes I don't want that, So far, the only way I've been able to combat this is by using the pen tool, pressing V to switch to the selection tool, clicking elsewhere to deselect the path, then pressing P to use the pen tool again, and then selecting the end point again.
This process is becoming very annoying over the course of long projects, and I'm hoping that someone will be able to solve it for my.
(I specifically want the hotkey for Mac, but it would be good if you could give the PC hotkey too for other people looking at this.)

Use the Alt-key to switch to the anchor-point-conversion tool temporarily. Use the command key to switch to the last used selection tool temporarily

11 Nice Features with New Awesome & easy Magnetic Pen Tool (Updated)

1.      Scale effects during the scaling object, in the control bar there is more space (Empty) that will be the helpful to show you the example of the picture that I have made myself, when you transform any object, you will see these options in the control bar.
2.      Save preset of filters in filter gallery:- will be really powerful, it must be exchangeable so that we could send that preset to any one, it must be applicable on percentage(%) of document size, (depends on document resolution).
3.     Filter gallery must be the (live filter gallery), if this works on any raster object without converting to smart object, this will be helpful for creating live PSD.
4.     History panel:- history panel must save the history of document. It will be helpful and powerful, we could apply that history to any document like actions, and history should not be saved with document itself, it must be separate like actions, create 2 arrows in the bottom of panel like layer combs’ panel, to check the history, if any step is wrong we could be able to remove that step,
                              OR
5. Also create/convert history into action, see the pic as example,
If (to Adobe Photoshop Team) history saving is not a good idea! Then before closing the document you must convert history into actions, when any person saves document and has forgotten converting history into actions and wants to close the document, at that time that dialogue must be opened, (Do you want to convert your history into actions, when you open (that) document again you will miss history, and also must create a CHECK BOX for don’t show again.
6.     Layers Group:- In the group (folder) we move the objects with move tool and it moves all grouped objects that’s much better, but when we open the group (Folder), after opening it moves also all grouped object !!!, that’s not perfect, I suggest you how to do it, double click on grouped any object to open the group then move any object, and double click on any grouped object to close the group (folder). ( like Illustrator )
7.      Photoshop Extended can create powerful creative animation with audio and animation panel support completely the smart object and smart object makes animation really smart. But the problem is that it takes too much time to generate animation of few seconds and generated video file size is very large up to 1.GB.
        Here is solution, like new document dialogue box under the Device Central button it shows the document size, as hint, same way in the render video dialogue box it must show the file size and generating time and reducing file size hints.
        I had created (20 months ago) in Photoshop extend CS3 really awesome animation of earth, from where it starts it ends there, and shadows on earth are really awesome, map that moves to the shadow side, it changes from day to night and in the shadows you can see the roads’ and cities’ lights’ just like real night map photo it happens like naturally cause of smart object, I have two photos of the map day and night used for animation, you can see that creative animation on youtube.
(Link)= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd86xGIkQxM
watch this animation in full screen Mode, b/c Youtube has reduced the Quality of Video.
8.   Welcome Screen:- Why welcome Screen is necessary?
                Adobe’s all products must be linked with Design sequence. (Interface)
Design Standard Suite which itself is a famous printing and publishing suite for design ( creation) layout, must keep same sequence of all products and should not affect the attraction,
                Example for Interface, now if CS6 all programs are created with new interface will you don’t change the Photoshop's interface???
Here are my Design Sequences Examples
These Pictures I have Designed in Illustrator
Photoshop with Welcome Screen Looking like Illustrator & Indesign now it matching with its Family.
Benifits of Welcome Screen for ( New ) user
A.    Many people don't know that Photoshop has free few samples with it these are nice example to understand that what photoshop can do!
B.    Photoshop Exchange : is really Necessary : for to exchange Workspace, color profile, Actions, Key Board Shortcuts, Layer Styles,    Swatches, Filter Gallery Presets & PSDs etc.
C.    This will be helpful for New Users TV.Adobe.com they will watch free teqchniques, as see this welcome screen.
D.     Any older user don't want to see the welcome screen that person can turn on that check box (Don't Show Again).
9. Pen Tool + Magnetic Pen Tool =
In my idea pen tool is the perfect tool for vector drawing it gives us perfect result as we want. but about those people like (Toys-R-Us (One Really Big Pen Tool Shortcoming) or other like him, if they can't understand, although pen tool is very easy to use, & he wants short key without going back for to breatck the handle, (for those people) if you want to create short key then short key should be "c or any easy" press to breat the handle, then press again to get back handle again during the using pen tool, or create a magnetic pen tool it must work like magnetic lasso tool works for selection, it will be the best & easy to use & to understand, during to use this tool if it goes to wrong way simply press back space key to go back to last step same like Magnetic Lasso.
(Awesome Magnetic Pen Tool)
or create pen tool like fireworks its pen tool shows next click's preview (very nice pen tool is in fireworks to understand ( really Awesome )
10. keyboard shortcuts like Illustrator for Blend Modes Next , Previous & Opacity 10 to 90, I had started to learn Illustrator CS3 & since CS3 I use these shortcuts for that, (~)tildi for next blend mode, Shift (~) tildi for previous mode, & opacity 10=1 key 20=2 to 90=9 key
11.PANEL ICONS Should be Attached under or above the tool Bar but not on Right or Left Side only ( like Indeign CS2 ).
Note :-
I shall appreciate your frank comments on the above suggestions.
Message was edited by: Muhammad Amjad Khan Abro
Message was edited by: Muhammad Amjad Khan Abro

OK Here goes my wannahaves...
1) create new table or sheet from a file instead of having to open the file and copy/paste into current document. ie "Insert Sheet from file", "Insert Table from File"
2) show linked data from a data source other than the address book - eg an ODBC data source or Filemaker database
3) Ability to paste a filtered table into a new table with just the found rows.
4) Ability to freeze rows and columns to allow for very wide or deep tables
5) When typing data into a cell, automatically adjust its width as you type. Depending on your enter key config, hitting enter puts a new line in the cell and adjusts the row height to fit.
6) Printer page formats default to regional standard: eg in Australia, UK - A4
7) Popup list or menu contents based on a data range: eg a list of categories
8) Media to be selected from anywhere on the system, not just in iTunes/iPhoto (eg most of my video is on an external hard drive)
9) "Autofilter" based on contents of the column.
10) Vlookup and other reference functions: need to be able to select a table (by name) as your range, a column/row (by name) to look up from and a column/row (by name) to retrieve. All functions should work this way, not just the basic ones.
11) When inserting a table you should be asked how many rows and columns.
12 "Format painter" - copy styles and other formatting from cell to cell and table to table.
13) Outlining based upon repeated cell values

Problem creating vector mask with Pen Tool

Using Photoshop CS5, Mac OS 10.6.8
I'm trying to create a simple vector mask using the pen tool to create a curved line at the top and bottom of a photo. Here's what I'm doing:
1. Create a new layer and select it.
2. Select Pen tool.
3. Choose "work path" by selecting button at top menu.
4. I draw my shape with the pen tool.
5. Now comes the problem... I can not select this shape, or assign it a color. When I create a clipping mask, it does not recognize my path. When I throw away the layer, the shape is still there in outline only. What am I missing here? I'm familiar with doing this in Illustrator, but I don't understand how it works in PSD.
I need some help, please.
Thanks.

The main thing i use paths for in photoshop is extracting objects from photos.
Other uses include stroking paths with the paint tools. For example, if you had
a powerline to remove, one could trace the line with the pen tool and then stroke
the path with spot healing brush set to content aware fill.
more info on photoshop paths:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-73ada.h tml
MTSTUNER

Pen tool, handles missing?

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