Select the Direct Selection tool, select the segment you want to move.
Last updated on
Oct 22, 2026
Learn how to modify straight and curved path segments in Adobe Illustrator.
Move segments, adjust anchor points, or reshape curves to refine existing paths.
Use the Direct Selection tool for precise control over individual segments and anchor points, or the Reshape tool to stretch parts of a path while keeping its overall shape.
You can draw new paths with the Pen tool or connect and join open paths at their endpoints.
Note
When you move an anchor point that connects two segments, both segments change. Direction handles on smooth anchor points control the curve shape on both sides when you first draw them. When you edit an existing smooth point with the Direct Selection tool, you change only the side you're dragging.
Move straight segments
Drag the segment to its new position.
Adjust straight segment length or angle
Select the Direct Selection tool, select an anchor point on the segment you want to adjust.
Drag the anchor point to the desired position. Shift-drag to constrain the adjustment to multiples of 45°.
Constraining Handles in the Perpendicular Direction, explaining the default behavior and what happens when you hold the shift key in above screenshot.
For rectangles, use the Selection tool and resize with the bounding box handles instead.
Adjust curved segments
Select the Direct Selection tool, then select a curved segment or an anchor point at either end. Direction lines appear if present.
To adjust the segment's position, drag the segment itself. Shift-drag to constrain movement to multiples of 45°.
To adjust the segment's shape, drag the anchor point or the direction point at the end of a direction line. Shift-drag to constrain movement to multiples of 45°.
Drag the anchor point, or drag the direction point
Hold Shift while dragging to constrain the direction handles perpendicular to each other, creating semi-circular curves with equal handle lengths.
You can also apply transformations, such as scaling or rotation, to selected segments or anchor points.
Delete a segment
Select the Direct Selection tool and select the segment you want to delete.
Press Backspace (Windows) or Delete (macOS) to remove the selected segment.
Pressing Backspace or Delete again erases the rest of the path.
Nudge with the keyboard
Select the Direct Selection tool and select the anchor point or path segment.
Press any arrow key to move 1 pixel in that direction. Hold Shift and press an arrow key to move 10 pixels.
You can change the nudge distance in Preferences by adjusting the Keyboard Increment value. When you change this setting, holding Shift nudges 10 times the specified distance.
Stretch paths with Reshape tool
Select the Selection tool and select the entire path.
Select the Reshape tool (located under the Scale tool).
Position the cursor over an anchor point or path segment to set it as a focal point and select it. If you select a segment, a highlighted anchor point with a square appears.
Shift-click additional anchor points or segments to add more focal points. You can highlight as many as needed.
Drag any highlighted anchor point to adjust the path. The selected focal points pull the surrounding segments while maintaining the path's overall shape.
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