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paul knight
Inspiring
May 18, 2018
Answered

Pull out both handles of a smooth point simulatneously

  • May 18, 2018
  • 5 replies
  • 16494 views

Hi,

If I highlight an anchor point with the white arrow tool and turn it into a smooth point it shows both handles of this anchor point on each side of the anchor point itself.

Is there a way of pulling out both handles simultaneously so that the resulting curve is equal on both sides.  I can't take a screen shot because on my mac when I take the screen shot the handles disappear.

Any help would be awesome.

Thanks

    Correct answer angjesk

    I think I may have solved this for myself - using the pen tool (not selection tool), hold option, then drag from the anchor point. I still thought you could drag from one of the handles though..  

    5 replies

    A
    angjesk
    Participant
    October 26, 2025

    I used to be able to do this a matter of weeks ago by selecting the anchor point and holding "option" while clicking and dragging one handle to adjust both handles simultaneously. I came here to see what happened to that feature - now it duplicates the segment of line, which I understand holding "option" does in most other cases but it seems so clunky to have to use a third tool (pen, select, scale) to access this pretty integral part of the workflow. If anyone knows where that shortcut went I'd love to know.

    A
    angjeskCorrect answer
    Participant
    October 26, 2025

    I think I may have solved this for myself - using the pen tool (not selection tool), hold option, then drag from the anchor point. I still thought you could drag from one of the handles though..  

    CarlosCanto
    Community Expert
    CarlosCantoCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 27, 2025

    pressing Alt/Option while using the Pen Tool switches temporarily to the Anchor Point Tool (Shift + C)

    Kurt Gold
    Community Expert
    Kurt GoldCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 18, 2018

    You may also direct select the anchor point, hit the S key to activate the Scale tool and then drag the handles simultaneously (turning on Smart Guides is recommended).

      rickdwaters
      rickdwaters
      Participant
      June 9, 2020

      This was literally the answer that everybody was looking for. Thank you. 

        N
        Community Expert
        Nick GioiaCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 18, 2018

        First use the Anchor point tool to pull out the points.

        Then use the Direct Selection tool to adjust each anchor point separately.

        Also if you mess up the point, just simply click the point with the Anchor point tool and it will reset the point.

        Mohammad.Harb
        Community Expert
        Mohammad.HarbCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 18, 2018

        you need to pull out the anchor point itself ( with the anchor point tool)  to get that result

        Mohammad.Harb
        Community Expert
        Mohammad.HarbCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 18, 2018

        use the  Anchor point tool ( Shift + C )

          P
          paul knightAuthor
          Inspiring
          May 18, 2018

          That still only pulls out one of the handles.  I need it so if I pull one of the handles, the opposite handle stretches out the equivalent distance on the other side as well.

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