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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 curve points with this tool. By holding Alt and clicking a vector 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 you are moving a control point, the corresponding point will not be changed. If you are moving a curve point, the control points will stay at their location.
- 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 the 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.

If the fill or line color of the active vector layer is a gradient, this gradient can be edited directly in the document:

- 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.

You can also edit pattern colors and vector pattern colors this way. In that case you will see a rectangle, which you can use 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.

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 7.8.58).

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.