Quick links to procedures on this page:

Editing Shapes

Corel Painter provides five tools for editing shapes. As you work, you’ll switch tools based on the type of changes you’re going to make. From any other editing tool, you can toggle to the Shape Selection tool by pressing Command (Mac OS) or Ctrl (Windows).

Tool	Description
	Shape Selection — drags anchor points and control handles
	Scissors — cuts the segment at the point you click
	Add Point— adds an anchor point where you click on the curve
	Remove Point— deletes the anchor point you click
	Convert Point— changes anchor points from corner points into smooth points, and vice versa

Selecting a Shape

If you don’t see the shape’s outline path, you’ll want to select the shape — to display the path and anchor points — before proceeding. It is easier to work when you can see the path and points. For information about selecting shapes as layers, refer to Selecting Layers.

To select shapes

To	Do the following
Select a shape	With the Shape Selection tool , click a shape.
Select multiple shapes	Hold down Shift, and click the shapes with the Shape Selection tool.

Adding, Deleting, and Moving Anchor Points

You can add anchor points to create new vertices or curves. You can delete anchor points to change the shape of the path or to smooth a contour that has unnecessary points. This might occur when you draw with the Quick Curve tool or create a shape from a selection.

You can move one or several anchor points by dragging. You can also move one or several points by averaging, which moves two or more anchor points with respect to each other.

Averaging is useful when you need to join the endpoint of one curve to the endpoint of another. Averaging the endpoints in both directions brings them precisely on top of each other. Now, when you join the endpoints, Corel Painter merges them to a single point, through which the path continues. If you don’t average points that are near each other, Corel Painter joins them with a segment.

To add or delete an anchor point

•

With the Shape Selection tool , select a shape.

To	Do the following
Add an anchor point	Choose the Add Point tool in the toolbox, and click where you want to add the point.
Delete an anchor point	Choose the Remove Point tool in the toolbox, and click the anchor point you want to delete. The anchor point is deleted, but the path remains connected.

Use the Add Point tool to add anchor points to the path.

Use the Remove Point tool to delete anchor points.

To move anchor points

1

Choose the Shape Selection tool from the toolbox.

Drag an anchor point to move it.

To average anchor points

1

With the Shape Selection tool , select the anchor points you want to average.

2

Choose Shapes menu Average Points.

Adjusting Curvature

The angle and length of the wing determine the curvature of the segments on either side of the anchor point. The longer the wing, the deeper the curve.

The result of moving a wing depends on whether the anchor point is defined as a smooth point or a corner point. Two connecting curves (or straight lines) share one anchor point, which can be a smooth or corner point. The wings on smooth and corner points behave differently.

When you drag the handle on one wing of a smooth point, the curves on both sides of the point change. With a smooth point, you adjust the angle of the wings concurrently.

A corner point is converted to a smooth point.

When you drag the handle on one wing of a corner point, only the curve on that side of the point changes. With a corner point, you can adjust the angle of the wings independently.

To adjust a curve

1

Choose the Shape Selection tool from the toolbox.

Use the Shape Selection tool to drag a wing handle.

To convert a smooth or corner point

1

With the Shape Selection tool , select an anchor point.

2

Choose the Convert Point tool from the toolbox.

Cutting and Joining Shape Segments

You may want to open a shape so that you can add new curves or connect another open shape. You can do this with the Scissors tool. You can also connect any two endpoints — of the same shape or of different shapes. This lets you close an open shape or attach one shape to another.

To cut a shape

1

Choose the Scissors tool from the toolbox.

The Scissors tool opens and closes to cut the path.

3

Choose the Shape Selection tool from the toolbox, and drag the new anchor points or segments.

After a path is cut, it can be moved.

To join endpoints

1

Choose the Shape Selection tool from the toolbox.

3

Choose Shapes menu Join Endpoints.

Use the Shape Selection tool to select two endpoints.

Use the Join Endpoints command to connect two endpoints.

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