Hi all, I imagine this has come up dozens of times but despite reading lots of threads on this forum, I can’t figure out how to add a second handle when a node only has one.
I have tried holding Cmd, Opt, and Ctrl and nothing adds a second handle. Is there a function or shortcut I am missing?
There are always two handles on a curve segment. You read that right, segment, not node. Handles belong to segments. And there are line segments without handles, and curve segments with exactly two handles.
If you want to convert a line segment into a curve segment, you pick the select tool (V) and Opt-click on the segment. In case you need orthogonal handles, you add the shift key, i.e. Opt-Shift-click. For converting a curve segment into a line segment, select and delete one of the handles, and both will disappear.
It sounds like you are looking at a curve segment that only has one handle, which would mean that it is a quadratic curve segment. Go to Path > Other > Convert to Cubic.
How/why did you import these outlines?
It worked! You have to Opt-click the segment! I feel very silly, but it’s super simple.
Thank you!
Don’t sweat it. It’s years of Illustrator indoctrination we need to get out of our systems. Happened to all of us.