User Guide

Canvas 12 User Guide
5. To complete the path, use one of the following options:
For an open path, after you place the last anchor point, press Esc. You can also double-
click to place the last anchor point.
For a closed path, click the starting anchor point, and then press Esc. You can also
double-click the starting anchor point.
Shaping and editing segments as you draw
As you draw with the Curve tool, you can use modifier keys to constrain and edit the path segments.
To place an anchor point at a 45° interval relative to the previous one:
Press Shift as you set the second anchor point.
To create a straight segment:
Press Ctrl as you click to set the segment’s endpoint.
To remove the last segment:
Press the Delete key. You can continue to remove segments in the reverse order you created
them, until you delete the entire object.
To constrain a tangent line to 45° increments:
Press Shift as you drag the tangent line.
Drawing auto curves
The Auto Curve tool draws and edits curved paths. This tool makes it easy to draw smooth curves
because it automatically curves path segments as you simply click or drag the mouse.
When you use the Auto Curve tool, you don’t have to position tangent lines that control the shape of
curves. Instead, you simply click to set anchor points and smooth curve segments appear. You can
drag the mouse to see how the path will curve before you set each anchor point.
Like the other path tools, you can use the Auto Curve tool to draw new paths and to add segments to
paths as you edit them.
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