Pen Tool: Close path Changes Handles
Mac Mojave 10.14.6
Illustrator 25.4.1
When drawing with the pen tool, closing paths changes the initial path/handles drawn. This occurs every time the initial point plotted is a "click and drag."
I tried to upload a screen recording (.mov) but it won't let me.
Jessica
shared this idea
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Jessica, in the example you are describing, no new handles are generated when closing a path because the first point does not have a handle and is sharp originally.
However, when you close a path that starts with a smooth point (has a handle) — Ai tries to keep it smooth, that is to keep both handles at 180°.Why Ai considers a first point with a handle as a smooth?
It does it for all point with handles, unless they are changed intentionally to a sharp one, with Anchor Point tool / Convert to corner buttons / etc. It’s just a universal convention.Some applications like Affinity Designer follow it.
Some, like Corel Draw and Inkscape, ignore that, but don’t allow to close a path smoothly (!) — you have to fix it manually later.I prefer Ai’s way :) Holding Alt to break handles (it works not only when closing a path) is a simple workflow, and I can’t imagine not having it now.
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Egor,
Yes, this is a workaround. But shouldn't that be the default behavior? In no other instance will closing a path change the initial path drawn.For example, if I begin drawing with the pen tool with a click (not a drag) but then follow with a series of curves (clicking and dragging), closing the path with a drag/curve does NOT add a curve/handle to that original line. The behavior feels inconsistent.
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Thanks for the GIF!
To not change the original handle, hold Alt while closing the path — this should not convert the final point to a smooth one.
Please comment back if it works for you. -
Here's a gif of the bug.
Expectation: Path would close and would not change the original path drawn
Reality: Upon closing path and dragging a new handle, original path changes
