The Pen tool is the most powerful drawing tool in Azyrom. It lets you create precise bezier curves and custom paths by placing anchor points and controlling curve handles.
Basics
Press P to activate the Pen tool, then click on the canvas to create anchor points. Each
click creates a point, and points are connected by path segments.
Creating Straight Lines
Click to place first point
Click anywhere on the canvas to create your first anchor point.
Click to place more points
Each click creates a new point connected to the previous one with a straight line.
Close the path or finish
Click the first point to close the path, or press Escape or Enter to finish
an open path.
Creating Curves
Click and drag
Instead of clicking, click and drag to create a curved point. The drag direction and distance control the curve handles.
Continue adding points
Each subsequent click-and-drag creates smooth curves. The handles on either side of a point control the curve entering and leaving that point.
Bezier handles are like "magnets" that pull the curve toward them. Longer handles create more pronounced curves. The angle of the handle determines the direction the curve approaches the point.
Point Types
Corner Points
Created by clicking without dragging. No handles, so path segments meet at a sharp corner.
Smooth Points
Created by click-and-drag. Handles extend in opposite directions, creating a smooth curve through the point.
Mixed Points
Have handles of different lengths or angles, creating an asymmetric curve. Hold Alt/Option
while dragging a handle to break the symmetry.
Modifying Points
| Action | How To |
|---|---|
| Select a point | Click on it with the Pen tool or Direct Selection tool |
| Move a point | Click and drag the point |
| Adjust handles | Click and drag the handle endpoints |
| Break handle symmetry | Hold Alt/Option and drag one handle |
| Delete a point | Select it and press Delete or Backspace |
| Add a point to path | Click on the path segment with Pen tool |
| Convert corner to smooth | Click and drag a corner point |
| Convert smooth to corner | Double-click a smooth point |
Keyboard Modifiers
| Modifier | Effect |
|---|---|
Shift |
Constrain angles to 45° increments |
Alt/Option |
Break handle symmetry (adjust one handle independently) |
⌘/Ctrl |
Temporarily switch to Direct Selection tool |
Escape |
Finish the current path |
Enter |
Finish and close the path (if possible) |
Tips for Smooth Curves
- Fewer points = smoother curves - Use as few points as possible. More points often mean rougher curves.
- Place points at extremes - Put anchor points at the tops, bottoms, and sides of curves, not in the middle.
- Keep handles tangent - For smooth curves, handles should be tangent to the desired curve direction.
- Use symmetry - When drawing symmetrical shapes, make handles equal length on both sides.
To draw a circle with the Pen tool, you only need 4 points (top, right, bottom, left). Place points at the compass directions and drag handles horizontally or vertically. Handle length should be about 55% of the circle radius.
Editing Existing Paths
Double-Tap to Enter Edit Mode (NEW)
Quickly enter path editing mode with a double-tap or double-click:
- Double-click on path - Instantly enter path edit mode without switching tools
- Works with any tool - Don't need to manually switch to Direct Selection first
- Faster workflow - Jump directly into editing anchor points and handles
- Figma-style interaction - Familiar behavior for Figma users
- Exit with Escape - Press
Escapeto exit edit mode
Midpoint Hover and Insertion (NEW)
Add points at precise locations with visual feedback:
- Hover over segment - Hover over any path segment to see insertion point
- Midpoint indicator - Visual marker shows where point will be inserted
- Click to insert - Click on segment to add anchor point at hover location
- Not limited to midpoint - Insert at any position along the segment
- Smooth insertion - New points maintain curve smoothness
- Improved hit testing - More accurate path selection and point placement
Live Preview & Visual Feedback (NEW)
Enhanced real-time feedback during path editing:
- Live handle preview - See curve changes in real-time as you drag handles
- Path updates instantly - No lag or delay while editing
- Vector edit state - Dedicated state management for smooth path editing
- Better performance - Optimized rendering during manipulation
- Visual clarity - Clear feedback shows exactly what will happen
Adding Points
With the Pen tool active, click anywhere on an existing path segment to add a new anchor point at that location. The new enhanced system shows you exactly where the point will be inserted before you click.
Extending Paths
Click an endpoint of an open path to continue drawing from that point.
Joining Paths
With the Pen tool, click one endpoint then click another endpoint to join two open paths.
Use double-click to quickly enter edit mode, then hover over path segments to see insertion points. This workflow is much faster than switching tools and manually searching for the right spot to add points.
Common Uses
- Custom shapes - Create any shape that basic tools can't make
- Logos and icons - Precise, scalable vector graphics
- Tracing images - Draw over imported images
- Complex illustrations - Detailed artwork and designs
- UI elements - Custom buttons, indicators, and decorations