6. The Tools in the Toolbox

6.4 Tools for Vector Layers

6.4.1 Edit Vector Points

Edit Points Using the Mouse

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:

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.

Edit Points Numerically

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 a path point, these are the corresponding control points, if you double-click 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:

If you have double-clicked a control point, you can also specify its position relative to its path point. The constants x and y are defined for this purpose. So if you enter "x+50" as the value, the control point will be placed 50 units to the right of the path point.

Miscellaneous

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:

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

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).