Restore snap-to-grid behaviour for path handles

[IvuDeveloper]

Hi,

one of the new features in AI CC 2014 is path handles ignoring any grid. However, when one wants to construct C2-contious joins between seperate objects, precise control over the handle position is needed. I do a lot of icon and sprite art, and there it is imperative that curves from differnent objects flow exactly the same to create a smoth transition between individual pieces.

How can one restore the ability of handles to snap to the grid like in previous versions of AI?

Reagrds,

Chris

[MarkCX]

Insane that this was removed without adding an option in preferences. Snapping handles to the grid is imperative for precise icon and logo design.

[Petros_]

SO FRUSTRATING that this feature was removed. There's also another thread on this: Have anchor points snap to grid changed?

[Danielvdspuy]

It’s things like this that cause customers to leave one platform and move to another. Bad customer experience kills companies; even the biggest. Your users are almost always right. Listen up Adobe!

UI, UX, branding, typography—they’re all very precise arts, especially in a world of retina/Hi DPI screens and mobile devices.

If you can’t snap your curves in Illustrator, then precision or coherence is incredibly difficult to achieve.

I’m not trying to guilt-trip the devs here, I just want to know if they’re working on it. We want the option to turn snap on and off for path handles/splines.

[beatsforthemind]

I just have to put my support in for this issue. It was a great piece of functionality. I can't believe they removed it. I hope they bring it back.

[AndyQ]

Is this still not fixed? Thank gawd I've still got CS6 installed (and CorelDraw, which I think Adobe could learn a few things from). I'm surprised this issue isn't making more people angry....snapping the handles to grid is essential for creating perfect and consistent shapes (as someone mentioned, in type or logo design).

[timeasley]

Just adding to this in case Adobe bother to read it. I hate this "feature". There is literally no point in forcing it on users. Literally none at all. The workaround I use right now is to install CC as well as CC 2014 and just do the work in that then copy to CC, but that's a really stupid thing to have to do, plus it's really stupid to have to resort to having two versions of Illustrator running at the same time.

I've yet to talk to anyone at all in the entire world who likes this idiotic feature. So perhaps you could just change it back?

[Brad S.]

I'd love to know which members of the Adobe Illustrator dev team thought this was a good idea. When presenting new ideas who said, "yeah, that's a fantastic idea!"? It's so completely devoid of logic that I would have sworn it was a bug, but it seems it was actually a conscious decision by someone at Adobe.

[AndyQ]

Agreed. Whoever decided this was a good idea needs a proper slap in the noggin'. Surely even the densest skull might have considered the possibility that snapping to a grid could be beneficial in at least some circumstances.  The lack of thought is mind-boggling. How about a simple check box in the control panel or whatever it's called (and why don't all tool options appear in this supposedly context-sensitive panel?)

[alexy35844471]

Will this be coming back in a patch any time soon or will we have to wait for a whole new version wherein it will be touted as a new feature? This feels like a car company removing power steering to "enhance the customer experience."

[AndyQ]

Nothing wrong with no power steering, especially in a nice, light sports car. This is more like removing the wheels on safety grounds, as you can't have a crash if you're not friggin' moving. Certainly the most mind-numbingly stupid software change I've ever come across in 30 years of using graphics, 3D and video/VFX applications. Why no "checkbox" to select whether you want to snap or not? If I ever meet the [@#] that made this change I will have stern words with them, maybe also involving my size 14 combat boots.

[krios]

Extremely frustrating indeed guys. For the time being I've been using Inkscribe plugin to compensate for this pain point.

[Dental Wings]

I was hoping that they would add the option to enable snapping in the 2015 but no such luck

Very disappointing.

[Brad S.]

Well that's lame. I just started the update process and had hoped this issue, along with a handful of others, would have been fixed. I expect I will be disappointed across the board as is usually the case with Adobe updates. Years go by and nothing gets fixed.

[AndyQ]

As long as I can keep using my copy of CS6  I can keep doing my logo designs, but I have to pay for this freaking subscription so I can work on other peoples files, so I hope this bug gets fixed. I hope all you folks are filing bug reports on this. I reckon they screwed up the code and only call it a feature as an excuse. I don't think they have any real programmers working on Illustrator, and haven't for a decade. There's some guy in the adobe accounting department who's teaching himself C++ who dabbles with the odd feature update.

[krspond]

Adding my confirmation that there is no fix in the CC 2015 release. This is a real bummer. This has really harmed my work speed. I'm having to make shapes and cut them up to achieve the same results I used to be able to use the pen tool for.

[BlackhawkNorth]

A year later and still no fix or explanation..... shame on you Adobe

[marvisrad]

I just got Illustrator CC 2015 today.  Can't believe they haven't fixed this yet.  Adobe, please PLEASE bring back the ability to snap anchor point handles!  I'd be perfectly happy with an option in preferences.  This is madness!

[Landslide]

I just got off customer support with Adobe about this issue. I was repeatedly told the feature still exists and to reset my preferences. Of course, this doesn't do anything because the feature does not actually exist. Here is the transcript that highlights just how few f*cks Adobe appears to give about, you know, our livelihoods.

Jon Hayter: Hello Abhishek.

