Prevent pivot of anchor points while editing a path

In previous version of Photoshop (before CC), it was the normal behavior of the pen tool that when you drew out a few curved anchor points and would access the edit tool (with the command/control) key to adjust the curve between two points,
the curve would simply increase or decrease its arch, and the control handles would stay at the angle they were drawn. This had great advantage for me to edit on the fly.
Now, however, as everyone knows, the anchor points will pivot, changing their angle when you grab the curve segment and pull on it. This is horrible! And it affects the whole shape! How are you supposed to keep the angles the way you drew them?
Is there some modifier key to hold down to keep the points at the same angle?

I do not know when Adobe changed that behavior so I'll check my installs. On my workstation I have perpetual repackage CS2 version CS2 9.0 installed and Subscription version CS6 13.1.2, CC 14.2.1 and CC 2014.2.2.
CS2 has the old behavior you describe where the 3 subscription versions CS6 CC and CC 2014 have the new behavior.
On my old desktop I have perpetual CS5 12.0.4 and CS6 13.0.1.3. CS5 has the old behavior where perpetual CS6 has the new behavior so the change was made in CS6.
I do not know if either behavior is better then the other for using the ctrl/CMD key on the handle in either behavior lets you change the angle of the handle. You can make the same adjustment in either case. I would not call either Horrible.

Similar Messages

In illustrator, is there a way to reduce anchors points in a segment path without altering the path?

In illustrator, is there a way to reduce anchors points in a segment path without altering the path?
Is there a better and more efficient way to reduce anchors points than using the pen-minus tool?
Thanks.

That's what the Simplify command is for. It tries to reduce the number of segments while you judge the results and adjust the parameters accordingly.
Of course, if any given curve were possible with just two anchors, then all paths could have just two anchors. So obviously, fewer segments is not always possible.
As with many other things, though, you need to realize this: Automatic functions have no human discernment whatsoever. That's just as true in the matter of optimizing paths as it is in auto-tracing. The program routine which tries to figure out which anchors can go and which anchors must stay has absolutely no idea of what the path is actually a drawing of. Only you know that. So the bottom line remains the same: Optimizing paths correctly should be done with deliberate discernment, not just left up to dumb automated routines.
Illustrators draw paths deliberately--one anchor at a time--for good reason.
JET

Can't manipulate single anchor point - only move entire path

Neither using the direct selection tool nor holding command (I'm on OS X) while using the pen tool will allow me to move individual achor points, I am only able to move the entire path.
I can add and delete anchor points, but I am only able to control the handles on newly formed anchors, holding the space bar does not allow me to move new points either.
Is there a setting somehwere that I'm missing that will allow direct selection to work properly?
Thanks

Problem Solved.
Turned on Smart Guides (cmd-U) and that seems to have taken care of it.

Aligning anchor points from 2 overlapping paths

I'm new to Illustrator so forgive my question.
I have 2 overlapping paths that I would like to line up perfectly. I've tweaked the points and their direction lines, but can't get the curves to match exactly. How can I get them aligned? Thanks.

Cynthia,
Are you saying you have two
partially overlapping paths, and want to remove the overlapping portion, so that the two paths abut along a common edge? If so...
First, realize that for print, that is not usually necessary. If one filled path partially hides another, when you print, what you see is what you get, so long as there is no overprinting or transparency involved.
If there is some reason you
do need the edges to abut with no overlap (as in plotter / cutter work in which the paths will be used to manufacture objects) there are several ways to accomplish that. Familiarize yourself with the controls in the Pathfinder palette. You can use the top path to "cookie cut" the lower path by selecting both paths and then AltClicking the SubtractFromShapeArea button. That removes the top path (the one being used as the cookie cutter). So often, you first copy the top path and then PasteInFront to give you a copy of the top path to use it for the cookie cutter.
Alternatively, if the two paths are filled with different colors, but have no strokes, you can select the two paths and click the Merge button.
Pathfinder operations like that are fairly reliable in the shapes they yield. If you need dead-certain accuracy that the "shared" edges are identical, it is not uncommon to cut the two paths to isolate the "shared" edge as a single, separate path. Then clone that path in place (Copy, PasteInFront), then join the rest of the other two paths to the two identical paths.
JET

Moving anchor point using spacebar while drawing with pen?

If you're an Illustrator user, you may be familiar with the ability to move the active anchor point of the line, by holding "Spacebar" and dragging during the drawing process. This is a useful timesaver for creating complex paths. While Photoshop CS6 has introduced some useful new path-editing features, this is one that is still missing. I cant' figure out why Adobe does not make the pen tool identical between the two programs. This is an old feature in Illustrator. Don't the Adobe programmers talk to each other.
I'm just hoping/wishing someone could tell me the feature can be accessed in some other way, withing Photoshop.

