Accessing Vertex Edit Mode

Double-click any vector shape (rectangle, ellipse, star, or custom path) to enter Vertex Edit mode. The selection changes from a bounding box to a point-level view showing all vertices.

Warning: For primitives (rectangle, ellipse, star), entering Vertex Edit mode converts the parametric shape into a raw path. This is a destructive operation — corner radius, arc angles, and star parameters are lost and replaced by explicit anchor points. A confirmation dialog warns before the conversion.

Selecting Vertices

•Click a single vertex to select it
•Click and drag in empty space to marquee-select multiple vertices
•Shift+click to add or remove individual vertices from the selection
•Ctrl+A in Vertex Edit mode to select all vertices

Moving Vertices

•Drag selected vertices to move them freely
•Use arrow keys for 1px precision nudging
•Shift+arrow for 10px nudging
•Hold Shift while dragging to constrain movement to the horizontal or vertical axis

Adding & Removing Vertices

Adding Vertices

Click anywhere on a path segment (between two existing vertices) to insert a new vertex at that point. The new vertex is a smooth point that does not alter the shape — it preserves the existing curve.

Removing Vertices

Select a vertex and press Delete. The path segment between the deleted vertex's neighbors is smoothly reconnected.

Simplify Path

A path simplification function reduces the total vertex count while preserving the visual appearance as closely as possible. Accessed via Path → Simplify. A tolerance slider controls how aggressively vertices are removed.

Handle Editing

With a smooth vertex selected, its bezier handles appear. Drag either handle to modify the curve.

•Mirror Handles: Hold Alt while dragging a handle to break the mirror relationship, converting to an Asymmetric point.
•Retract Handle: Double-click a handle to retract it (set length to zero), effectively converting the smooth vertex to a corner vertex.
•Extend Handle: Alt+drag from an anchor point that has no handle to extend a handle and convert from corner to smooth.

Path Operations on Vertices

Break Path at Point

Select a vertex on a closed path and use Path → Break at Point to open the path at that vertex. The path remains otherwise intact but is no longer closed.

Join Open Endpoints

Select the two endpoints of an open path and use Path → Join Points to connect them with a straight segment, closing the path.

Align Handles

With multiple smooth vertices selected, Path → Align Handles → Horizontal / Vertical rotates all selected handles to align with a common axis.

Vertex & Path Editing