Simplify a path

The Simplify path feature helps you remove unnecessary anchor points and generate a simplified optimal path for your complex artwork, without making any significant changes in the original path shape.

Simplifying path gives you the following benefits:

• Easy and accurate path editing
• Reduced file size
  
• Faster file display and printing

• To remove imperfections in the traced path when using Image Trace.
  
• To edit only a portion of the complex artwork and to create sharp or smooth paths in a selected artwork region.
• To reduce the number of anchor points when expanding a shape using the Variable Width tool in Illustrator.
• To edit an artwork created using mobile apps for drawing, painting, or sketching and then imported in Illustrator.

Simplify the path automatically

Simplify the path manually

To further simplify and fine-tune the path, use the Reduce Anchor Point Slider. By default, this slider is set to an auto-simplified value. The position and value of the slider specifies how closely the simplified path matches the curves of the original path.

• Minimum Anchor Points (): When the slider is close or equal to the minimum value, the anchor points are less, but the modified path curve will have some minor deviations from the original path. 
• Maximum Anchor Points (): When the slider is close or equal to the maximum value, the modified path curve will have more points and a closer fit to the original curve.

Advanced simplification controls

To open the Simplify dialog with advanced options, click More Options ().

Example: Simplifying and editing the path using advanced options

In this example, we'd try to achieve the following using the Simplify Path dialog:

• Reduce anchor points of a selected region.
• Create sharp corner angles in a selected region.
• Convert the path to straight lines in a selected region.

This is how we achieved the desired artwork

Create smooth paths

You can use the Smooth tool or the Smooth slider to smooth paths.

Use the Smooth tool

After you reduce the number of anchor points, you can use the Smooth   tool to remove stray points and get a smoother path.

Create smooth curves

To get a smooth curve while keeping the opposite curves intact, follow these steps:

Control smoothness level

To change the amount of smoothing, double-click the Smooth   tool and set the following options:

Controls how far you have to move your mouse or stylus before Illustrator adds a new anchor point to the path. For example, a Fidelity value of 2.5 means that tool movements of less than 2.5 pixels aren’t registered. Fidelity can range from 0.5 to 20 pixels; the higher the value, the smoother and less complex the path.

Controls the amount of smoothing that Illustrator applies when you use the tool. Smoothness can range from 0% to 100%; the higher the value, the smoother the path.

Use the Smooth slider

For better smoothing control, use the Smooth slider. Select the path, navigate to Object > Path > Smooth, and move the slider to achieve the required level of smoothness. You can also select the auto-setting   icon to smooth out the path automatically. To smooth a section of the path, select the anchor points in that section using the Direct Selection   tool, and then move the slider.

Smoothen complex paths using the Smooth slider.

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