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Live Corners

You can select one or more corner anchor points in a simple path, or multiple anchor points across several paths in your artwork. When selected, a Live Corners widget appears next to each corner point. Dragging a widget causes the corner point to change shape, into one of three available corner types. The three available corner types are Round, Inverted Round, and Chamfer.

Note:

For more information, see the article on Live Shapes.  

The Live Corners widget

The Live Corners widget is enabled when you select the Direct Selection tool and you have a path selection containing corner points. A Live Corners widget is displayed next to a corner when you select:

  • One or more path(s) that have corners.
  • One or more rounded corners
Live Corners widgets

A. The Live Corners widget, when a path contains only one corner point B. Live Corners widgets, when multiple corners are selected C. Live Corners widgets, when paths are selected (in this case, two opposite rounded paths) 

Dragging the Live Corners widget with the Direct Selection Tool (A) is the easiest way to convert a corner into a round corner. Also, when you hover the mouse on a Live Corners widget, the corresponding round corner is highlighted (shown below).

A rounded corner highlighted when the mouse hovers over, or is near, a Live Corners widget, and a mouse pointer close to a Live Corners widget

A. A rounded corner is highlighted when the mouse hovers over, or is in proximity of, a Live Corners widget B. Mouse pointer close to a Live Corners widget 

Note:

If you prefer not to see the Live Corners widget when you select the Direct Selection Tool, you can turn it off from View > Hide Corner Widget.

The Corners dialog

The Corners dialog lets you manipulate corner settings. In the Corners dialog you can set the corner style, the radius of the corner, and the type of rounding.

To access the corner settings:

  • Double-click the Live Corners widget.
  • Select the corner and click the Corners  link in the Control Panel or the Properties panel.
    You can also specify a corner radius in the Corners drop-down list.
Types of rounding with the Live Corners Tool
Modifying settings in the Corners dialog causes a corner to appear differently

A. Live Corners widget B. Round corner C. Associated anchor points D. Inverted round corner E. Chamfer corner 

How to: Using the Live Corners widget

  1. With your artwork open, using the Direct Selection Tool (A) automatically selects all the Live Corner widgets. However, you can select one or more specific corners - do one of the following:

    • To select one corner, click one Live Corner widget.
    • To select specific corners, press Shift and click the Live Corner widgets you want to select.
    • To de-select a selected corner, press Shift and click the specific Live Corner widget. 
    Note:

    Paths that you may select include: 

    • One or more corner points on a path
    • More than one corner points on different paths

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Drag the Live Corners widget.
    • Click the Corners link in the Control Panel or the Properties panel, and set the options available.
    • Double-click the Live Corners widget, and then modify the options in the Corners dialog.
    Using the Live Corners widget

    A. Original corner B. Direction in which the mouse is being dragged C. Preview of the round corner D. Live Corners widget E. Radius of the corner applied F. Cursor indicating corner style being applied 

Change the corner style

To change the corner style, do one of the following:

  • While dragging a Live Corners widget, click the Up or Down arrow keys. The cursor is changed to display the current Corner style.
  • In the Control Panel or the Properties panel, click the Corners link to open the Corners pop-up panel. Select the corner style you want to apply.
  • Double-click the Live Corners widget to display the Corners dialog, and select a Corner style from the dialog.
  • Alt/Option + click on a widget cycles through the corner styles.  
Changing the corner style

A. Round corner B. Inverted Round corner C. Chamfer corner 

Considerations

  • You can use the Live Corners feature multiple times on a corner, and modify either the radius or the corner style. However, if an associated anchor point in the corner is dragged or manipulated in such a way that the roundness is lost, then the widget will no longer appear for that corner.
  • A corner cannot be rounded beyond a point where the rounded corner:
    • reaches the end of the path, or,
    • reaches an adjacent anchor point, or,
    • reaches an anchor point being created while modifying an adjacent corner.
  • When you drag a Live Corners Widget to the maximum possible point, the rounded corner is displayed as a red path.
A red path indicating that the maximum radius for the given corner has been achieved

A. A red path indicates that the maximum radius for the given corner has been achieved B. Direction in which the Live Corner widget is being pulled C. Live Corner Widget 

You can enable the Real-Time Drawing and Editing feature to enhance the live appearance of objects when you work on them. To enable this feature:

[Windows] Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance > Real-Time Drawing and Editing.

[macOS] Choose Illustrator > Preferences > Performance > Real-Time Drawing and Editing.

Live Corners widget preferences

Hide Corner Widget

  • If you prefer not to see the Live Corners widget when you select the Direct Selection Tool, you can turn it off from View > Hide Corner Widget.
  • If you want to continue seeing the Live Corners widget when you select the Direct Selection Tool, click View > Show Corner Widget.

Maximum Angle Limit

Users have the option to hide the Live Corners widget for corner angles greater than a specified value. You can specify this value in the Preferences > Selection & Anchor Display > Hide Corner Widget for angles greater than field.

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