How to Join Nodes in Illustrator

Joining nodes, also known as anchor points, in Adobe Illustrator is a fundamental technique for connecting open paths or closing existing ones. This process allows you to create seamless shapes and complex vector artwork.

The most common and reliable way to join two open anchor points in Illustrator is by using the **Join command**.

## Understanding the Join Command

The **Join command** is specifically designed to connect two open anchor points. This action can serve two primary purposes:

1.  **Closing a Path:** Connecting the start and end points of a single open path.
2.  **Merging Paths:** Connecting an open anchor point from one path to an open anchor point on another path, effectively merging them into a single path.

According to the reference, you can utilize the Join command by **selecting two anchor points with the Direct Selection Tool (A) and then choosing Object > Path > Join (Ctrl+J or Command+J)**.

## Step-by-Step Guide to Joining Anchor Points

Follow these simple steps to join open anchor points using the Join command:

1.  **Select the Direct Selection Tool (A):** This tool is crucial because it allows you to select individual anchor points.
2.  **Select the Anchor Points:** Click directly on the two open anchor points you wish to join. Ensure *only* these two points are selected. You can Shift-click to select multiple points.
3.  **Execute the Join Command:**
    *   Go to the top menu: **Object > Path > Join**.
    *   Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut: **Ctrl+J (Windows)** or **Command+J (macOS)**.

Illustrator will then connect the two selected open anchor points with a straight line segment, effectively joining them into a single path. If the points were the ends of a single path, it will close the path. If they were ends of different paths, it will merge the two paths into one.

## Tips for Successful Joins

*   **Only Open Ends:** The Join command only works on *open* anchor points. It cannot join points in the middle of a path segment or already closed paths.
*   **Joining Multiple Points:** If you select more than two open endpoints and apply the Join command, Illustrator will typically attempt to join the two *closest* selected endpoints.
*   **Aligning Points:** When joining points from different paths, they don't need to be perfectly aligned, but joining them may result in a diagonal segment. For a cleaner join, especially if you want points from different paths to meet at the exact same spot before joining, consider using **Object > Path > Average (Ctrl+Alt+J or Command+Option+J)** on the two points *before* joining them. This command averages their positions, moving them to the midpoint between them.

By mastering the Join command and the Direct Selection Tool, you gain precise control over your paths and shapes in Adobe Illustrator.