Most commands work on the selected shapes. Commands that ask for numbers open a small dialog; Reset values clears them.
| Command |
Key |
What it does |
| Group / Ungroup |
Ctrl+G / Ctrl+U |
See Grouping. |
| Flip horizontally / vertically |
Ctrl+I / Ctrl+J |
Mirror the selection about its own centre. |
| Symmetry |
Ctrl+L |
Click a line: the selection is mirrored across it as a copy (the line itself isn't copied). |
| Rotate ▸ 1° / 5° either way |
[ ] { } |
Rotate about the selection's centre, or the rotation/scaling centre you set. |
| Rotate ▸ Rotate by angle… |
– |
Any angle, clockwise. |
| Scale ▸ Enlarge/Reduce 1% / 5% |
– |
Scale steps. |
| Scale ▸ Scale by ratio… |
– |
A ratio from 10% to 1000% (0.1× to 10×). The dialog shows the range and won't apply a value outside it. |
| Scale ▸ Scale horizontally only… / vertically only… |
– |
Stretch one way (circles become ovals), by a ratio in the same range. |
| Align ▸ left, right, top, bottom, centres |
Ctrl+Alt+L/R/T/B, Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H/V |
Align to the selection's edges. On a Mac these use the Control key. |
| Arrange ▸ Bring to front / Send to back |
– |
Change which shapes are drawn on top. |
| Lock / Unlock all |
– |
See Locking. |
| Move or copy by distance… |
Ctrl+Shift+C |
Move the selection by X and Y; tick Keep the originals and make a copy to copy it. |
| Make the line horizontal / vertical |
– |
Click a line: the whole selection turns so that line is level or plumb. |
| Reverse path direction |
Ctrl+F |
Reverses which way lines, curves and arcs run. Matters for stitching order and export. |
Geometry edits
| Command |
Key |
What it does |
| Extend or trim two lines to meet |
Z |
Two lines meet exactly at their crossing. |
| Split at intersections |
– |
Cut the selected shapes wherever they cross. |
| Split into N… |
– |
Cut a line, curve or arc into N equal pieces. |
| Specify size by number… |
– |
Set line length, circle diameter, arc radius and sweep for all selected shapes. |
| Set the angle between two lines… |
– |
Two lines joined at an end: type the angle they should make. |
| Tidy connected lines |
– |
Trims the overhangs where lines of one type cross near their ends, so they close up ("Trimmed to a closed shape."). |
Template objects
A template object is one shape made of many lines and curves; its closed parts are drawn filled. Useful for logos, hardware outlines and repeated parts.
| Command |
Key |
What it does |
| Convert to template object |
F9 |
Replace the selection with one template object. |
| Convert a copy to template object |
F10 |
The same, keeping the originals. |
| Separate template into shapes |
F8 |
Turn a template back into lines and curves. |
| Register as library template… |
– |
See Template library. |
Curves
| Command |
What it does |
| Convert arc to Bézier curve |
Replace arcs with equivalent Bézier curves. |
| Smooth connected Bézier curves ▸ Tangent continuity (G1) |
Joined curves leave each joint in the same direction. |
| Smooth connected Bézier curves ▸ Curvature continuity (G2) |
Also match how tightly they bend at each joint. |
Both smoothing commands are also on a Bézier curve's right-click menu.
Design guides
| Command |
What it does |
| Draw boundary… |
A rectangle round the selection, with a margin. |
| Golden ratio guide / Silver ratio guide |
Proportion guides from a short side you enter. |
| Draw golden spiral |
A golden spiral in the selected arc's box (also on the arc's right-click menu). |