Inspiring

Answered

join paths or segments by dropping one over the other

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
October 23, 2018
3 replies
1173 views

Hello, I'd like to try joining two paths or segments in this way.

I draw both of them separately. Path A has a point that is "open" (i.e. a point that has only one line coming away from it)

Path B has an open point as well.

I drag Path B over to Path A and drop the open point on the other open point.

The paths join at their open paths.

Is there a way to do something like this?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Rob de Winter

Hey madobe1127,

I think you mean something like this: making sure two open end points are as close as possible together (so, maybe on top of each other), and connect them then. You can do that by doing this:

Select both end points with the Direct Selection Tool
Go to Object > Path > Average, and select 'Both'
Illustrator now places both end points on top of each other
Now go to Object > Path > Join (or Ctrl-J) to connect both points. Because they are on top of each other, they will be converted to one anchor point.

Is this maybe a solution to your problem?

M

madobe1127Author

Inspiring

Rob de Winter.

I don't understand your reply. You say "draw path B"... but the problem is that path B is already drawn. In fact I'm "drawing" it by making copies of an original curvy path and resizing them.

In other words, I draw a curve C. I make copies of it and edit them. I then wish to join these copies at their open points.

So I can't "draw B". It's already drawn.

Can you clarify?

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

madobe,

I believe quite a few might complain about such a feature unless optional.

hammer0909

Community Expert

Although I could envision maybe a "join mode" of sorts? I'm intrigued ;-)

R

Rob de Winter

Community Expert

Hey, that's not possible in this way (would be nice though ), the only way to do this now is:

Select both paths (or end points) and go to Object > Path > Join (or Ctrl-J)
Use the Join Tool from the tools panel (in the CC2019 version it's hidden by default, but you can add it to the tools panel by clicking on the 3 dots at the bottom of the tools panel
Make path B with the Pen Tool. Click to make the first point, and close the path at the end point of Path A

Hope this helps

M

madobe1127Author

Inspiring

oh I just figured out why I didn't have an option to reply. I wasn't on the forum itself, looking at the status notifications. Anyway, Rob, what I'm looking for is the closest way to achieve what I need.

If you are saying I have to draw a segment connecting the two paths, then I'd like to know how to make it as short as possible and then how to delete it afterwards with minimal effect. In other words, how can we get as close as possible to the goal of joining two existing paths unchanged at their open points?

R

Rob de Winter

Correct answer

Community Expert

Hey madobe1127,

I think you mean something like this: making sure two open end points are as close as possible together (so, maybe on top of each other), and connect them then. You can do that by doing this:

Select both end points with the Direct Selection Tool
Go to Object > Path > Average, and select 'Both'
Illustrator now places both end points on top of each other
Now go to Object > Path > Join (or Ctrl-J) to connect both points. Because they are on top of each other, they will be converted to one anchor point.

Is this maybe a solution to your problem?

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