Cant get pen paths to join

[so4chinate]

I am still learning the pen tool and was having trouble adding onto the existing path. It created a new path (the one on the right). Everytime I try to join the paths it looks all wonky. Is there a special way I can attach these together? Should I have used the add anchor point tool in the pen tool to continue adding off the original path? Thank you!

[Doug A Roberts]

It's not possible to join a path like that. What is your ultimate goal for this image?

[Jacob Bugge]

so4chinate,

As Doug said, it is impossible; each Anchor Poit can only connect two segments, and you wish to have three.

If you really wish to have only one path, you will need to destroy the stroked paths by outlining the strokes and have filled paths you can combine, but then you no longer have the stroke weight to adjust.

Or you will need to cheat as in the old days before the Compound Paths and create everything as one continuous path that doubles back over itself in the part between the front and the side (from bottom to top or the opposite with exactly the same shape), starting and closing the path at the Anchor Point where it doubles back.

[so4chinate]

I am attempting one large continuous path but am struggling to do so. If I go back to the first path and add an anchor will I then be able to continue outwards or will that anchor only remain on the path it is attached to? I don't think if I add an anchor I can continue outwards.

[Jacob Bugge]

so4chinate,

It is impossible to continue from what you have and create the tent as one contiunuous path.

But you can create a tent equivalent to the Haus vom Nikolaus from what you have as follows, Smart Guides being your friends:

1) Cut the tent front at its top Anchor Point, by Clicking it with the Scissors Tool,

this will open the path at the top of the front;

2) Press the Right Arrow 5 times, this will move one of the open end Anchor Points so you can see them both;

Now you can attach the top of the side:

3) Zoom in and ClickDrag the tent side by its top left Anchor Point with the normal Selection Tool (to move the whole side without changing its shape) to snap to the open end Anchor Point attached to the left side of the front (Smart Guides say anchor when you are within snapping distance), then ClickDrag across the coinciding Anchor Points and hold Ctrl/Cmd and press J to join them;

Now you have just one path;

4) With the Direct Selection Tool Click an empty spot on the Artboard to deselect, then Click the Anchor Point you moved in 2), whether it is the joined one or the open one, then press the Left Arrow 5 times to bring it back in place;

Now you just need to make the closed appearance:

5) Still with the Direct Selection Tool, either

5a) ClickDrag the open end Anchor Point at the bottom left of the tent side to snap it to the bottom right corner Anchor Point of the front (this may distort the tent side too much  because you only move a single Anchor Points), or

5b) ShitftClick both the bottom Anchor Points on the tent sidde, then ClickDrag the open end Anchor Point at the bottom left of the tent side to snap it to the bottom right corner Anchor Point of the front (this will make both bottom Anchor Points move in the same way so the bottom part of the tent side remains unchanged/undistorted);

If needed:

6) Adjust the shape of the side by ClickDragging either or both of the rightmost Anchor Points of the tent side.

If you prefer to start over, you can draw the whole tent in one go if you:

A) Start at the top Anchor Point of the front,

B) Then draw the right side of the front,

C) Then the bottom with the opening,

D) Then the left side, but place the second top Anchor Point above the starting point to avoid its snapping to it,

E) Then continue with the top, right side, and bottom, of the tent side, and make sure you snap the end Anchor Point to the bottom right of the front,

F) And finally ClickDrag the second top Anchor Point from D) down to snap to the starting point.

Just like this:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haus_vom_Nikolaus

https://de-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Haus_vom_Nikolaus?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en...

Kurt kindly made us aware of this gem some 15 - 20 years ago.

[so4chinate]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. I will definitely be trying this. Thank you so much

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, sochinate.

I have just added a wee bit to the instructions, so now you have both 5a) and 5b) as alternative steps.

[Doug A Roberts]

I am attempting one large continuous path but am struggling to do so.

By @so4chinate

Can you describe why you need it to be one continuous path? It's likely to not be necessary.

[so4chinate]

I want to cut it with my vinyl machine

[Bobby Henderson]

That raises some other issues. Are you wanting to just cut the black outlines of the tent shape in black vinyl? If so you'll need to expand the outline strokes into editable paths before sending it to an application driving a vinyl cutter (or an Illustrator plugin doing the same thing). Additionally you'll need to adjust the thickness of the strokes (before expanding them) based on the size of the graphics you'll cut on the vinyl plotter/cutter. If the line strokes are too thin the knife blade will likely chew up the results. And if it doesn't the lines may be pretty delicate and difficult to weed out of the rest of the vinyl sheet.

[so4chinate]

Thank you so much for your help 🙏🏼