Path tool problems

[Mike Clasby]

“V”, select other end, “G”

Do you mean the Pen Tool? Are you drawing an open mask?

Do you mean you want to draw from the other end of the open mask?

The only way I know (I don’t use the Pen Tool that much) is:

I’m assuming your using the Pen Tool…
So “V” gives you the Selection Tool, then
Select the Vertex on the other end (where you want to switch to), then
“G” gives you the Pen Toll Again, now you can add to the mask on that end.

[Richert Goyette]

Perhaps a simplier method:

1. With the pen tool selected, press
a. Option to change it to the convert points tool
b. Control to change it to the selection tool

2. When you are finished with the process, just let up on the modifier key and you will be back to the pen tool

Rich

[Darby Edelen]

[yikesmikes] “So “V” gives you the Selection Tool, then
Select the Vertex on the other end (where you want to switch to), then
“G” gives you the Pen Toll Again, now you can add to the mask on that end.”

By the way, when you’re using the pen tool holding cmd (or ctrl on PC) will give you the selection tool. Conversely, if you’re using the selection tool and you hold opt (or alt) it will give you a context sensitive pen tool.

[Michael Bayouth]

Gang,

I appriaciate all your suggestions, but it’s not the problem I’m having.
I’m not looking to change tools while working with the pen tool, I’m looking to
change directions after I have pulled a curve to an entiarly new direction,
while holding the prior curve I just pulled.

It’s like, in Illustrator, when you use the pen tool
and you have pulled a curve, you simply hold down the
option key and it holds the prior curve you just pulled but
allows you to now go in a new different direction.

Does this explain it better? AE does not do this.
The option key turns the pen into the convert tool and I loose the curve behind it.

Thanks!
BayDog

[Darby Edelen]

[BayDog] “Does this explain it better? AE does not do this.
The option key turns the pen into the convert tool and I loose the curve behind it.”

It’s not just the convert tool, you can use it to drag the bezier handles independently of one another. Which I think is what you’re asking to do?

[Michael Bayouth]

Yes, but its awarkward to adjust curves with the convert tool. Thanks for you botton line comment. I’ll make my paths in Illustrator and paste them in I guess.

Thanks!

BayDog