Illustrator update v29.0 smooth tool

[kristinef27780613]

The smooth tool ansd the pencil tool are overly sensitive. The tool on the area needing smoothed seems to delete the path and connect the two points not selected. I have modified the sensitivity for both the pencil and the smooth tool and it behaves the same for both (regarding smoothing out areas).

I am attaching a screenshot showing the original area (as a guide), and the result with the smooth and the pencil tools...definitely overly smoothed beyond usefullness.

Please adjust this glitch quickly. I (and am sure many others) use this consistantly on a daily basis. 

[Bill Silbert]

If when you upgraded to V29 you used the option to "import previous settings and preferences" then you might want to reset your Illustrator preferences just to make sure that the behavior you are describing is not due to program corruption rather than an operating glitch. Restting preferences will restore the program to its defaults.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: The User Library folder in which Illustrator’s preferences are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that Illustrator is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N).With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the folder called “Adobe Illustrator <Version #> Settings” (earlier versions of Illustrator might just say “Adobe Illustrator”) and the file called “com.adobe.Illustrator.plist” and delete both that folder and that file. When Illustrator is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

For Windows Users: You can try the quick way of resetting on a PC which is to hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching Illustrator and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset. There have been some recent reports that the window asking if you want to reset is not popping up but that the prefs are being reset anyway. If this works great but if it doesn’t you may have to manually delete them.

To do so: On Windows 7 and above the preference files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [version number]\ Settings\<Language>. Make sure that Illustrator is closed when you do this. When you relaunch the program it will create new preference files and the program will be at its default settings.

The advantage of manually deleting preference files is that after you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, you can create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @kristinef27780613,

I am sorry to hear about your experience. Our team is aware of this problem and is currently investigating it. I will update this thread as I have more info.

In the meantime, would you mind installing Illustrator 2024 (https://adobe.ly/3YiM6fr), and checking if it helps?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[kristinef27780613]

I was forced to revert to Illustrator  2024 to fix this issue...I use the smooth tool every day and found it necessary to increase my work flow. Thanks for the suggestion.

[tinabrownstudio]

I second this, the new tool sucks and delets so many points! Please bring back the old settings. 

[Monika Gause]

Please heck out this: https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/48984317-smooth...

Please report this kind of stuff to Uservoice. In this forum 95% of people aren't even staff.

[Jess5C83]

I am also having problems using the smooth tool, it has suddenly become overly sensitive, even when set to the lowest 'accurate' setting on the slider. I am using Illustrator 2025.

[Anubhav M]

Hello everyone,

Our team has tried fixing this problem in the latest Illustrator update 29.0.1.192. Would you mind installing it to see if it helps resolve the problem?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[BNT Promo · Accepted solution]

YES! The update 29.1 fixed the over smoothing while manually using the smooth tool. Thank you!

[Abbie35101203sa9x]

I am also having the same problem since updating!