Question: I am trying to round the corners of a custom shape, but it is just straightening the original curves out.

*Note: This is in Illustrator CS5*

**Here is the shape before the effect:**

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/luohd.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/luohd.png)

The 3 "corners should be rounded".

**Here is what happens when I use the effect:**

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3jyfQ.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3jyfQ.png)

**How can I preserve the curves, and just round the actual corners?**

Answer: 
**Purely for comparison’s sake**, I thought it would be good to show what Adobe Illustrator CC (in this case, I am using v2017) can do:

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8d2hQ.gif)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/8d2hQ.gif)

1. With the selection tool, select your entire path
2. On a Mac, hold down `COMMAND` key (`CONTROL` on Win).
3. Click and drag on the corner radius circle icons that appear
4. You can optionally select a specific point and just round the corner for that part of your shape

Double click one of the circles for corner options:

[![](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3ci1E.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/3ci1E.png)
My way is easier if you have good experience with the pen tool.

First, make your triangle. In my case, I just made a box, deleted 1 anchor point, joined the two points creating a segment opposite to the middle point and rotated about 45 degrees (please correct me if I'm wrong). 

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sXe3V.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/sXe3V.png)

Next, hit the convert path to rounded corner button. I'm pretty sure this feature is already in CS5. Make sure you have the point selected when doing this.

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZjWmA.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZjWmA.png)

Do this one by one for each of your points. The one in the middle should be the easiest one to convert. The one at the top and the bottom are a bit tricky but nothing a pen tool can't fix :)

As you go each of the top and the bottom points, with your Direct Selection Tool active, grab the furthest to the left angle for the point being selected and while holding Shift, bring it to the center creating a nice straight side but still rounded corners. 

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Z6DvZ.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Z6DvZ.png)

It should look something like this:

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Jj8Te.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Jj8Te.png)

Again, do the same thing for the bottom and you will get this:

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WQiBV.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/WQiBV.png)

I hope this helps! Please let me know if I confuse you. I'll be glad to clarify myself some more.