Thanks, conroy. Yes, I'm familiar with that feature, but it requires clicking on the anchor point and dragging. The feature missing in PSD is the ability to move an associated anchor point while "holding" an associated direction point. This feature is activated, in AI, by holding down the Spacebar. It's a real timesaver and I miss it in PSD.

Can I Move the Anchor Point for Adjustment Brush in ACR CS5

It's never been a problem before, but the anchor point for the Adjustment Brush in ACR is sitting exactly where I need to see what is happening. I can delete and start again, but if there is way to move or hide the anchor point while stil being able to adjust the setting, it would be handy to know for next time it happens.

R_Kelly wrote:
You can press the V key to toggle the pins on/off.
Exacty what I was after. Thanks.

Anchor points: Photoshop to After Effects

Hello!
I have imported some shape layers from photoshop into after effects. I would like to make them swing in three dimensional space, so I am trying to change the anchor point to the top of shape so that it will swing from that point. I cannot see the anchor point as you would with text, and it seems to be rotating around some random place further down. Perhaps this photoshop layer is rotating around the centre of the photoshop composition?
What would be the fastest way to rectify this situation. There are 24 shapes but I will remake these shapes in AE if that is going to be the fastest way to make it happen.
Thank you!

Hi Trill:
Use the Pan Behind (Anchor Point) Tool (‘y” is the keyboard shortcut) to click and drag the Anchor Point to where you need it to be for your animation.
This behaves very much like moving the Anchor Point while using Free Transform in Photoshop. Also, it will retain the registration (or placement) of your layers relative to how they were stacked and aligned in Photoshop by changing both the layer Anchor Point coordinates and Position coordinates at the same time.
Assuming that you’re importing your layered Photoshop document as a Composition, the Anchor Point for each layer defaults to one of two locations:
The center of the respective layer if imported as “Composition – Retain Layer Size”
The center of the Photoshop document Canvas Size if imported as “Composition”
From what you’ve described, it sounds like you’re choosing as “Composition”. Although, you’ll need to use the Pan Behind (Anchor Point) Tool layer by layer regardless to achieve what you’ve going for.
There’s a behavior in AE that you could take advantage of to speed this up if you have pre-positioned your Photoshop layers such that the offset for the Anchor Point value change and the Position value change are the same for each layer. If that’s the case, you could select all the layers in After Effects and when you change the values for one layer After Effects will change the like values for all the currently selected layers as well. Since it looks like each of your layers currently has the PS Canvas Size, this might work right now.
- Warren

Anchor Points and Intersect Guide Lines Disappeared

Hi! I must have hit some type of command on my keyboard but now my anchor points and intersect guides have disappeared that would normally appear when I roll my mouse over the anchor point or the intersecting paths. I have hit Ctrl + H as well as went to the menu manually and my edges are showing. How do I turn back on this ability to see my anchor points and intersecting lines guide in Illustrator?
Thanks in advance!!
Edit: I run on Adobe Illustrator CS5

Is View > Smart Guides turned on? If not, enable it.
If Smart Guides are already turned on, check if Align to Grid is enabled in the View menu and turn it off.

Anchor point manipulation

I just started of with flash, and while checking the drawing abilities I ran into a snag.
I draw out a certain image with as few anchor points as possible using curves, after it's done I keep running into lots of extra anchor points the program keeps adding between the ones I defined. This makes manipulating the image later a lot more difficult than necessary. Is there an option to set a limit for this or turn it off all together? There must be, but I can't seem to find it. Even if later on for animating it becomes necessary to add more points I'd still like to be able to decide how many, and where should those points be.
I tried searching for this but couldn't find any useful answers.
Another thing I'd like to ask though I probably know the answer already. Is there a way to use transformations on a selected set of anchor points while maintaining connection to the rest? It can be done in illustrator, but not here as far as I can tell.
Thanks in advance.

Try moving the 'top' anchor down a little bit. I have run into a few issues when the anchor was to close to the top of the canvas for example JS not smooth scrolling, it would just jump to the top or it would not do a thing like what you are experiencing.

How to distribute equal spacing with anchor points?

I am working in Lesson 5 of Adobe Illustrator CS5 Classroom in a Book, and am having a problem selecting the 2 anchor points to distribute equal space based on the bottom center anchor point of the violin. The note said to reference chapter 2, which I have already been through, but even after reading the Illustrator Help dialog on pg 75, I am still at a loss. Can anyone explain how to distribute this equal spacing of 2 anchors relative to one anchor point?

csnpreggers,
If anyone has any further advice or comment, I'd still love to hear from all parties.
Especially when working with a finished symmetrical shape, such as a violin, which may have been created using mirroring, in other words elaborating on a shape, possibly with something unforeseen in the first round, and especially when it is inconvenient to cut paths to work with one half, you may use the instructions in small print using invisible ink at the bottom of item 3 in lesson 5:
2 tips, using the Line Tool and Smart Guides:
To make sure the left Anchor Point has the same same distance from the bottom Anchor Point, first ShiftDrag horizontally with the Line Segment Tool from the right Anchor Point to cross the path, then select the violin path and click it with the Add Anchor Point Tool where Smart Guides say intersect.
Or to place both Anchor Points at the same time instead, first create a sufficiently long horizontal path with the Line Segment Tool below the violin path, then ShiftDrag it upwards to cross the violin path at the desired distances, then select the violin path and click it with the Add Anchor Point Tool where Smart Guides say intersect, both right and left.

