Direct Selection tool modifier keys
The following table lists shortcuts that you can use to modify the shape of an existing path with the Direct Selection tool .png "Ee341418.6dd6571f-c116-451d-8dd2-1f88b8406362(en-us,Expression.30).png")
. To add or remove points on an existing path, or to join two existing paths, use the Pen tool.
To do this action |
Do this |
Pointer |
|---|---|---|
Make tangent handles appear for a point on a path |
Click a point on a path |
.png "Ee341418.cfcc5f41-a666-4524-a958-50b9051130ca(en-us,Expression.30).png")
Move point pointer |
Move a point on a path |
Drag a point on a path |
Move point pointer |
Make tangent handles appear for a segment between two points on a path |
Click a segment of a path |
.png "Ee341418.2ace930f-98fa-410b-92cf-7a4b88503ee7(en-us,Expression.30).png")
Move segment pointer |
Move a segment between two points on a path |
Drag a segment of a path |
Move segment pointer |
Change 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 drag one of the tangent end points |
.png "Ee341418.beb1a907-1e50-450c-aab3-4d7026f5e426(en-us,Expression.30).png")
Move tangent pointer |
Make a point into a sharp corner or reduces the tangent to zero |
Hover over a point, hold down ALT, and then click the point |
.png "Ee341418.21197b10-aba4-4a9d-8145-647d0ba8e518(en-us,Expression.30).png")
Convert point pointer |
Make any sharp corner smooth (or, if it's already smooth, change the angle of the curve as it passes through the clicked point) |
Hover over a point, hold down ALT, and then drag the point |
Convert point pointer |
Change a curve segment into a straight line |
Hover over a segment in a path, hold down ALT, and then click the segment |
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Convert segment pointer |
Take a segment and bend it into a curve to pass through the pointer position |
Hover over a segment in a path, hold down ALT, and then drag the segment |
Convert segment pointer |
Adjust one end of a tangent independently of the other side |
Direct-select a point or a segment, hold down ALT, and then drag a tangent end point |
Convert tangent pointer |