Turn off automatic joining of paths?

[jobro1]

I am creating an illustration using the pen tool. When I start a new path that touches an already-created path, the new path automatically becomes part of the old one. Is there a way to stop Illustrator from doing this (without creating a separate layer for each path)?

[Bill Silbert]

You can lock the first path with the keyboard command Command (Mac)/Control (PC)-2. You can later unlock it with Option (Mac)/Alt(PC) Command/Control-2.

[jobro1]

Thanks, that does the trick!

[namechange081920194]

Is there a better way to do this?

I have multiple reference lines that I use to draw with the pen tool. Locking and locking each reference line is unfeasible.

[Larry G. Schneider]

Put the reference lines on their own layer and lock the layer.

[ryand78627388]

Is there an even better way of doing this? I'm trying to make some single line drawings and when I loop back around to an earlier part of the same path, it often rejoins it. Is there not a way to turn this off?

[Monika Gause]

Which tool are you using?

What do you mean with "loop back" - click on the starting point?

[ryand78627388]

I'm using the brush tool.

What I mean by looping back is this. I'm making a single line drawing by tracing around a photo, when the path I'm drawing goes near an earlier part of the path (or sometimes overlaps), sometimes it will automatically merge with it, changing the shape of the path. I think it happens if I go near an anchor point. I would prefer it if this didn't happen.

[Monika Gause]

You could double click the brush tool and there are options what should happen with the selection and if the brush tool can edit existing paths. Does it help?

[Sadie25325895y5ql]

Double-click the pencil tool (or whatever tool you're using). Make sure that "Close paths when ends are within _ pixels" option is off. This should do the trick!

[default25178bfkd2la]

Use Affinity Designer.

[astinar]

I can't believe I never noticed this before, but what I'm currently working on keeps constantly joining previously made paths. There is no way to deactivate this?!?!

[Monika Gause]

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@astinar  schrieb:

I can't believe I never noticed this before, but what I'm currently working on keeps constantly joining previously made paths. There is no way to deactivate this?!?!

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WIthout having a step by step description of what you are doing, it will be very difficult to help you.

[astinar]

I'm using the pen tool, and when I draw a line that intercepts the end of another line, it joins the first line (path's) endpoint

[Monika Gause]

The usual workaround is clicking the mext point away from existing points, then hold the mouse down, press and hold the spacebar and move the point to where it belongs.

[Kurt Gold]

Also, you may just draw in Isolation mode to prevent automatic joining.

That is, draw any path, isolate the path (enter Isolation mode), then draw with the Pen tool in Isolation mode as long as you don't want to auto join the paths.