Pen and vector editing

Drawing with the Pen tool

Press P to activate the Pen tool.

• Click on the canvas to add a straight-line anchor point.
• Click and drag to add a curved anchor point — dragging controls the curve handles on both sides.
• Click the first point or press Enter to close and finish the path.
• Press Esc to finish the path without closing it (open path).

Entering vector edit mode

After drawing a vector, double-click it to enter vector edit mode. You can also select an existing vector or shape and press Enter.

In vector edit mode:

• Click an anchor point to select it.
• Drag a selected anchor to move it.
• Drag a curve handle to adjust the curve on either side.
• Click an empty segment to add a new anchor point.
• Select an anchor and press Delete / Backspace to remove it.
• Press Esc or Enter to exit vector edit mode.

Anchor types

Each anchor point has a type that controls its curve handles:

• Mirrored — both handles stay equal in length and direction, producing a smooth curve.
• Disconnected — each handle can be moved independently.
• Straight — no curve handles; the anchor produces a sharp corner.

Click the anchor type buttons in the inspector or inline toolbar to change the type of a selected anchor.

Vector edit shortcuts

Tips

• Use fewer anchor points for cleaner, smoother paths — add more only where the shape requires it.
• Zoom in before editing anchors to see handles clearly.
• Use Q (lasso mode) to drag-select multiple anchors at once.
• After finishing a path, use Outline Stroke to convert a stroked path into a filled shape you can further edit.

Related articles

• Edit anchor points
• Boolean operations
• Keyboard shortcuts