How to delete a path between two anchor points

hi ,
it's all in the title ,
could you tell me please how to delete a path between two anchor points without using the path eraser tool ?
When I select these two anchor points and press delete everything is gone.
ps : I want to keep the anchor points after the deletion
Thank you

Silkrooster wrote:
With some experimentation, I did find that selecting the path can leave orphan points. So keep that in mind as it may be necessary to use Object>Path>Clean up...
You will not get orphan points if you delete a segment that is not at the end of a path. For segment that is at the end of a path, or is the entire path, select the end point/s and press delete. For the one segment that is entire path you can use the selection tool (black pointer) or hold Alt with the direct selection tool (white pointer) which is useful for objects in a group.

Moving Anchor points

I move the anchor points of a shape/path by using arrow keys on my keyboard. Points move 1 pixels , sometimes less than 1 and sometimes more than 1 pixels. It doesnt matter i zoomed in or out, it does the same. Somehow it is triggered by something but i cant figure it out. Does anyone know to set the movement amout to 1 pixel for all the times.
I Use Flash CS4.
PS: I dont press shift/ctrl/alt or anyother modifier keys. Only Arrows
Thanks in advance.

For the marching ants, it sounds like you are using the quick selection tool. You want the regular selection brush, which only works exactly under the brush and doesn't do any thinking on its own.
The options bar settings for the Magnetic Lasso control it:
Width: how far away to look for edges
Edge Contrast: How much difference to look for between the edge and the background: A higher number = sharper contrast, lower number= softer contrast
Frequency: How often to put down those anchor points

Why i am unable to select between 2 anchor points with in a object while dragging with direct select

why i am unable to select between 2 anchor points with in a object while dragging with direct selection tool instead it moves

Another option is to temporarily change your view to outline mode, when your done switch back to preview mode. Ctrl-Y or View>Outline {View>Preview} The menu option will change depending on which mode you are in.
And another option, double click on the object in question to place it in Isolation mode. You can now edit to your hearts content. When done, click on the gray border at top of document.
So as you can see there are multiple ways of accomplishing the same thing.

Can't see the anchor point or bezier handles when editing an effect

Please help! This may be an easy fix, but when editing an effect I can no longer see the anchor point, keyframes, or bezier handles on the timeline image. Specifically, I am keyframing the Brush Position in the Write-on effect, and while I can move the brush position, there is no visual cross-hair on the image nor bezier handles to adjust the curve... every adjustment is therefore a guess as to where the adjustment handle is.
Is there a button that toggles anchor point and keyframe path display? Obviously, not being able to see what you're working on is very frustrating. I tried to click the icon to the left of the Write-on effect bar (4-point square with the selection tool in the upper right), but nothing happens. The write-on effect bar is selected and the Brush Position is in keyframe mode.
Thank you in advance for your help.

I worked with this the other day. Bezier handles and the hot spots are tough to see and the write-on effect is a bit wierd for me. You may have more success placing keyframes at beginning and end of a clip as I had trouble keyframing only part of a clip and still controlling the writing effect. You can then slide the keyframes later to change the duration.
Also, you may want to disable all the other effects while editing this one, as the others keep getting selected instead for me and I end up e.g. moving the image instead of the brush.

Shapes disappear when editing anchor points (CS5)

Hello,
Some of my shapes simply disappear on mouse button release after moving anchor points or adjusting the bezier angle. The edit history does not mention any deletion; the event is registered as "move point" so I can "edit->undo move point" to have my shapes reappear.
This looks like a bug to me, but I'm quite new to Flash - I may have missed something.

Here is what they are referring to if this does not happen on everyone's then it is a common enough issue to figure out a solution but as far as I know it has always been this way, if anyone is seeing it differently we should know how they work around it so we can all benefit.
I agree if you want to draw a shape over other objects say as a clipping mask then you should not have to have a stroke which can be one distracting and two you prevent you from seeing an important small detail that might be important.
It might also be useful to be able to make this guide vary in width to mimic a stroke to see how it will effect the underlying art. I know why not just use the stroke and give it a color and transparency which is not the point the idea that you are creating art and you want to investigate you possibilities before driving yourself crazy selecting stroke colors and widths is the issue. It is more for the visual process and not finalized art and we are use to using the layer color to let use know what layer it is on so a color will only interfere.
It would be good to change this behavior and get everyone's input here of how they would like to see this drawing capability improved IMO.
I think it is a good issue to bring to the surface once again.
Path without stroke

Prevent pivot of anchor points while editing a path

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