Draw a straight line after a curve

[dexterm45870517]

Hi, hopefully I'm in the right place to ask this: in Illustrator, after making a curved line with the curvature tool, how can I make a straight line that follows the path of the curve?

[rcraighead]

how can I make a straight line that follows the path of the curve?

By this, do you mean "how can I make a line that remains parallel to the path of the curve."?

If so, you add a new stroke in the Appearance Panel and assign "Effect>Offset Path" to it.

[Kris Hunt · Accepted solution]

The Extend Path tool in the VectorScribe toolset does this and much more.

[rcraighead]

At a price.

[dexterm45870517]

Yep, this is pretty much what I want, the price however is a no-no. This seems like such a simple yet important feature to not be in the base program, is there really no other way?

[Kris Hunt]

Other than eyeballing it, no. I use the Extend Path tool a lot, and along with everything else you get with the VectorScribe plugin, I think it's well worth the money. But I did get it at a discount.

[dexterm45870517]

oh well, thanks for your help!

[Jacob Bugge]

Dexter,

As I (mis)understand it, you can (Smart Guides being your friends) for either/each end:

1) With the Direct Selection Tool, select the end Anchor Point (you may need to deselct first) so that the Handles show;

2) With the Line Segment Tool ClickDrag from the Handle into the Anchor Point (Smart Guides say handle and anchor when you are within snapping distance);

3) Adjust the length of the straight path as desired, among other options depending on how you determine the length/end position, you may:

3a) Use the Scissors Tool, maybe after extending the straight path, see 3b), or

3b) Adjust the length of the/each straight path away from the curved one, you may first click the relevant Reference Point in the Transform palette, then multiply the W or H value by a suitable/sufficient number or set the desired value and press Ctrl/CmdEnter;

After that:

4) Join the straight path(s) and the curved path.