Extend and Twist Handles

Extend and Twist Handles

Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Description

The Extend and Twist Handles script allows you to precisely modify Bezier curve handles throughout your selected paths. It gives you powerful control over handle length and rotation, letting you refine curves with precision or create dramatic effects.

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Features

  • Extend or shorten handle lengths by percentage.
  • Rotate handles clockwise or counterclockwise.
  • Apply symmetrical rotation to maintain handle relationships.
  • Generate new handles on points that don't have them.
  • Preview changes in real-time before applying them.
  • Apply changes to multiple selected paths or points simultaneously.

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Handle Length -75, 0, and +75

 

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Installation

1. Download the Extend and Twist Handles.jsx script file.

2. Place it in your Adobe Illustrator Scripts folder:

⮑ Mac: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator [Version]/Presets/<Language>/Scripts/

⮑ Windows:C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [Version]\Presets\<Language>\Scripts\

3. Restart Illustrator if it's already running.

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Using the Script

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1. Select your path(s) in Adobe Illustrator

  • Select one or more paths.
  • Alternatively, you can use the Direct Selection Tool (white arrow) to select the specific anchor points you want to modify.

2. Run the script

  • Go to File > Scripts > Extend and Twist Handles.
  • Alternatively, you can select File > Scripts > Other Script... and navigate to and select the "Extend and Twist Handles.jsx" file.

3. Using the dialog interface

  • The dialog has three main sections: Handle Length, Handle Rotation and Additional Options.

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➊ Adjusting Handle Length

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  • Use the scrollbar or enter a specific percentage in the Handle Length panel.
  • 0% removes handles completely.
  • 100% maintains the original length.
  • Values up to 500% are supported to extend handles dramatically.
  • Use arrow keys (↑/↓) to adjust by 1%.
  • Hold Shift + arrow keys to adjust by. 10%

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➋ Adjusting Handle Rotation

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  1. Use the rotation slider to rotate handles clockwise (positive values) or counterclockwise (negative values)
  2. Or type a precise angle in the input field (-180° to +180°)
  3. Use arrow keys (↑/↓) to adjust by 1°
  4. Hold Shift + arrow keys to adjust by 10°

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➌ Configure Options

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  • Generate new handles: Creates handles on points that don't have them.
  • Modify only points with existing handles: Skips anchor points that don't already have direction handles.
  • Symmetrical handle rotation: Makes both left and right handles rotate in the same direction relative to the path
Symmetrical handle rotation

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➍ Apply or cancel your changes

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Preview Changes:

  • The "Preview" checkbox is enabled by default
  • Toggle it off/on to compare with the original handles

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  • Click "OK" to apply the changes
  • Click "Cancel" to revert to the original handle positions
  • Access this guide by clicking the help icon ⏼ in the script dialog

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☻ Conclusion

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Overall, Extend and Twist Handles script enhances Illustrator's bezier curve editing capabilities by allowing you to precisely adjust the length and rotation angle of control handles on selected anchor points.

This script is particularly useful for fine-tuning curves, creating symmetrical shapes, and making precise adjustments that would be difficult to achieve manually.

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Extend and Twist Handles

Version: 1.0.4

Updated:

Download Extend and Twist Handles

    • 1.0.0 – Initial Release.
    • 1.0.1 – Performance Optimization: Added redraw management for smoother previews during slider adjustments.
    • 1.0.2 – Enhanced Length Controls: Changed scale calculation to be more intuitive. 0% now removes handles, 100% keeps original length, and values above 100% extend handles.
    • 1.0.3 – Handle Generation: New option to generate handles for points that don't have them, based on path direction.
    • 1.0.4 – Symmetrical Handle Rotation: New option makes both left and right handles rotate in the same direction relative to the path.

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    Tested on MacOS:

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    • Adobe Illustrator 2023 (27.0)
    • Adobe Illustrator 2024 (28.1)
    • Adobe Illustrator 2025 (29.0)

  • Supported Versions:

    • Compatible with Adobe Illustrator CS6 and later, including Adobe Illustrator CC versions.

    Operating Systems:

    • Works on both macOS and Windows platforms.

  • End User License Agreement (EULA)

    Last Updated: 21.12.2024

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    This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between you (“User” or “Licensee”) and Samolevsky.com (“Licensor”) regarding the use of the Adobe Illustrator scripts (“Software”). By downloading, installing, or using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

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    1. Grant of License

    Licensor grants the User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to use the Software in accordance with this Agreement.

    • Free Software: If the Software is provided for free, you may use it for personal or commercial purposes without payment, subject to the restrictions outlined in this Agreement.
    • Paid Software: If the Software is provided for a fee, you may use it only after payment has been made in full.

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    2. Usage Rights

    You are permitted to:

    • Install and use the Software on devices you own or control.
    • Use the Software in your personal or commercial projects, subject to compliance with this Agreement.

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    3. Restrictions

    You may NOT:

    • Reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code, underlying ideas, or algorithms of the Software.
    • Reuse, incorporate, or integrate any portion of the Software into any other software, product, or project, except as expressly permitted by the Licensor in writing.
    • Resell, redistribute, or share the Software, whether in its original or modified form, without prior written consent from the Licensor.
    • Claim ownership of the Software or its underlying code.
    • Use the Software in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations.

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    4. Ownership

    The Software and all intellectual property rights therein remain the exclusive property of the Licensor. This Agreement does not transfer ownership of the Software or any intellectual property rights to the User.

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    5. Disclaimer of Warranties

    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

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    6. Limitation of Liability

    To the maximum extent permitted by law, Licensor shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, arising out of or related to the use or inability to use the Software.

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    7. Termination

    This Agreement is effective until terminated. Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately if you breach any term of this Agreement. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the Software and destroy any copies in your possession.

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    8. Updates and Support

    Licensor is not obligated to provide updates, support, or maintenance for the Software. However, updates may be provided at the sole discretion of the Licensor.

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    9. Governing Law

    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

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    10. Entire Agreement

    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Licensor concerning the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter.

    By using the Software, you acknowledge that you have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by its terms.

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    For any questions or concerns regarding this Agreement, please contact us at hello@samolevsky.com

Required Software

Adobe Illustrator

Learn more

Adobe Illustrator is a professional vector graphics software developed by Adobe Inc. It is widely used by designers, illustrators, and artists for creating a variety of digital artwork, including logos, icons, illustrations, typography, and complex design layouts. Illustrator is known for its precision and scalability, allowing users to create high-quality graphics that can be resized without losing clarity. Its features include powerful drawing tools, customizable brushes, advanced typography options, and seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Illustrator is a go-to tool for creative professionals working on projects for print, web, and multimedia platforms.

  • 🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder

    To install a Extend and Twist Handles.jsx script in Adobe Illustrator, you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator
can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:

    1. MacOS:
      Open Finder and navigate to:
      Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts.
    2. Windows:
      Open File Explorer and navigate to:
      C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
    3. Replace <Version> with your Adobe Illustrator version (e.g., 2025).
    4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).

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    🅱 Installing the Script

    1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Extend and Twist Handles.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
    2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
    3. Restart Adobe Illustrator: To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.

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    Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.

    1. Open Adobe Illustrator and ensure a document is active.
    2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
    3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
    4. Click the Extend and Twist Handles script to run it.
    5. The Extend and Twist Handles script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.

    ☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

Got questions?

Need help or have an idea to share? We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions, found a bug, have a feature request, or just want to share your feedback, reach out to us—we’re here for you! 

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