That sounds like the "Reduce Nodes" feature in Corel Draw.

Very, very useful.

When I trace over an existing drawing, I just click along the curve at reasonable intervals to make a reproduction consisting of short, straight line segments.

Then I reduce nodes and it smooths out the curve and gives me fewer, manageable control points. I then make slight adjustments from there. It's a very fast way for me to build a complex curve that matches the original drawing.

Ed