Draw curves and shapes

To draw precise curves with the Pen Tool:

Select the Pen Tool.
On the context toolbar, select a Mode:
- Pen Mode—click-drag on the page to create repeated nodes; repositioning the displayed off-curve control handles at each node defines the shape of the next segment as you lay down nodes.
- Smart Mode—click repeatedly on the page to lay down each node; a best fitting curve is created without need for control handle adjustment.
- Polygon Mode—click repeatedly on the page to lay down each node; a line is created with sharp nodes made up of straight segments.
- Line Mode—click and drag on the page to create a simple single-segment straight line that self-terminates.
To complete the curve without closing it, press the . To close the curve, click on the starting node.

Other context toolbar options can be used in conjunction with any one of the four modes above:

Preserve Selection When Creating New Curves—when enabled, it keeps the previously drawn curve(s) selected so that their nodes and geometry can be more easily snapped to as you draw.
Add New Curve to Selected curves object—when enabled, the mode creates additional curves on the same layer as the initial curve—this gives better management of a multitude of curve layers. For example, the character 'a' is made up of two curves that can be a single 'curve object'. From Layer>Geometry, choose Separate Curves to separate each curve into separate layers or Merge Curves to consolidate selected curves into one layer.
Rubber Band Mode—when enabled, it previews the next segment to be drawn before placement of the new leading node. Use with pressed for straight-line segment previews.
Rubber Band Mode—when enabled, it previews the next segment to be drawn before placement of the new leading node.

A number of cursor types may appear when using this tool, indicating the outcome of the next click.

Cursor type	Description
	Asterisk—creates a new curve
	Plus—creates a new node and curve segment
	Slope—converts to sharp corner or drag to recreate node
	Circle—creates a closed shape
	Circled asterisk—creates a new curve from an existing curve’s node.
	Circled plus—creates a new node overlapping an existing curve’s node.

To continue an existing curve:

Press the to edit curve or select the curve with the Node Tool.
Place the cursor over the final node on the path that you want to continue.
Click once to select the node.
Release the (or select Pen Tool) and click/drag to place new nodes as needed. This can be placed over an existing node on the same curve, creating coincidental overlapping nodes.

To change a curve or shape's stroke width:

Do one of the following:

On the Pen Tool context toolbar's Stroke properties, adjust the Width via slider or input absolute values, expressions and formulas (percentages).
Use the [ or ] s (decrease or increase width, respectively) as you draw or edit a curve.

To close curves to create a custom shape:

Do one of the following:

With the curve selected with the Pen or Node Tool, click Close Curve on the context toolbar.
When creating the curve with the Pen Tool, click on the starting node to join it to the final node and create the shape.

When using the Pen Tool, the following modifier s can be used to speed up the workflow as you draw:

The temporarily activates the Node Tool.
The constrains control handles to 45° intervals in Pen Mode. In Smart Mode, node positioning is constrained instead.
The forces the node into cusp mode.
Pressing the while clicking and dragging lets you reposition the last drawn node without affecting control handle position which maintains curvature in and out of the node.

For Pen Tool, Node and shape tools, the following modifier s can be used as you draw or when editing the object:

To decrease or increase stroke width by percentage, use the [ or ] s, respectively. For smaller absolute increments instead, use an additional modifier.