Can I reopen a path once it is closed?

[d***@adobeforums.com]

Sorry for the newb question but here I am tracing and having to add points to an existing path and then move each one where I want it. Better solution? Can I reopen this dang path?

Thanx all.

[P***@adobeforums.com]

Under the pen tool is the ADD ANCHOR POINTS tool.

Or you can just start drawing with the pencil tool if you have the path selected to edit the path. I'd tend toward the first choice.

[Teri Pettit]

It is unclear what you mean by "reopen" the path.

If the path is closed and you want it to be an open path, you can either cut it with the Scissor tool, or direct select any bezier segment and delete it.

However, the mention of adding points suggests that you may not mean making a closed path become open.

If the path is already an open path and you want to continue appending to the end of it, you can click the Pen tool on either endpoint to make new anchor points, or as Philip suggests, you can start dragging the Pencil tool near one of those endpoints.

If neither of the above is what you mean, can you describe in more detail what you are trying to do?

[S***@adobeforums.com]

Dasiki:

I have used Philip's nonpreferred choice for adjusting tracing paths with some success. Double click the Pencil Tool to bring up it's dialogue and make sure that Keep selected and Edit selected paths are checked, and you can also adjust other Pencil Tool preferences here. Keep your left hand on Ctrl + z to undo so you can retry adjustments of your path quickly.

steve

[P***@adobeforums.com]

When I use the pencil with curves I usually have to do so much smoothing afterward that it turns out to be more time effective to use the pen.

For a quick and dirty edit the pencil certainly has its place.

I do kind of wish there was a constrain tool for the pencil so that you could go from freeform drawing to a straight line. Some sort of modifier like PhotoShop’s lasso tool, where you can hold down the alt key to temporally go from a lasso tool to a polygonal lasso tool. Unless something like that is possible with smart guides or something?

[S***@adobeforums.com]

Philip:

Give the pencil a try zoomed in on an existing path. Use short fast strokes and remember that Alt modifies it to the Smooth Tool (also short fast strokes). I find this useful for tracing low resolution raster objects where it is often difficult to see exactly where the trace path should lie.

steve

[P***@adobeforums.com]

I'll give it a wack next time I'm recreating someones logo.

[S***@adobeforums.com]

Philip:

Excuse my backing up on this. I generally trace biological objects that can be pretty irregular. I wouldn't use the pencil on something as regular as a logo. Pen tool.

steve

[T***@adobeforums.com]

I'm with Steve on this...I think it really depends on what you're tracing. I use the Pencil tool a lot more than most users probably do, but I'm drawing or tracing people, trees, etc. I'm always very conscious of the Pencil tool settings.

If I'm working on "graphics" like signage vs. "illustration," I use the pen tool. I also think the Pen and Brush tools would be useless to me without a tablet...if you're trying to be at all accurate with those tools using a mouse, your begging for carpal tunnel. Better stick with the Pen tool in that case.