Joining paths
Suppose you draw a “U” shape and later decide you want to close the shape, essentially joining the ends of the “U” with a straight path. If you select the path, you can use the Join command to create a line segment between the end points, closing the path. When more than one open path is selected, you can join them together to create a closed path. You can also join the end points of two separate paths. Next, you will join the two paths to create a single closed path.
- Select the Selection tool (
) in the Tools panel. Drag a selection marquee across the two paths. Make sure not to select the line you just drew. - Choose Object > Path > Join. Notice that the anchor points on the left side of the paths are now joined with a path.
- Choose Object > Path > Join once more.
- Choose Select > Deselect to see the closed path.
- Choose View > Preview.
- Click the joined path to select it and press the letter D to apply the default black 1 pt stroke and white fill. Change the Stroke weight in the Control panel to 2 pt.
- Select the Ellipse tool (
) in the Tools panel and click the artboard. In the Ellipse dialog box, change the Width to 1.1 and the Height to 0.35. Click OK. - Change the Fill color to black and change the Stroke weight to 0 in the Control panel.
- Press the letter V to select the Selection tool. Drag the ellipse from the center to the bottom of the vertical path you drew. Snap the center to the bottom of the path.
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When you apply the Join command to two or more open paths, Illustrator first looks for and joins the paths that have end points stationed closest to each other. This process is repeated every time you apply the Join command until all paths are joined.
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>Don’t worry if the bottom of the lamp is off the bottom of the artboard. Later, you will align all of the lamps to each other.
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Open path vs. closed path
As you draw, you create a line called a path. A path is made up of one or more straight or curved segments. The beginning and end of each segment is marked by anchor points, which work like pins holding a wire in place. A path can be closed (for example, a circle), or open, with distinct endpoints (for example, a wavy line).
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Both open and closed paths can have fills applied to them.
—From Illustrator Help