Connect Tool
Connect is an Astute Graphics tool for Adobe Illustrator that connects two open paths (or closes an open path) while keeping the new segment tangent (or perpendicular) to the originals. Connect is part of the SubScribe plugin.
Tool Location and Cursor Appearance
The Connect tool appears in Illustrator’s main toolbar (which must be in Advanced mode: View > Toolbars > Advanced). Stacked under it are the Straighten and Lock Unlock tools.
Connect Tool Location
The Connect tool’s cursor is a standard crosshair.
Connect Tool Cursor
Connect Tool Operation
To use the Connect tool, click on one end of an open path (the cursor will snap to the endpoint with a ring annotation), and then click on another end. The path or paths do not need to be selected.
Connect Tool Tangent Connection Example
By default, the new segment will join in a tangent (smooth) manner, but by holding down Option/Alt, the tool can be made to connect perpendicularly (at a 90° angle).
Connect Tool Perpendicular Mode
If two paths with different styles are connected, the single connected path takes the style of the path which is lower in the stacking order.
Before releasing the mouse button after clicking on the second endpoint, the cursor may be dragged to adjust the handle lengths of the connecting segment. Dragging upwards or downwards changes the lengths of both handles equally; dragging left or right shifts the “balance” between the handles (making one shorter and the other longer).
Connect Preferences
Doubleclicking the Connect tool in the toolbox (or pressing the Enter key when the tool is selected) will bring up its preferences dialog:
Connect Preferences Dialog
1. Snap Tolerance
The tolerance for the cursor when snapping to existing path endpoints, in pixels.
2. Annotation Color
Allows a choice of colors in which to annotate the cursor snapping ring, from among red, blue, magenta, green, black, and grey.
3. Select Connected Points
When enabled, after the connecting segment is created, the selection will be changed to the two anchor points that were connected.
4. Longer Default Handles
The automatically-generated handles on the connecting segment have, by default, a length equal to one-third of the distance between the two anchor points. This generally results in a smooth curve. When Longer Default Handles is enabled, this value is increased slightly to approximately 0.3905 of the distance, which has the property of being able to recreate a circular right-angle corner.
5. Informational area
Shows a brief description of each preference control when the cursor is being hovered over it.