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anders_hattne
anders_hattne
Inspiring
May 24, 2023
Answered

Direct Selection Tool selects Objects

  • May 24, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 2027 views

If I have an object selected and click and drag a rectangle with the Direct Selection Tool  to select a couple of vertecis on the selected object's path it still will select and move the first object that is right under the cursor. The only way to do this is CTRL+Y and then only vertices are selected. 

But then what is the point of the Selection Tool?

 

In Photoshop the direct selection tool will ONLY select vertices and the selection tool only objects. 

Am I missing something? Do I have to CTRL Y back and forth every time I want to select a couple of vertices that overlap an unselected object?

I did manage to turn this of by selecting "Object  Selection by Path only" but then that renders the Selection Tool pretty finicky ..
I find the Photoshop way to be the correct way of working. Is there a way to make Illustrator work the same way?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer jane-e

 

@anders_hattne 

 

When you select an object with the Direct Selection tool and click smack in the middle to select all of the anchor points, the entire object (all selected anchor points) will move. If some of the anchor points are selected, only those anchor points will move.

 

What I do in your case is to double-click the object with the Selection tool to go into isolation mode > deselect > select just the necessary anchor points with the Lasso or Direct Selection tool > move them > escape to exit isolation mode.

 

Jane

 

1 reply

jane-e
Community Expert
jane-eCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 25, 2023

 

@anders_hattne 

 

When you select an object with the Direct Selection tool and click smack in the middle to select all of the anchor points, the entire object (all selected anchor points) will move. If some of the anchor points are selected, only those anchor points will move.

 

What I do in your case is to double-click the object with the Selection tool to go into isolation mode > deselect > select just the necessary anchor points with the Lasso or Direct Selection tool > move them > escape to exit isolation mode.

 

Jane

 

    anders_hattne
    anders_hattneAuthor
    Inspiring
    June 8, 2023

    But if I have two objects selected and I want the verteces in of the elbow area to be selected, like I mentioned I can't just click and drag a selecion around those vertices because the below objects edges will be selected and move too. 
    I can't seem to go into isolation mode for multiple objects. Having gto select each vertex indivualy is jut absurd.

     

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    jane-eCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 8, 2023

     

    @anders_hattne wrote on 24 May: 

    If I have an object selected...

     

    @anders_hattne wrote on 8 June
    But if I have two objects selected...

     

     

    Hi 

     

    With two objects instead of one as in your original post:

    • Selection tool: group them (Ctrl+G)
    • enter isolation mode
    • deselect
    • Direct Selection tool or Lasso: select and adjust anchor points
    • Escape to exit isolation mode
    • Ungroup (optional)

     

     

    Jane

     

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