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Version: 2.0.0-preview

Path editor

A tab for editing a path (the outline of a shape made up of Bezier curves and similar segments) by manipulating its control points directly. It is only meaningful while you are editing a shape that uses a path.

Tab characteristics​

  • Open by default: No
  • Allow multiple instances: No

How to open​

Open it from the menu bar via View → Tools → Path editor.

In the property editor, click the fountain pen button next to a shape's path entry and choose Edit in tab to automatically open this tab and start editing that shape. Performing the same action again ends editing. Choosing Edit in frame instead enters a separate mode where you edit directly on the preview (the Path editor tab is not used).

Layout​

  • Editing canvas (center): The work area where the path is shown and edited. The background shows a grid that follows the current zoom level, along with horizontal and vertical lines marking the scene origin.
  • Toolbar: Choose Move (V), Pen (P), Bend (B), or Hand (H), zoom in or out, and fit the path to the canvas.
  • Point inspector (right): Edit the selected anchor's position and its incoming and outgoing control points. For multiple anchors, Selection position translates the selection together. Handle linkage and stroke/fill visibility are also available here.

In a narrow tab, open Point settings from the toolbar to access the same inspector in a popup.

While a shape is being edited, the canvas displays each segment's anchor (endpoint) plus the control points (handles) belonging to the selected segment and the next segment. Dotted guides are drawn from the selected segment's handles toward their anchors.

Working with the path​

Manipulating control points (anchors) and handles​

  • Anchors and handles can be moved with left drag.
  • The change is recorded in the undo/redo history when you release the drag.
  • Clicking an anchor selects the segment it belongs to and shows the related handles.

Selecting anchors​

  • Shift, Ctrl, or Cmd + click an anchor to add it to or remove it from the selection.
  • In Move mode, drag an empty area of the canvas to make a rectangular selection; hold Shift to extend the selection.
  • Press Ctrl + A (Cmd + A on macOS) to select every anchor.
  • Press Esc to clear the selection.
  • When multiple anchors are selected, dragging one of them moves all selected anchors together.

Fine-tuning with the keyboard​

Use the arrow keys (← ↑ → ↓) to nudge the selected anchors by one unit at a time, or ten units while holding Shift. The change is committed to history when the key is released.

Hold Shift while dragging an anchor to constrain movement horizontally or vertically. When dragging a handle, Shift snaps its angle and Alt (Option on macOS) temporarily lets it move independently.

Control point drag modes​

Choose how the opposite handle responds when you drag a handle (control point).

  • Symmetry: The opposite handle moves with the same angle and length, mirrored around the anchor.
  • Asymmetry: The opposite handle follows the angle only; its length is preserved.
  • Separately: The opposite handle is left untouched (edited independently).

You can switch the drag mode from the point inspector or from the right-click menu on the canvas.

Drawing and bending​

  • Pen (P): Click to add points, or drag to create curve handles. Click the starting point to close a path when the existing geometry supports it.
  • Bend (B): Click an anchor to add or remove handles. Double-clicking an anchor in Move mode performs the same action.
  • Double-click a path edge in Move mode to insert an anchor.
  • Press Enter to finish drawing; Esc cancels a gesture in progress and clears the selection.

Adding a segment​

Right-click an empty area of the canvas to add a new segment at the click position.

  • Cubic Bezier curve
  • Quadratic Bezier curve
  • Line
  • Elliptical arc
  • Conic

The added segment is appended to the end of the current path, and its control points are placed automatically near the midpoint between it and the previous anchor.

Deleting a segment​

Right-click an anchor or a control point to bring up the Delete menu. This removes the segment from the path.

Use Delete or Backspace to remove selected anchors.

Right-click menu on the canvas​

Right-clicking an empty area exposes the following options in addition to segment creation above.

  • Drag mode toggle: Symmetry / Asymmetry / Separately
  • Reset zoom

Visibility toggles (stroke and fill)​

The point inspector lets you show or hide the stroke and fill of the shape being edited independently. Show only what you need depending on how you want to inspect the shape.

Panning and zooming the canvas​

  • Mouse wheel: Pan the canvas.
  • Ctrl + wheel (Cmd + wheel on macOS): Zoom in / out around the pointer.
  • Hand (H), Space + drag, or middle-button drag: Pan the canvas.
  • + / -: Zoom in / out. 0 resets the view.
  • Shift + 1: Fit the whole path. Shift + 2: Fit the selection.
  • Right-click menu → Reset zoom: Reset the zoom level and position.

The background grid spacing follows the zoom level. Zoom only affects how the canvas is displayed; it does not change the actual size of the scene.

Animation and playback​

  • The position of each control point reflects its value at the current time on the timeline playhead.
  • During playback, editing on the canvas is disabled and the canvas switches to a shape preview.
  • When you drag a control point that has animation in Symmetry or Asymmetry mode, the handles on adjacent keyframes are also adjusted automatically so they remain consistent.

Source​