Pen tool modifier for asymmetric smooth node?

I use both Illustrator and Corel Draw at work. While I use Illustrator most often, the rest of the art department uses Corel, and I've come to notice a few handy features. One is that, when using the bézier tool, you can hold down a modifier key to draw a smooth but asymmetrical node much as you can hold down Alt or Option in Illustrator to draw a corner node. Is there a similar function in Illustrator that I'm overlooking? It's awfully convenient to not have to stop drawing and switch to direct select tool to get an asymmetric node.

It would seem pretty simple - just use Opt/Alt + Ctrl for instance.
(In Corel, C modifies for a corner point, S for smooth asyemmetrical).
I'm not trying to start a debate on the relative merits of each program, but it is a handy feature. Taking the 1-2 seconds to switch to direct select or convert anchor to modify each anchor I need to be asymmetrical really adds up on a drawing with several thousand anchors — to the point that I've found myself using Corel, which I don't normally prefer except for prepress work, for some drawings at this job I've recently started.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YuBcgJv6OM
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Hmm... But i don't think he has trouble adding anchor points, he has trouble with the handles of those anchor points he's already added, because he said that in order to pull handles out of that anchor point, he had to switch to the Convert Anchor Point Tool, and the guy in the tutorial simply adds the anchor point and the handles are already there.

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Hello, all.
I believe I remember using this tool or function in the past but can't seem to find it now.
In the past I have traced the outline of an image using the pen tool by placing as many points along the countour or outline as possible. Once I closed the path the appearance was not perfectly smooth. I remember using a tool after that to smooth the path that would eliminate any uneven or jagged edges and make the curves really smooth.
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Hi, DrStrik9.
Perhaps I didn't explain it well enough.
I have tried using bezier curvers and the method you describe but found the process a little tedious and time-consuming.
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Hello,
I have been using Illustrator for a while, but still have a lot of the nuances to work out.
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I am attaching a screen shot to demonstrate.
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I know you say it is fine and it is fixed but just in case you look in on ths thread again I want to perhaps point out a little problem you might have reproducing this art in probably any form.
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How do I turn off the alt scroll zoom?
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Hi all.
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Thanks for reading.
L.
Either: iBook G4, eMac, G4 Tower, Mac-Mini, 20" Intel iMac Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Hi John,
Thanks. I figured it out so there’s no need.
Aloha,
Rick Doyle
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Added tips from Tip Merchant ($200 consulation fee)
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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.

FW CS4 crashes when using the pen tool for many points

Good morning,
Every time I try to create a mask with the pen tool that
requires a good
amount of points, FW crashes. I've had this happen with CS3
as well, but
with CS4 , it crashes with many less points than CS3 - has
any one
experienced this, and more to the point, any solutions?
Aloha,
Jerry
http://MauiWebDesigns.com

"FatCat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:gkga3u$gtc$[email protected]..
> Hi Al,
>
>> I find I use CS3 for all tasks except for the few
that require the new
>> features in CS4. Both DW and Fireworks CS4 are giant
grey hawgs :-)
>
> I knew I should have stuck with CS3!
>
> My Bridge quit working, and I figured that was Nature's
way of telling me
> to upgrade. I spent all of a weekend trying to download
the software
> (akamai means smart - what a misnomer!), then when it
finally downloaded
> the installation was corrupt - did that three times -
took all night to
> download, with a lot of stalls and freezes.
>
> Then on Monday I call customer service and they tell me
that that download
> is too large - why offer it, then?
>
> Anyway, I bought the DVD, got it a few days later,
installed it and Bridge
> still didn't work! Turns out that my anti-virus somehow
kept it from
> working! I don't know why, since it was working
previously. Anyway, now I
> have CS4, but it doesn't work as well as CS3, as you'd
warned me - shoulda
> listened to Uncle Al! ;o) It only cost me $600 plus the
lost weekend and
> the hassles of using a glitchy program - live and learn!
>
> However, I'm an eternal optimist - haven't lost hope
that this will get
> fixed.
I'm optimistic too. I think it will start to sort itself out
when Intel's
new 24-Core 128-bit processors hit the market in conjunction
with Windows 8
and OS X Cervelat.
Al

Brush definition/color swatches have disappeared for pen tool

I'm using illustrator CC on a late 2012 Mac, OSX 10.9.5
I just opened up my pen tool to draw some lines. Among my color options for both the stroke and the fill are.... nothing. That's ok, because I can still hold shift and click to being up the alternative color user interface. But I wonder if this is connected to my more serious problem: When I click on the brush definition dropdown, my choice is... Basic. And nothing else. I can open the brush libarary, and select a bunch of artisitic and bristle brushes, BUT I JUST WANT 3 pt. ROUND! And I can't find it, the dropdown menu has gone blank, where befiore it contained basic, 1 pt, 3pt, 10pt round, etc.
Where did they all go? I'm pretty sure I haven't changed any settings. I just want to be able to draw a line with the pen tool that has rounded ends. This is entirely mysterious to me.
(PS, while I'm complaining, Adobe, seriously, why can't I just pick a variable width profile and a brush definition for a pen stroke rather than having to make the stroke and go back and edit it? Endlessly frustrating. As powerful as this program is, this seems like a really simple thing you guys should include)
Please help!

Bottom left of the Swatches panel or from the panel flyout (small triangle, upper right) Open Swatch Library gives a whole list. You can use System or even better just copy the image and use File>New and choose an appropriate New Document Profile for the new file and then paste in the image.

Pen tool modifier for asymmetric smooth node?

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