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6. The Tools in the Toolbox

## 6.4 Tools for Vector Layers

### 6.4.1 Edit Vector Points

You can select and edit path points with this tool. By holding Alt and clicking a path point the whole subpath will be selected.

If you select a curve point, two additional control points appear. By moving these control points, you can change the shape of the curve. Normally the two control points are moved symmetrically. Holding a modifier key changes this behaviour:

- , Alt key
If the symbol is activated, the corresponding point is changed as well. The symbol adjusts its status according to whether the current control points are already symmetrical.
The symbol has additional meaning when moving a path point: If it is not selected, the control points remain at their original position and are not moved.
- , Ctrl key (Windows), Command key (macOS)
The distance of the corresponding control point will be adjusted to the distance of the currently edited one.
- , Shift key
The control point can only be moved along its original direction.

You can directly modify a curve by clicking and dragging it. This will modify the previous and the following curve, too. If you don’t want that, you can hold the Shift key.

Double clicking on the path inserts a new point at the click position.

If you double click an already selected vector point, its position can be modified numerically:

With Move helper points synchronously, affected control points are also moved analogously to your manual change. If you double-click on a path point, these are the corresponding auxiliary points, if you double-click on a control point, this is the control point on the other side of the path point.

In addition, there are two working modes that only have an effect if several path points are selected and you double-click one of these points:

- With Move points relatively you enter the position of the clicked point. The other selected points will then be moved in the same way as the clicked point.
- At Set fix position you enter the direct position for all points.

The menu command Edit/Delete or the corresponding shortcut Del deletes the selected points. By default, the points are simply removed. However, if Delete Points With Correction is activated in the tool settings, PhotoLine tries to keep the curve by adjusting the preceding and following controls points.

If the symbol Edit Colors in Document is activated, you can edit gradients, patterns and vector patterns directly in the document window. With gradients it offers the following options:

- Clicking and dragging moves a gradient color.
- By clicking on the gradient line a new color is created.
- Alt+click on the gradient line moves the gradient.
- Dragging a color away deletes that color. But note, that there have to be at least two colors in the gradient.
- The context menu of the gradient line allows to modify the gradient type and the color space.

With pattern colors and vector pattern colors you will see a rectangle, which can be used to transform the pattern:

- The circle handle will change the location of the pattern.
- The rectangle handles will scale the pattern.
- Clicking and dragging a bit outside of the middle scale handles will shear the pattern, doing that with the corner handle will rotate it.

If you assign a new pattern to a vector layer while holden the Alt key, the new pattern will adopt the transformation of the previous pattern.

The Tool Settings offer a way to invert the direction of a subpath by using Invert Direction of Subpath. It will change the direction of all subpaths containing selected vector points. This may be important when using the fill mode "Non-Zero-Winding-Number" (see chapter 4.5.4.4) or when creating 3D Bodies with a hole (see chapter 7.8.57).

Edit Vector Points uses the following mouse cursor shapes:

By clicking and dragging a selection rectangle will be created. Without a modifier key all vector points will be deselected and all points in the rectangle will be selected. If Shift is held, the state of the points in the rectangle will be switched.

By clicking the point under the mouse will be selected. By clicking and dragging the point under the mouse will be selected and moved.

By clicking and dragging all previously selected vector points will be moved.