Bézier curves: how do you yank out a control line that has been shrunk at point A?

[dublove]

This problem is often encountered when one of the control lines is too short for us to drag it directly.

Strictly speaking, this is the result of an unregulated operation.

The conditions are: assuming the AB arc is already perfect, you can't affect AB as it is.

What I do now is to just yank point A with ^, but many times I need to take the time to recover the A-B arc again.

[Mike Witherell]

I'm not sure what you are asking.

The Convert Direction Point tool can drag out a curve handle from the anchor point.

Try switching from the Convert Direction Point tool over to the white arrow Direct Selection tool. Hover over the middle of the arc path segment and drag the mouse. This adjusts both direction point handles of both point A and point B.

Other than this, there is little else you can do. Realize that it is a drawing tool; not an engineering drawing tool.

PS for Adobe...

InDesign = Convert Direction Point Tool

Illustrator = Anchor Point Tool

Photoshop = Convert Point Tool

Why can't this tool have one name?

[dublove]

Pen tool in ID.
You don't move the arc between A-B, you don't get to yank out the control line between A-C.

[Peter Spier]

Just an observation, here. The arcs appear to be half circles, so why not just draw circle chapes with the shape tool and divide them using the patfinder? Seems a lot easier than using the pen tool for this....

[Scott Falkner · Accepted solution]

Just an observation, here. The arcs appear to be half circles, so why not just draw circle chapes with the shape tool and divide them using the patfinder? Seems a lot easier than using the pen tool for this....

By @Peter Spier

That may be just for demonstration purposes.

If you hold Option or Alt as you drag out from the point using the pen tool you will effectively replace the point and its handles with the point you draw. This will let you add control handles. Unfortunately it will replace the control handle on the other side of the point. Maybe add some guides where that handle was so you can return the new handle to the same position.

[dublove]

Maybe the method of using a reference line works.