too many nodes after closing and joining two curves

[schattenrauschen]

I am trying to create an eye shape. I did this by closing and joining two quarter circle curves:

But now the right side of the shape still consists of two nodes on top of each other (see below, I dragged on of them away so you can see both of them ).

 

How can I join those two nodes, so that my eye shape consits only of two nodes and not three? If I just delete that node, the lower curve is not symmetric anymore and I can't figure out to get the symmetry back.

 

If I can't join them, what is a better way to create an eye shape?

[DWright]

Hi schattenrauschen,

I have attached a video on how to create the eye shape with two line joined as a single shape. 

 

joining lines.mov

[R C-R]

@DWright

 

Your method works fine for two-node lines curved with the Node tool as you did at the 9 second mark. However, it does not work for two-node curves derived from other shapes. For example, consider the two red curves in the attached curves example.afdesign file. The top red curve was created from a pie shape as shown in the 4 step procedure at the bottom; & then duplicated, inverted, & snapped into position just as you did in the video:

  

 

Boolean adding the red curves results in a single "(Curves)" object consisting of two closed curves:

 

I get similar results for two-node curves derived from other shapes -- it isn't a unique behavior for Pie shapes.

 

The behavior is even weirder when trying to do as the OP did & using the join & close method. Among other things, joining but not closing the curves & then moving an end curve off of the coincident one & back onto it deforms the curve because the extended handle on the moved node snaps back to a sharp point:

[John Rostron]

I wonder if the problem lies with the direction of the two arcs. Try flipping one about the vertical so that they point in different directions, and then join.

[R C-R]

4 minutes ago, John Rostron said:

I wonder if the problem lies with the direction of the two arcs. Try flipping one about the vertical so that they point in different directions, and then join.

I have tried that, & also experimenting with different stroke widths & filled & unfilled starting shapes. It makes no difference.

[dutchshader]

19 hours ago, schattenrauschen said:

If I can't join them, what is a better way to create an eye shape?

create a ellipse convert to curves, convert left and right node to sharp.

 

[R C-R]

8 minutes ago, dutchshader said:

create a ellipse convert to curves, convert left and right node to sharp.

I think the idea was to end up with an eye shape that used only two nodes, so your method won't quite do that because it produces a four node curve.

[Aammppaa]

There must be so many alternative ways to do this...

 

Another option would be to use the Crescent tool.