Comments Sometimes when we look at artwork, paths appear to be continuous, but when we modify the path thickness, we can see sharp edges where the path ends are near one another. It’s then that we realize that the path is not continuous, but is composed of multiple segments, or open paths. In these situations, it can make perfect sense to connect, or join the open ends.
Adobe Illustrator CS5 delivers new capabilities for joining paths that simplifies the process and adds new options for the joins.
This post explores all the available ways to join paths in Illustrator CS5.
1) Pen Tool: If you want full control over how anchor points of the same path or different paths are to be joined, this is the way to go. But if the anchor points you’re trying to join are “overlapping,” don’t use the Pen tool, instead, choose another method outlined below. Joining paths with the Pen tool did not change in Illustrator CS5.
First, select the Pen tool, then click on the first endpoint to be joined. Now click on the other endpoint to be joined. When you precisely position the Pen tool over the other endpoint, a small merge symbol appears next to the pointer. If you click and drag after these clicks, you’ll get the control handles that help you adjust the path’s curve. If these endpoints are on separate paths, the final path will have the appearance of the last path clicked with the Pen tool.
2) Object>Path>Join (Cmd+J on Mac, or Ctrl+J on Win): Illustrator CS5 adds new functionality to this method, and makes joining two distantly-placed anchor points really easy. In fact, I now use this method for joining paths more often than the Pen tool.
The rule for using this join command is simple:
Select the objects to be joined (yes, objects, not the anchor points), then choose Object>Path>Join (Cmd /Ctrl + J). The nearest anchor points will be connected.
And if you want to join “preferred” anchor points? Simple. Just select the desired anchor points and press Cmd or Ctrl + J.
3) Join overlapping anchor points (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Opt+J): There is no change in this functionality for Illustrator CS5 except for the new keyboard shortcut. Using this shortcut will open a dialog to choose either a Corner or Smooth option. A Smooth join is possible only when the end-points are smooth (i.e. both have handles).
And finally, what does it take to close an open path? Well, try it for yourself.
Great post!
3) Join overlapping anchor points (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Opt+J) – What is the Opt?
“Opt” is the alt/option key.
but what happppend to the smooth or corner popup window and why is it that two smooth points when joined are joined to a corner point????
The Smooth/Corner join dialog and the functionality is same as earlier. Except for the keyboard shortcut which is Cmd+Shift+Opt+J (Mac) or Ctrl+Shift+Alt+J (Win) in CS5. To get the dialog, select the two overlapping endpoints (as anchor points) and then press the new keyboard shortcut.
From the dialog select ‘Corner’ or ‘Smooth’ as needed. For Smooth join is it a requirement that both endpoints ‘must’ be smooth, otherwise the result will be a corner join, irrespective of what option has been selected in the dialog.
Well, hooray. That essential feature only took 15 versions to add as a standard feature.
The third-party script by JET I use as a workaround in CS4 is one of the tools I use every day. Maybe I’ll finally upgrade. It’s going to take a few more versions to get AI to work like FreeHand but you’re making progress.
Still can’t join two separate open paths (character outlines with gaps cut in them), or two closed paths (character outlines) that overlap. How are both of those done? The Pathfinder cmmd or Pen tool produces diagnostic.
When outlining a character, the result is an Compound Path. You first need to Release this Compound Path (Object > Compound Path > Release) to make Join work. Try this and see if it helps.
This is great to know. The shortcuts make it super easy to join paths. This is a great help. Thanks
Thanks for these tips. However, I am still having trouble with one of the most basic tasks – joining straight lines so that the next new anchor point joins up exactly with the first line. Each time I try to do this, the new line seems to start from a slight distance away from the original end point of the first line. How do i get each path to join exactly?
This is all very well, but the “join” command sometimes simply doesn’t function as advertised, and after 25 years of using Illustrator I still wind up in the weeds, unable to join two lines. It happens when the two lines are in the same layer, in Preview or wireframe, connected at the other end or not, same weight or not, using the menu command or keyboard shortcuts, It simply doesn’t work reliably. I have found a lot of things that will prevent joining, e.g., stray points in the field, a double line deeper than the one I am trying to join…I know most of the tricks. So why is it still a problem? Got any ideas?
In most of the cases where joining anchor-point fails, it has been observed that the paths are compound paths. It is best to make sure that the individual paths, when selected, read ‘Paths’ in the Control Panel and Compound Path. Hope this helps.
I’m using AI CS5 on Windows 7 maching and the Ctrl+Shift+Alt+J doesn’t work for joining multiple paths. This is quite frustrating. Do I need to get a third-party plug-in like Concatenate?