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cassandrarose
Participant
February 27, 2020
Answered

Path and anchor points disappearing when I move a point with the direct selection tool

  • February 27, 2020
  • 9 replies
  • 21458 views

I think I accidentally pressed a keyboard shortcut or something and now when I move an anchor point or a handle with the direct selection tool, all the anchor points and the path that isn't directly on each side of the point I am moving disappear until I let go of the mouse button. I am used to seeing the path and points of an object the entire time while adjusting an anchor point. I have looked through the keyboard shortcuts and I can't find anything that would seem to fix this. I have already tried restarting Illustrator and that didn't help.

Correct answer Neo_26314381vsu1

"ctrl+U/ cmd+U" is what makes them appear and disappear. Hope this helps.

 

9 replies

Ι
ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ341145032qe7
Participant
December 7, 2023

@cassandrarose did you find the solution? i encounter this problem. when i click prolonged to draw a path i cant see the

previous path that is connected.

Anubhav M
Community Manager
Anubhav MCommunity Manager
Community Manager
December 13, 2023

Hello @ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ341145032qe7,

Sorry to hear about this experience. Would you mind sharing more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator, a sample file (https://adobe.ly/47UWrC6), and a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/47XViK6), so we can investigate this further?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

Thanks,

Anubhav

P
pacific_4940
Participant
April 29, 2025

was this ever resolved? 

 

My anchor points are now disappearing as well

N
Neo_26314381vsu1Correct answer
Participant
September 27, 2022

"ctrl+U/ cmd+U" is what makes them appear and disappear. Hope this helps.

 

    Bacardijim10_96
    Bacardijim10_96
    Participating Frequently
    February 25, 2021

    Go to Preferences, Performance then uncheck Real-Time Drawing and Editing

    Bacardijim10_96
    Bacardijim10_96
    Participating Frequently
    February 25, 2021
    outlines.jpg
    FoggyNotion
    FoggyNotion
    Participant
    August 31, 2020

    A fogotten "ctrl+ H" / "cmd+H"?  I've fooled myself with that one.

      K
      Ko Custom
      Participant
      August 16, 2020

      Try turning off Real-Time Drawing and Editing in Performance.

        R
        rayt30970971
        Participant
        April 8, 2023

        Thanks so much kind Sir. This nuisance started a few upgrades ago and has been driving me nuts from day one.

        I have to question what’s going on over at Adobe.

        Having your anchor points disappear while moving an object makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. That’s always been the best way to visually line objects up.

        Then you can add in “upgrades” like automatically saving to the cloud, (which is forbidden in my Company). And then there’s losing half my fonts that Adobe is no longer supporting, many of which have no replacement and are standard fonts used constantly. Then we can talk about losing the Pantone libraries, but that one’s on Pantone.

        Anyway, I haven’t seen a solid, useful upgrade in a long time. I consider everything listed here as a “DOWNGRADE”. Sorry Adobe. My first version of AI was around 1993, version 5.5 and I’ve been loyal ever since. In all that time, I’ve never seen so many awful, anti-productive changes ever. Shame on you guys. Don’t forget who your target audience is. Everything you’ve lately has been a negative, I’m sure, for all of us.

        Sorry for venting. Thanks again Ko Custom. You literally made my day.

        Monika Gause
        Community Expert
        Monika GauseCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        April 8, 2023
        quote

        Thanks so much kind Sir. This nuisance started a few upgrades ago and has been driving me nuts from day one.


        By @rayt30970971

         

        Time to read the New Feature Notes when updating the software. The very reason of updates is bringing new features.

         

        This feature has been asked for by people so that they can see the design they're creating without being irritated by anchor points. A considerable amount of people have been asking for it. Not everyone is working in the same way as you are.

        Kurt Gold
        Community Expert
        Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 12, 2020

        Roger,

         

        Can you record and post a short video that shows the behaviour in Illustrator 23.1.1 (the "correct" behaviour as per your description)?

         

        I'm asking because as long as I can remember Illustrator's standard or normal behaviour was to just show the anchor point that was moved and the two adjacent points (the supposed "wrong" behaviour).

         

        Are you using a mouse or some other input device?

        Ton Frederiks
        Community Expert
        Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 12, 2020

        I cannot remember this  being different either.

        https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/path-disappears-when-moving-individual-anchor-points-or-handle/m-p/11336192?page=1#M188010

        Charu Rajput
        Community Expert
        Charu RajputCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 11, 2020

        Hi,

        May following link will help you

         

        https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/suddenly-can-t-see-anchor-point-and-handles-of-paths-illustrator/td-p/3817097?page=1

         

        Thanks

         

        Best regards
        C
        cassandraroseAuthor
        Participant
        March 2, 2020

        I tried resetting my preferences and it did not help. I am still having the same problem. Is there anything else I can try?

        A
        anchorofhope
        Participant
        May 11, 2020

        Did you find the solution? I recently upgraded Illustrator and have the same problem of the anchor points disappearing when I begin to move an object. This is a problem because I can't line objects up perfectly since I don't know where the exact middle is. Thanks for the help!

        Charu Rajput
        Community Expert
        Charu RajputCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 11, 2020

        May this link will help you

        https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/suddenly-can-t-see-anchor-point-and-handles-of-paths-illustrator/td-p/3817097?page=1

         

        Thanks

        Best regards
        meganchi
        meganchi
        Legend
        February 27, 2020

        Go to the View menu. Select "Show Edges"?

          C
          cassandraroseAuthor
          Participant
          February 27, 2020

          I have already tried that. The path is visible when I select the path or a point. But then the path and all other points disappear except for the two points directly to each side of the selected point and the section of path connecting those points. The path and all points become visible again when I release the mouse button.

           

          For example: If I select the top point of a pentagon and I drag that point, only the top point and the point to the left and the right are visible with their connecting paths. The bottom two points disappear and so does the bottom 3 paths. (I hope that was understandable.)

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