Hi.

For paths that contains three or more nodes, I often is unable to "get" the node handles for the outer nodes. It seems that the node handles is right inside the node itself.

I use to lead the mouse very close to the node, hovering over the path, and drag. Then in most cases the end node handle gets out and being editable.
But in some cases this won't work. I found a nasty workaround. I make another node next to the outer one, make it's handle appear, and then deletes the temporary node. During that time, the end node handle gets visible - or I can make it visible.

Any idea? The Ctrl+Click (to get the node handles) seems to work only on nodes that is in between, not the end nodes. Is it possible that some snap settings can cause this?
I just played around and it seems that disabling "Snap to cusp nodes" made it easier to grab the handle. I did it just once, and there is many possible settings.

Does it make sense that enabling the "Snap to cusp nodes" will make it harder to make the end node handle appear?

>Help >Keys and Mouse Reference

Using the Control Bar
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Editing.html#Paths-Editing-Node
These commands require at least two adjacent nodes be selected. To select a segment place your cursor over a segment that connects two nodes, the mouse cursor (v0.48) will change from a thin arrow to a thin arrow with a hand symbol added to it, now click the segment. The "NOTIFICATION" display bottom center of the inkscape interface will display a message reading "2 of X nodes selected. yada yada..."
(Using the Mouse only)
You could also DRAG the segment instead of clicking it, this will automatically extract a curve handle.

Using Combination Keys (keys + mouse)
http://inkscape.org/doc/keys048.html#id2407192
Shift+Drag EXTRACTS the node's handle
Ctrl+Click (handle not node) RETRACTS the node's handle

Using Shortcut keys (keys only, no mouse)
select the given end node with the Edit Path by Nodes tool.
Using Alt+> and or Ctrl+> EXTRACTS a selected node's handle, HOLDING down the > key will increase the Curve Handle's distance from the associated path node. You may want to try this since you have SNAPPING to NODES enabled.
Ctrl+Click (handle not node) RETRACTS the node's handle

Change segment(s) http://inkscape.org/doc/keys048.html#12 in the Tool Controls Bar for the "Edit Path by Nodes tool". The Controls Bar is located just above of the canvas.

vwanweb wrote:Shift+Drag EXTRACTS the node's handle

Thank you. That's exactly what I was looking for
Also the link (the first one) is very useful. I didn't manage to find that one by googling around.

Happy now, jes