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mikeouwen
mikeouwen
Participating Frequently
February 18, 2017
Answered

Adjusting the shape of a brushed path using paintbrush yields unpredictable behaviors.

  • February 18, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 1032 views

Hi folks,

I have a question regarding adjusting the shape of an existing brushed path using paintbrush tool.

I created a brushed path using Paintbrush tool. After selecting the created path, I used paintbrush tool to adjust its shape.

Here is when the unpredictable behaviors come in.

Sometimes it adjusts the existing path from where you start dragging. Sometimes it extends the path instead.

What controls the behavior?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Kurt Gold

In my eyes you are just experiencing a highly questionable behaviour when trying to extend paths with the Paintbrush tool at an acute angle (roughly said) when the Edit Selected Paths option is turned on in the Paintbrush Tool Preferences.

Unlike you stated, you may already have noticed that extending a path at an acute angle not only adjusts the existing path, no, in fact it deletes the previously drawn path.

One common workaround is to first slightly continue the path at an obtuse angle, then make the turnaround. The existing path will not be deleted in that case. In the video clip you took that way in your second example.

Another workaround is to disable the Edit Selected Path option or the Keep Selected option which both disable the ability to extend the paths at the same time. You would then have to manually join the separate paths afterwards. Sometimes acceptable, often a bit lame.

In earlier versions of Illustrator the Pencil tool had the same weakness, but that has changed. Nowadays it allows you to draw at cute angles lively.

3 replies

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Kurt GoldCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
February 18, 2017

In my eyes you are just experiencing a highly questionable behaviour when trying to extend paths with the Paintbrush tool at an acute angle (roughly said) when the Edit Selected Paths option is turned on in the Paintbrush Tool Preferences.

Unlike you stated, you may already have noticed that extending a path at an acute angle not only adjusts the existing path, no, in fact it deletes the previously drawn path.

One common workaround is to first slightly continue the path at an obtuse angle, then make the turnaround. The existing path will not be deleted in that case. In the video clip you took that way in your second example.

Another workaround is to disable the Edit Selected Path option or the Keep Selected option which both disable the ability to extend the paths at the same time. You would then have to manually join the separate paths afterwards. Sometimes acceptable, often a bit lame.

In earlier versions of Illustrator the Pencil tool had the same weakness, but that has changed. Nowadays it allows you to draw at cute angles lively.

    mikeouwen
    mikeouwenAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 19, 2017

    Thank you, sir. I think you hit the point.

    If I extend a path from an acute angle, it will replace instead of modifying the existing path like you said.

    And after several deeper experiments, I find out that if you start extending from an acute angle and end your stroke at a place rather far away from the existing path, it will replace. But if you end close enough to the existing path, it will still modify.

    I'm not sure which option controls this distance that determines the modify or replace behavior.

    Thank you for the workarounds.

    mikeouwen
    mikeouwenAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 18, 2017

    How close to the original path when you start dragging will be considered correction?

    I start dragging from the endpoint. Sometimes it extends. Sometimes it corrects.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 18, 2017

    mikeouwen  schrieb

    How close to the original path when you start dragging will be considered correction?

    I don't understand this sentence.

    I start dragging from the endpoint.

    Obviously you don't.

    mikeouwen
    mikeouwenAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 18, 2017

    Hi have you watched the video?

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 18, 2017

    When you start your correction at the endpoint, Illustrator will extend the path. When you start dragging along the path, Illustrator will correct it.

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