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.

Similar Messages

Why does the pen tool remove previous line when I add new anchor points??

Why does the pen tool remove previous lines??
Video here: http://youtu.be/8AmPUkD88h0
It removes the hairline on the face, when I add more anchor points. Why? And how do I correct it?

The ins and outs of the new and changed behaviors in the re-engineered pen tool have been disussed here on this forum and I'm sure a little detour to the help files will also shed some light on this...
Mylenium

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 Problems

When using the pen tool, the handles and anchor points vanish and cannot be altered. HOw can I change this back to being visable? I don't even know what I did! This is in adobe Illustrator CS6.

I don't think that is what she is experiencing, if you read it carefully the achor point handles are not visible. I don't think she is refering to the path disapearing, which would be the case if she pressed the combination of keys Ctrl+H that hides the path.
I'm having pen tool issues (that's why I found this thread) because IA is acting buggy lately, meaning that when creating a path I usually kept the pen tool active and just press the Ctrl key & hold while making adjustment to the handles. But lately the handles disapear, or can't make them reapear, I reselect the path all the achors are selected as if I'm in the V tool and in order to bring back the handles I have to reselect the path with the A tool. I hope Adobe plans to fix this issue...

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.

Pen tool/path and content aware spot healing brush to remove cables (CS5)

Tried to remove some cables from an image using Russel Brown's video making use of the pen tool/path and the spot healing brush with content aware. I'm pretty sure I followed his tutorial exactly but it did not work satisfactorily. Are there any other tweaks I should be using to remove these cables and replace them with the background details?

Yes to all.
Silkrooster - Looks great! However, I believe spot healing brush was the first I tried and got smudgy results, especially in area of the locks where there is a lot of detail behind the cables. Found the patch tool works best, but not where there is a lot of detail behind the cables.
Fosse - Well, the bow of the ship going through the Panama Canal at 6 AM in the morning is a popular place, very crowded, and not one of them a photographer. I was lucky enough to get the last spot which was dead center, but in front of the cables. I tried to prevail on some people next to me to trade spots, but none were willing ($##$!!!&& b---ds) and they didn't even have cameras. However, will keep your suggestion in mind about taking two shots for the next time...and will have to get up earlier.
I think if I want to really make this work, I will have to do a lot of work, probably using a combination of all these methods.
Thanks to you all.
By the way, Re my question on screens without a reply button...when I click on a response, it appears without any reply button. How do I get a screen showing the reply button without entering a new question, cancelling out of it, and then clicking on a response, which is the only way I found to get a screen showing the reply button.

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 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.

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 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

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

Pen tool and masking in cs6.

In previous versions I could create a custom (vector) mask using the pen tool in 2 easy steps.
Draw a shape then drag that shape to the image i wanted the mask on. Done.
This "feature" has been removed from CS6 and its extremely annoying. Or has it just become a lot more complicated to achieve this?
I know i can create a clipping mask using the shape layer but that requires another visible layer in the layers panel. Having "roto'd" 50 elements in previous versions in the same workspace gave me 50 layers (cleaning up the solid black shapelayers after). In CS6 it gives me 100 layers.
I know i can select the shape as a selection and then apply a mask but that would make the mask a solid. I want to be able to move my tangents around etc. 100% non-destructively.
I work 100% non destructive and yes, my psd's become very large but thats no biggie, my computer can handle it. I don't want to rasterize.
If you have CS5.5 or earlier versions, create a shape and drag that shape to the layer you want to mask, remove the fill layer and you'll see what i mean. Thats what i want to be able to do in CS6.
Is this 100% gone from CS6?

Kenneth Mcitalo wrote:
"If you have CS5.5 or earlier versions, create a shape and drag that shape to the layer you want to mask, remove the fill layer and you'll see what i mean. Thats what i want to be able to do in CS6.
Is this 100% gone from CS6?"
You are being affected by an almighty f**kup by the Photoshop CS6 User Interface designers.
With CS6, Adobe try to pretend that Shape Layers are a wonderful new type of layer. The reality is that they are the old type Fill Layer with Vector Mask and the addition of a stroke attribute. There are numerous workflow disruptions caused by the "new Shape Layer" pretense.
Here's how to get the functionality to which you are accustomed...
The VM of a Shape Layer is only displayed in the Layers panel when the VM is disabled. To disable it, shift-click its "Shape Path" thumbnail in Properties panel. (You can record an Action of shift-clicking that thumbnail to create your own Disable Vector Mask command which can be run when the Properties panel is closed.) The revealed VM can now be dragged to another layer in the Layers panel.
By the way, you can draw a path and directly create a Vector Mask for a regular pixel layer without making a Shape first. Draw the path with the Pen Tool or with a shape tool set to "Path" mode in its options bar, then Cmd/Ctrl-click the Add Mask button at bottom of Layers Panel when the pixel layer is targeted.

Pen Tool Questions

Hey gurus, I am trying to digitalize a friend's sketch and am running into a few issues.
1) Every time I start drawing a new path with the pen tool, the fill is black and there is no stroke. This is a problem because it starts to cover up the path I'm trying to trace, so I have to select the unfinished path with the selection tool and then remove the fill and add a stroke and then find my place on the path once again. I'm sure there's a way to change the default, but I have not seen it.
2) Some of my connection points are a little jaggy... If i'm getting some jagged edges, does that mean I'm using too many points? Or is it just a matter of endless tinkering with the handles to get it perfectly rounded/smooth?
Thanks!

One thing I would recommend is to change your default Graphic Style. It might make your work go a little faster if outline mode isn't working for you.
1) Select the object with the fill/stroke combination you want to make the default. In my case, I have a shape with a pink fill and no stroke.
2) Open the Graphic Styles panel by clicking the icon highighted below, or by going to Window > Graphic Styles.
3) Click on the New Graphic Style button in the Graphic Styles panel. You will see a new swatch appear.
4) Hold the option key, then click and drag the swatch you just made over the current default swatch, as shown.
Now, if I have an object that isn't filled with pink, I can simply select it and hit the D key.
I hope this helps!

Small imperfections in curves drawn with pen tool.

I have noticed that when drawing with the pen tool that whereever two paths segments connect in a curve, there sometimes is a small bump. I am wondering how to avoid this problem when initially drawing and/or how to fix them afterwards. Currently my solution is to add either a single anchor point or one on both sides of the offending point then removing the problem anchor point. This seems to work in most cases.

In the screenshot, that should be a smoothPoint, not a cornerPoint. In Illustrator, only smoothPoints ensure tangency between the two associated segments. You have buttons in the Control Panel by which to convert a cornerPoint to smooth (and vice-versa). Doing so auto-extends the handles if they are retracted.
If that already is a curvePoint, then you need to lengthen its handles. If you have other anchors too close to it, that will be problematic. If the visible portion of the black path with the circled anchor were the entire shape, that shape should be drawn with no more than 5 anchors.
Be aware is sometimes possible that the antialiasing of the screen preview pixels can cause the the preview to look like there are subtle kinks at the horizontal/vertical extrema of curves, but since you say you have an anchor there, the anchor is probably the cause.
When showing screenshots about path shape, it's usually better to select the path so others can actually see the anchors and handles needed to advise.
JET

Pen Tool: Removing handles

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