Working with The Editor

The Selection Tool

The Selection Tool is one of the most essential tools in IconVectors. Nearly all editing operations begin by selecting elements. Once selected, you can move, resize, rotate, group, or modify them using various commands or direct manipulation on the canvas - Press V

Selecting an Element

You can select an element using either of these methods:

Click: Click the border of the element.
List of Layers: Click on the element in the Layers list.

Selecting Multiple Elements

You can select multiple elements using either of these methods:

Shift-Click: Click one element, then hold Shift and Click additional elements.
Drag a selection box: Click and drag in an empty area to draw a rectangle around the elements you want to select.

Hint

Combine both methods by holding Shift while drawing a selection box to add more elements to an existing selection.

Shift-Clicking a selected element again will remove it from the selection.

Moving Elements

To move an element:

Position the mouse over the selected elements.
Press and hold the left mouse button.
Drag the element to a new position.
Release the mouse button.

Hint

You can also use the arrow keys to nudge the selected element:

Press Arrow Keys to move by 0.1 px
Press Shift + Arrow Keys to move by 1 px

Duplicating Elements

To duplicate an element while moving it:

With the mouse: Hold Alt then drag the element with the mouse.

With arrow keys: Hold Alt and use the arrow keys to move the duplicate.

Hint

You can combine duplication with precision movement using Alt + Shift + arrow keys for 1 px steps.

Scaling Elements

To scale an element:

Click the element to select it.
Hover over one of the side or corner resize handles.
When the two-way arrow appears, press and hold the mouse button.
Drag to scale the element, then release.

Hint

Hold Shift while scaling to preserve the aspect ratio. Hold Alt while scaling to scale using a central symetry.

Rotating Elements

To rotate an element:

Select the element or the group of elements.
Hover over a corner handle until the curved rotation arrow appears.
Drag to rotate the element.
Release when the desired angle is reached.

Hint

Hold Shift while rotating to constrain to 15° steps.

The Path Edition Tool

The Path Edition Tool lets you edit the structure of a vector path by modifying its anchor points and Bézier curves. This tool only works with path elements. If the element is a geometric primitive (such as a rectangle, ellipse, line, or polyline), you must first convert it to a path before editing.

Paths are made of anchor points (also known as nodes) and control points. Anchor points define the shape of the path, while control points control the curvature between them using Bézier curves. Depending on the type of anchor, a point may have 0, 1, or 2 control points.

Converting an Element to Path

Before using the Path Edition Tool on a shape, convert it to a path:

Path ‣ Convert to Path - Ctrl+B

Selecting Anchor Points

To select a single anchor point:

Click on the point with the mouse.

To select multiple anchor points:

:kbd:`Shift`+Click additional anchor points
Drag a rectangle around the anchor points to select them all at once

Moving Anchor Points

You can reposition anchor points using:

Mouse: Drag and drop the point to a new position
Arrow keys: - Arrow Keys to move by 0.1 px - Shift+Arrow Keys to move by 1 px

Adding an Anchor Point

To insert a new anchor point:

Hover the mouse over a path segment (line or curve)
Click once to insert a new point

Removing an Anchor Point

To delete an anchor point:

:kbd:`Alt`+Click on the anchor point
Or, select one or more points and press Del

This will remove the points and their connected segments, possibly opening the path.

Converting Anchor Points

To change the type of an anchor point:

:kbd:`Ctrl`+Click the anchor point
If it is a angle corner (no handles), it becomes a smooth point with two symmetrical handles
If it already has handles, it becomes a angle corner

Adjusting Control Points

To fine-tune the curve of a path:

Drag the control point with the mouse to reshape the curve
Hold Ctrl to move one handle independently (unlink mode)
Hold Alt to move both handles symmetrically around the anchor point (mirror mode)

The Pen Tool

The Pen Tool is designed for creating precise polylines made of straight segments. It is ideal for drawing icons that require clean, geometric outlines or shapes. Once completed, these shapes become editable paths.

Creating a Polyline Path

To use the Pen Tool:

Click on the canvas to create the first point.
Continue clicking to place each additional point.
Each segment is a straight line connecting the points.

Closing a Path

To create a closed polyline:

Hover the cursor over the first point until the mouse helper tooltip displays “Close Path”
Click to complete and close the polyline

Ending an Open Path

To create an open polyline:

Press Esc when you’re finished placing points
This will stop the current drawing and leave the path open

Closing an Open Path

If a path is open and you want to close it later, you can use the Pen Tool to do so:

Hover the cursor over the last point of the open path — the mouse helper will snap to it.
Click to reactivate the path.
Move the mouse to the first point of the path — when the helper displays “Close Path”, click to complete the shape.

The path is now closed and can be edited like any other closed shape.

Hint

Use this method when you forgot to close the path during creation or wish to turn an open line into a filled, closed shape.

Editing the Polyline Path

Once your path is created, you can edit its structure and curves using the Path Edition Tool.

Hint

The Pen Tool creates paths using sharp corner points. If you want to convert them to smooth curves, use the Path Edition Tool and convert anchor points as needed.