Line Tool & Path Tool

Line Tool & Path Tool

The Line Tool and Path Tool are designed to work together: you draw shapes with the Line Tool, then edit them with the Path Tool.

Line Tool (Drawing Paths)

Use the Line Tool to build custom shapes point-by-point.

How to draw:

1. Click to place the first point.
2. For each additional point:

• Click to add a corner point
• Shift + click to create a smooth corner / curve transition

1. To start with a curve, hold Shift before your first click, then drag the control handle for that first point.
2. To finish, click near the first point to close the shape.

Extras:
Shift - While dragging the next point, holding down the shift key we constrain the angle of the line to some multiple of 45 degrees, essentially orthogonal drawing, but allowing 45 degrees lines as well.

Important: Only closed shapes can be used to change a part’s geometry (cutouts, pockets, unions, etc.).

Extending a path: You can add more curves to an existing path by drawing new curves that touch an endpoint, then using Join to combine them into a single path.

Shortcuts:

• Escape: cancel / bail out of drawing
• Enter: finish drawing without clicking the start point to close

Path Tool (Editing Paths)

Once a shape is selected, switch to the Path Tool to edit it.

With the Path Tool you can:

• Move points (segments)
• Delete points
• Add points
• Smooth corners
• Convert smooth corners back to sharp corners
• Select multiple points and drag the curve spanning them

This lets you refine a rough drawn shape into something precise and manufacturable.