Edit points and paths

Q: Where did Edit points go?

It is now Direct Selection, still on A, as in Illustrator.

Reshape paths in PlexiiDraw point by point. Move single points, join and average ends, add, delete and convert points, cut paths and simplify them.

All plansUpdated 21 October 2026By the Plexii team

Every vector shape in PlexiiDraw is a path: a line through anchor points, with curve handles on the smooth ones. The point tools let you change a path one point at a time, join the ends of two paths, cut a path in two, draw smooth curves just by clicking, and take out points you do not need.

Before you start

The point and path tools are on every plan.
Open an artwork with a shape or path on it. See Vector tools and Pathfinder.
On Windows, press Ctrl for ⌘ and Alt for ⌥.

The tools

Tool	Key	What it does
Direct Selection	`A`	Select and move single points and curve handles.
Add Anchor Point	`+`	Click a path to add a point.
Delete Anchor Point	`-`	Click a point to remove it.
Anchor Point	`⇧` `C`	Click a point to switch it between smooth and corner.
Scissors	`C`	Click a path to cut it in two.
Knife	No key	Drag across a shape to split it.
Curvature	`⇧` `~`	Click points, and a smooth path runs through them.

Move a single point

Choose Direct Selection (A).
Click one point of a path, such as one corner of a rectangle.
Drag it.

Only that point moves. The rest of the shape stays where it is.

Add, delete and convert points

Add a point. Press + for Add Anchor Point and click a path where you want the new point.
Delete a point. Press - for Delete Anchor Point and click the point to remove it.
Switch between smooth and corner. Press ⇧ C for Anchor Point and click a point. A smooth point becomes a corner, and a corner becomes smooth.

Join and average path ends

Join the open ends of two lines, or bring points together on one spot.

With Direct Selection (A), select the two open end points. Hold ⇧ and click to select the second one.
Choose what to do:

Command	Mac	Windows	Result
Join	`⌘` `J`	`Ctrl` `J`	The two lines join into one path.
Average…	`⌥` `⌘` `J`	`Ctrl` `Alt` `J`	The Average dialog opens.
Average & Join	`⌥` `⇧` `⌘` `J`	`Ctrl` `Alt` `Shift` `J`	The ends move to the same spot and join, in one step.

All three are also in Object > Path.

Cut a path

Scissors (C): click a path where you want to cut it. It becomes two paths.
Knife: choose it in the toolbox and drag across a shape. The shape splits along the line you drag.

Draw smooth curves with Curvature

Press ⇧ ~ for the Curvature tool.
Click several points on the artboard.
Press Esc to finish.

A smooth path runs through every point you clicked, without you pulling out curve handles as you would with the Pen.

Simplify a path

To take points out of a path that has more than it needs:

Select the path.
Choose Object > Path > Simplify….
The Simplify dialog shows a preview of the result and the number of points before and after. When the shape looks right, click OK.

Copy a path from one point

With one point of a path selected, press ⌘ C. The whole path is copied, not just the point. See Cut, copy and paste.

Common questions

I dragged a corner and the whole shape moved. You used Select (V), which moves whole objects. Press A for Direct Selection and drag the point.

Where did Edit points go? It is now Direct Selection, still on A, as in Illustrator.

Still need help? Contact support at [email protected].