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Help with S shaped curves with Ai CS6

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
March 2, 2018
3 replies
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I understand the basics of making curves with the pen tool and the handles. These three images all have an S shape curve that I have tried to create in Ai CS6. I spent a large part of yesterday searching tutorials and forums. Today I spent most of the day trying t get this done and I can't get a smooth transition on one side of the S as it meets a straight line.

This is quite important to me and I really need to get it done accurately so dies can be made (leather cutting). I'm hoping I can get directed to an appropriate video tutorial or get steps to get this done from one of you.
I'm inserting or attaching three files that are jpegs of the three curves I need to create on Ai.

Thanks for any help!

Dean

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Correct answer Jacob Bugge

Dean,

As I (mis)understand it, you are working with symmetrical shapes that end horizontally at each end to meet a vertical part.

They can all be created with anchor points having horizontal handles in the crucial spots and starting at the middle with live reflexion to form two paths to join at the middle (smooth); you may work on top of the locked image. Just make the curvy part as a separate path, then join it with the path(s) forming the vertical sides (and whichever else) (corner).

For a simple one to two mirroring, you may see the reflection live after each Anchor Point if you start out as follows (for Pen Tool with vertical reflection to the right, similar for other directions):

1) Create the first two Anchor Points of your basic path;

2) Effect>Distort&Transform>Transform>ReflectX with 1 copy and the middle right side Reference Point chosen;

3) With the Pen Tool ClickDrag (or Click) anew from the second Anchor Point and go on;

If you wish, you may:

4) Object>Expand Appearance and Ctrl/Cmd+J to join the half paths.

Ctrl/Cmd+Z Undo is your friend: you can just go back and redo while drawing the basic path.

To adjust the position of an Anchor Point while you are at it, Hold the spacebar to (freeze the Handles and) move the Anchor Point about; you may switch between adjusting the Handles and the position as many times as you wish before going on.

Smart Guides are your friends telling you where you are (snapping to).

The upper sample can be created with two smooth anchor points, one at the top/middle, the other where the curve ends and turns into a straight segment; you can just Click at at the end where it is to meet the vertical path to make the staright segment.

The middle sample can be made in the same way, only starting lower down rather than higher up.

The lower sample can be created with three smooth anchor points, one at the top/middle, one at the bottom of the curve, one at the end, presumably to be made with the exact same handle length as the first one (corresponding to a repeated wave).

Jacob Bugge

Correct answer

Community Expert

Dean,

As I (mis)understand it, you are working with symmetrical shapes that end horizontally at each end to meet a vertical part.

They can all be created with anchor points having horizontal handles in the crucial spots and starting at the middle with live reflexion to form two paths to join at the middle (smooth); you may work on top of the locked image. Just make the curvy part as a separate path, then join it with the path(s) forming the vertical sides (and whichever else) (corner).

For a simple one to two mirroring, you may see the reflection live after each Anchor Point if you start out as follows (for Pen Tool with vertical reflection to the right, similar for other directions):

1) Create the first two Anchor Points of your basic path;

2) Effect>Distort&Transform>Transform>ReflectX with 1 copy and the middle right side Reference Point chosen;

3) With the Pen Tool ClickDrag (or Click) anew from the second Anchor Point and go on;

If you wish, you may:

4) Object>Expand Appearance and Ctrl/Cmd+J to join the half paths.

Ctrl/Cmd+Z Undo is your friend: you can just go back and redo while drawing the basic path.

To adjust the position of an Anchor Point while you are at it, Hold the spacebar to (freeze the Handles and) move the Anchor Point about; you may switch between adjusting the Handles and the position as many times as you wish before going on.

Smart Guides are your friends telling you where you are (snapping to).

The upper sample can be created with two smooth anchor points, one at the top/middle, the other where the curve ends and turns into a straight segment; you can just Click at at the end where it is to meet the vertical path to make the staright segment.

