Is there a way to create more "natural" curves in a shape?

[Tomchook]

Hello,

I'm using AI CC 2017, and I created a shape with the pen tool. The problem is that the curves don't look very natural. You could see the break points (example attached with arrows pointing at the curves which bother me the most). Is there a way to convert the curved into something more natural or should I just try to do it manually?

[Doug A Roberts]

what kind of points are they?  show the handles?

'more natural' could just be a case of using smooth points and longer handles.

you could have a play with the curve tool (next to the pen) as well. it'll create a sort of best-fit curve itself through whatever points you draw.

[Mike Sofa]

As a general rule, smooth curves use as few anchor points as possible. In your example, the anchor point at the middle arrow is unnecessary.

See this: Deke's Techniques 552: The Rule of Thirds for Smooth Bézier Curves | dekeOnline

or do a search for "smooth bezier" or similar.

It's not difficult, but it does take a bit of practice. Good luck!

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

You could maybe try the Smooth Tool How to edit and reshape paths in Illustrator Or redraw segments of it with the Pencil Tool (even if you drew the original with the Pen Tool).

[Mike Sofa]

Actually, your shape can be drawn with just 2 points:

[Tomchook]

I'm having hard time creating this shape with the handles as you pointed (the original shape is the green and the red is the new shape between 2 dots). Is there a way you could send me this ai file?

the curvature tool really seems helpful, but still,can't create that shape.

Thanks

[joel._eaux]

This is actually the wrong way to draw this shape. A curve's bezier handles should never cross like that. A smooth curve should consist of bezier points, each one's handle's handling roughly 1/3 of the span of the curve. The following illustration is an example of correct (TOP) and wrong (BOTTOM) methods.

As you can see on the bottom example, when curves extend too far, the curve is flattened unnaturally.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Use the new curvature tool, it can help greatly.

[joel._eaux]

Here's a PNG of my attempt