How to delete middle anchor point without losing path shape?

[Carmela5C96]

Say you have a curved path, just a 'u' shaped curved path. There's 3 anchor points in that path, 2 at the ends and 1 at the middle.
How do I remove the middle anchor point without changeing the shape of the curved path?

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Try the Delete Anchor Point Tool (-) and click the Anchor Point while holding down the Shift key.

[RuChou]

Thanks!  Totally works...I never knew and I have been using Illustator for years

[Ton Frederiks]

It will not be perfect, but better than without Shift key.

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

Camela,

As already implied by Ton, "remove the middle anchor point without changeing the shape" is more than a wee bit like have a cake and eat it.

Sometimes you can get away with it, but a full U spans 180 degrees, and that may give you grief.

The use of 4 Anchor Points for a circle so each segment spans 90 degrees is there for a reason; and sometimes that proves to be too great a span.

There are limits to Bezier curves, and a limit to the general suggestion of using as few Anchor Points as possible for smoothness.

[carlosgarro · Accepted solution]

Hi.

The best tool for this is the "Smart Remove Point" tech in Astute Graphics plugins.

Here's one sample: Smart Remove Point

In VectorFirstAid there is a "Super Smart Remove Point" option as well.

Check the following video: https://youtu.be/fJdzxJK5hKU

Best Regards

[Madelyn258858927bbk · Accepted solution]

Pressing SHIFT doesn't work for me. Any suggestions on why this may not work for some people?

I'm on a Mac, with an Apple keyboard - if that makes a difference.

Screen recording attached. I am pressing SHIFT when I try to delete the anchor points.

[Monika Gause]

You need to use the delete anchor point tool. Are you?