The middle sample can be made in the same way, only starting lower down rather than higher up.

The lower sample can be created with three smooth anchor points, one at the top/middle, one at the bottom of the curve, one at the end, presumably to be made with the exact same handle length as the first one (corresponding to a repeated wave).

D

deloid101Author

Participant

Jacob

I have tried repeatedly to get 1,2,3 done but nothing drags at step 3...I don't think I am choosing a reference point (or know how to).

1) Create the first two Anchor Points of your basic path;

2) Effect>Distort&Transform>Transform>ReflectX with 1 copy and the middle right side Reference Point chosen;

3) With the Pen Tool ClickDrag (or Click) anew from the second Anchor Point and go on;

If you wish, you may:

4) Object>Expand Appearance and Ctrl/Cmd+J to join the half paths.

I try that, it looks like the two parts join then when I deselect the left half disappears.

To adjust the position of an Anchor Point while you are at it, Hold the spacebar to (freeze the Handles and) move the Anchor Point about; you may switch between adjusting the Handles and the position as many times as you wish before going on.

It freezes but then the segment moves (hand appears). Can't modify the anchor point. Incidentally, it was mentioned in the first link that anchor points can be edited...I can't find that method.

I did try two horizontal anchors then the lower middle anchor gently curved with the handle followed by selecting the second anchor, changing it to a curve then pulling it down so it doesn't bulge upward. Is this approach acceptable?

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

Dean,

My assumption has been that the curves drawn in the OP (original post) are rough approximations of something that is supposed to be really smooth, and symmetrical, so that the final curves are to be smoother and more regular (less bumpy) the the originals.

That assumption may be wrong, hence my starting with As I (mis)understood it.

Obviously, if the final curves are to follow the originals, more Anchor Points with slanting Handles will be needed, as mentioned by Hans-Jürgen.

About the particular difficulties mentioned in your post #6:

1, 2, 3:

The Reference Point in 2) corresponds to the one to the left in the Transform palette, just click the rightmost in the middle (if you draw to the left).

In the upper sample, you can just Click with the Pen Tool on the second (lower) Anchor Point at the bottom of the curve to continue the path with a straight segment, then move the cursor horizontally (Smart Guides show you the line to follow) and Click where it is to end at the corner, and that will complete the drawn path (and show the full mirrored reflexion), assuming the smoothing assumption is right.

And you can do the same in the middle sample.

For the lower sample, you will need to ClickDrag from the second Anchor Point, and again for the last one.

If you are sure enough about the drawing of the first half, you can also drop the live reflexion and just draw in one go, which is obviously less complicated.

4:

I believe you may need to Ungroup (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+G) once or twice after expanding before joining.

Adjusting position:

If you ClickDrag from the Anchor Point (and press Shift to make it horizontal), then without letting the mouse button go also press the Spacebar, you should be able to drag the Anchor Point round (by the Handle).

I did try two horizontal anchors then the lower middle anchor gently curved with the handle followed by selecting the second anchor, changing it to a curve then pulling it down so it doesn't bulge upward. Is this approach acceptable?

If I understand it in the right way, you may create the first two Anchor Points with Handles, then just Click the second one with the Pen Tool, either after making the reflexion effect or just pressing the P key to start anew with the Pen Tool, you are continuing the path with a straight segment which you can end in the right spot if you just Click again at the end.

pixxxelschubser

Community Expert

Hi deloid101,

like Monika Gause said - you need practice. That's all.

D

deloid101Author

Participant

Thanks for the visual and indeed I am practicing and taking notes. Jacob states the top image can be created with two anchor points...I think I can repeat your approach for th top but I would love the simplicity of two anchor points as you did for the other two images.

In your middle image the far right anchor has uneven handle lengths- How was that done? When I try as in the attached, I have to raise the second anchor (from the left) just a hair to get it smooth. If I don't do that I get that sharp corner. Is there a way to keep the horiz line dead flat and still blend into the curve?