Pen and direct selection usage

Path objects create very versatile shapes because they are defined by points and tangents, which you can modify when you draw the path or after you complete the path. You can also join paths and add or remove points.

Using the pen tool

The following table describes how to modify a path when you are creating the path with the Pen tool. You can also use the Pen tool to add or remove points on a path, or join two paths.

Pointer		What it does	How to activate
	Pen pointer	Adjust last tangent without the smooth constraint, allowing you to make a sharp corner	Click + hold ALT
	Pen pointer	Aligns the new point horizontally, vertically, or diagonally based on the closest plane of the clicked point	Click + hold SHIFT+ALT
	Pen insert pointer	Adds a new point at location of click	Click
	Pen adjust pointer	Click the selected endpoint to reduce the last tangent to zero length	Hover over an endpoint and click
	Pen adjust pointer	Use when you modify a tangent	Click and drag
	Pen delete pointer	Removes a point at the location where a point is clicked	Hover over an existing point and then click
	Pen close pointer	Click the nonactive start or endpoint to close a path with a sharp corner	With a start point or endpoint active, hover over the nonactive start point or endpoint and then click
	Pen close pointer	Close a path with a smooth point	Click and drag
	Pen extend pointer	Indicates that the pointer is over an endpoint or start point and can be extended at the next click	Hover over a start point or endpoint
	Pen join pointer	Creates a sharp corner on click when two paths are joined	Select two paths, click the Pen tool, hover over an open point of one of the paths and when the Pen extend pointer appears, click the point. Hover over an open point on the other path to see the Pen join pointer, and then click the point to join the two paths sharply.
	Pen join pointer	Creates a smooth corner on click and drag when two paths are joined	Select two paths, click the Pen tool, hover over an open point of one of the paths and when the Pen extend pointer appears, click the point. Hover over an open point on the other path to see the Pen join pointer, click the point, and then drag before letting go of the mouse click to join the two paths smoothly.
	Pen start pointer	Create a new path	Click
	Pen start pointer	Creates a tangent to start a curve	Click and drag
	Pen tangent pointer	Indicates that a tangent is being dragged	With the Pen extend pointer showing, press and hold the mouse down on an open point

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Using the Direct Selection tool

The following table describes how to use the Direct Selection  tool to modify the shape of an existing path object.

Pointer		What it does	How to activate
	Move point pointer	Makes tangent handles appear for a point on a path	Click a point on a path
	Move point pointer	Moves a point on a path	Click and drag a point on a path
	Move segment pointer	Makes tangent handles appear for a segment between two points on a path	Click a segment of a path
	Move segment pointer	Moves a segment between two points on a path	Click and drag a segment of a path
	Move tangent pointer	Changes the angle of a tangent for a point on a path	Click a point or a segment of a path to make the tangent handles appear, and then click and drag one of the tangent endpoints
	Convert pointer	Moves you into tangent-editing mode	Press ALT
	Convert point pointer	Makes a point into a sharp corner or reduces the tangent to zero	Press ALT when you hover over a point and then click
	Convert point pointer	Makes any sharp corner smooth (if already smooth, changes the angle of the curve as it passes through the clicked point)	Press ALT when you hover over a point and then click and drag
	Convert segment pointer	Changes a curve segment into a straight line	Press ALT when you hover over a segment in a path and then click
	Convert segment pointer	Takes a segment and bends it into a curve to pass through the mouse position	Press ALT when you hover over a segment in a path and then click and drag
	Convert tangent pointer	Adjust the selected tangent independently of the other side	Direct select a point or a segment, press ALT, hover over a tangent point in a path, and then click and drag

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