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Edit Nodes

Edit Nodes allows you to make precise, granular edits to vector paths, by controlling the placement and behavior of nodes (points in space, sometimes called anchor points) which are linked by straight lines or curves. The curved lines are described by the length and direction of handles (tangents) which appear on one or both nodes at either end of a curve.

Anatomy of a Vector - nodes, handles, straight lines, curved lines.!

Using Edit Nodes

To enable Edit Nodes, click on the Edit Nodes icon in the Tools Toolbar or press Ctrl/Cmd + ` on your keyboard.

Edit Nodes in Tools Toolbar

If you already have an object (or objects) in your selection, its nodes will appear. If you do not have anything currently selected, click an object to view and edit its nodes.

Mouse Actions

  • Click and and drag on nodes, handles, or curves to move them.

  • Click any node or handle to select it, and then use the keyboard arrow keys and modifier keys to move it by the increments set in the Shape Move Increments fields in the Settings window.

  • With a node or handle already selected, hold Shift while clicking on another node or handle to add it your selection, then drag or use the arrow keys to move each selected node or handle in unison.

  • Click any straight line and drag to automatically turn it into a curve.

  • Drag disconnected nodes on top of one another to automatically join them, turning the lines on either side into a single shared path.

Keyboard Actions

tool tip

There are several additional keyboard commands, listed below, that you can use to edit and manipulate lines, curves, and nodes.

You can quickly reference the keyboard commands for each of these at any time by hovering over the Edit Nodes tool in the toolbar.

Action Key Description Method
Delete node D Delete nodes and combine adjacent lines Hover over a node (or select multiple nodes) and press key
Insert I Insert node anywhere on path Hover over curve or line and press key
Insert node at midpoint M Insert node at the halfway point between two nodes Hover over curve or line and press key
Convert smooth node to corner C Convert node to corner (curve handles will have independent angles) Hover over smooth node and press key
Smooth corner node S Convert node to smooth (curve handles will have same angle) Hover over corner node and press key
Break shape at point B Open path at node Hover over a node and press key (move one of the nodes to reveal the gap)
Delete line D Delete line or curve (open or split path) Hover over a line or curve and press key
Convert curve to line L Convert to line (straighten a curve and remove handles) Hover over a curve and press key
Convert line to smooth curve S Convert to curve (add handles either side of line) Hover over line and press key
Align to angle A Rotate selection by aligning segment to nearest horizontal, vertical, or 45° angle — all selected objects will rotate along with the segment Hover over line and press key
Trim line T Cut line under mouse back to the next place it intersects with another line Hover over curve or line and press key
Extend line E Extend line to nearest intersecting path Hover over an open end point and press key

Trim and Extend

Snap to Existing Geometry

Snapping allows you to align your nodes or handles to specific parts of existing objects, which is useful when accuracy is important to the project.

Node and Handle Snapping demo

Constrain Movement

Hold Shift while moving a node or handle to constrain movement to a 90° or 45° angle from its starting position, indicated by temporary guidelines in your Workspace.

If you select multiple nodes or handles at once, only the movement of the last-selected node or handle will be constrained, and the other nodes or handles will move along with it.

Edit Nodes Constrain demo

Requirements

  • You can only use Edit Nodes with paths. You can create paths with the Draw Lines tool or Import vector objects into LightBurn from another source.

  • To use Edit Nodes with other, built-in vector objects, you must first use Convert to Path to turn them into standard paths. This requirement applies to:

  • You cannot use Edit Nodes with Grouped objects. Ungroup them first.

How to Practice

How to Practice

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