Abhishek: Hello. Welcome to Adobe Technical Support.

Abhishek: Please allow me a moment while I look into your account & verify the details.

Jon Hayter: Understood.

Abhishek: Thankyou for waiting

Abhishek: You are on AI CC 2014 or 2015 version ?

Jon Hayter: 2014.1.1 Release

Abhishek: In 2014 version we do have that snapping feature enabled by default

Jon Hayter: For anchor point Handles? It's not on my version, and there are reports all over the internet of it not being available

Abhishek: let me check

Jon Hayter: Okay

Jon Hayter: This is an example of the issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwAbZs35hMk

Abhishek: Thankyou

Abhishek: let me check

Abhishek: For how long you are facing this issue ?

Jon Hayter: Since CC 2014 was released and I updated.

Jon Hayter: It's mentioned in the 2014 patch notes here: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/anchor-point-enhancements.html

Abhishek: ok

Abhishek: Did you tried to reset Ai preference ?

Jon Hayter: I'm sorry - but you're not listening. Adobe updated Illustrator and removed the feature that allows snapping of anchor point handles. The feature doesn't exist in the current version. My problem is, I bought CC, and the feature WAS in Illustrator. Later, Adobe updated llustrator and removed a feature that is critical to my work. I need to know if it's been put back into the newest version, or how you will furnish me with an older version of Illustrator that still has the feature.

Abhishek: The feature was not removed only the handle was changes

Abhishek: changed*

Abhishek: https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/anchor-point-enhancements.html

Jon Hayter: Correct. That is the feature I require.

Abhishek: Sorry

Abhishek: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1506427

Abhishek: Please check this link

Abhishek: and look for Neerak N comment

Jon Hayter: Yes. I have read that post. The removal of handle snapping is not an enhancement. It is the removal of a feature that was critical to my workflow, and it occurred after I purchased Illustrator CC.

Jon Hayter: It is a feature I have been using in Adobe Illustrator for almost a decade.

Jon Hayter: And now it has been removed and called an enhancement.

Jon Hayter: So, I need to know if it has been put back in CC 2015, or how Adobe plans to furnish me with a version of Illustrator that still has all the features I paid for.

Abhishek: The feature was not removed in AI CC 2014

Abhishek: If you feel like it has been removed

Abhishek: I can help you to downgrade  Ai to AI CC

Jon Hayter: It absolutely was removed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwAbZs35hMk

Jon Hayter: That video demonstrates that it was removed.

Abhishek: This is not an official Youtube video link

Jon Hayter: And sure, please provide instructions on how to downgrade Illustrator to CC. I would like to keep the rest of my Adobe products at the latest version. So I just need Illustrator downgraded.

Jon Hayter: Then show me an official Youtube video link that has the feature you assert is still part of the current version of Illustrator.

Abhishek: Please uninstall current version and install AI CC

Jon Hayter: Or provide me with instructions on how to enable snapping for anchor point HANDLES.

Abhishek: Just reset Ai preference and check

Jon Hayter: Anchor point snapping works fine. But the handles do not snap.

Abhishek: if that didn't work then uninstall and install Ai CC from above link

Jon Hayter: Of course it didn't work. The... feature doesn't. Exist. Fine, I will download an older version. Thank you for the link.

Abhishek: You are welcome

Jon Hayter: Unfortunately, I feel like you have not understood my complaint. You've told me repeatedly that the feature of anchor point handle snapping still exists, and then linked me to articles about only anchor points. This has been a very unsatisfactory customer support experience.

At that point he disconnected me. Uncertain if it was a language barrier, or purposeful obtuseness. Regardless, it's clear that Adobe's official response about this issue is "Use an older version."

[Brad S.]

^^ That's what happens when a company outsources their customer support to India. They don't know what they are talking about most of the time, they don't understand what you are talking about most of the time, and rarely is the problem you have with the product resolved satisfactorily.

[Landslide]

Objectively, I agree with your statement and everything it implies.

Subjectively, it's completely irrelevant. All I can (and should) care about, is that I contacted Adobe, and this was their official response. I wonder what kind of effort it would take to get someone who actually knows and understands this issue, at the Adobe development or executive level, to take notice of this thread of complaints and all the others like it.

Maybe we should all set a date to contact Adobe customer support at the same time, on the same day with this same issue. My offer of sexual favors (to their Twitter account) in exchange for a feature patch strangely went unanswered.

[Sebas van den Brink]

It sucks to feel shipped off by (any) customer support. I also agree that Adobe doesn't really do a great job in acknowledging being heard. I think they heard us, but, well, it would be nice to get some kind of feedback.

It's probably not what you want to hear, but this is not a customer support topic. There's plenty of those, though! https://forums.adobe.com/search.jspa?q=customer+support

[Sebas van den Brink]

I installed CC2015 and the feature's returned ^_^ I added a note to the video I posted above.

I'm happy, for one!

[Landslide]

Where? I just updated, and handles are behaving the same. Is there an option I need to enable now?

[Brad S.]

Quite certain he/she was being sarcastic about "the feature"

It hasn't been fixed as far as I can tell.

[Landslide]

Dammit.