# Vector tools and Pathfinder

> Draw editable vector shapes, paths and type in PlexiiDraw, colour them with fills, strokes and gradients, and combine shapes with Pathfinder.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-vector-tools-and-pathfinder
Section: Office > PlexiiDraw
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-15

Vector drawing makes shapes you can keep editing: move a point, change a curve, recolour a fill, at any size without losing sharpness. In PlexiiDraw, the pen, pencil, shape, line and type tools all draw vector objects onto a vector layer. **Pathfinder** combines shapes into new ones, such as cutting one shape out of another.

## Before you start

- The vector tools are on every plan.
- Open an artwork. See [Start an artwork and set up the artboard](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-start-artwork).
- Vector objects go on a vector layer. If the layer you are on is a paint layer, PlexiiDraw puts them on the top vector layer, or makes one. See [Layers and blend modes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-layers-and-blending).

## Set the fill and stroke first

With nothing selected, the inspector's **Fill (next shape)** and **Stroke** set how the next shape is drawn. Choose them before you draw, and every new shape uses them. The current fill and stroke also show at the bottom of the toolbox.

For each, choose **None**, **Solid**, **Linear gradient** or **Radial gradient**, then pick the colour, or type a colour code in the box beside it.

- **Gradients** blend between colour stops. **Add stop** adds another colour, and the remove button takes one away. Set a linear gradient's angle in degrees.
- **Stroke** also has **Width**, a **Solid** or **Dashed** line, **Ends** (**Flat**, **Round** or **Square**) and the shape of its corners (**Sharp**, **Round** or **Bevel**).

To change a shape you have drawn, select it and change the same settings. They apply to everything selected.

## Draw shapes and lines

1. Choose a tool: **Rectangle** (`R`), **Rounded rectangle** (`D`), **Ellipse** (`O`), **Polygon** (`U`), **Star** (`S`) or **Line** (`L`).
2. Drag on the artboard.

Hold `Shift` as you drag for a perfect square or circle.

With a shape selected, the inspector has its own settings:

- **Polygon** and **Star**: **Points**, from 3 to 60. A star also has **Inset**: how deep its points cut in.
- **Rounded rectangle**: **Corner**, the corner radius.

## Draw with the pen

The pen draws a path one point at a time, with straight corners or smooth curves.

1. Choose **Pen** (`P`).
2. Click to place a corner point. Click again to draw a straight segment to the next point.
3. To make a curve, press and drag as you place a point. The drag pulls out curve handles.
4. To close the shape, click the first point. To leave the path open, press `Return` or `Enter`, press `Esc`, or double-click.

### Draw freehand with the pencil

Choose **Pencil** (`N`) and drag. PlexiiDraw turns the line you draw into a smooth path you can edit like any other.

## Edit points

1. Choose **Edit points** (`A`) and click a path. Its points and curve handles show.
2. Drag a point to move it, or drag a handle to change the curve.

The two handles on a smooth point move together, mirrored. Hold `Alt` while you drag a handle to move it on its own and make a sharp turn.

With a path selected, the **Path** section of the inspector has **Close**, **Open** and **Reverse** (which reverses the path's direction).

## Add type

1. Choose **Type** (`T`).
2. Click on the artboard to place a text box, or drag to set its width.
3. Type. Press `Esc` or click elsewhere when you are done.

A text box you leave empty is removed. Double-click text with the **Select** tool to edit it again. The **Type** section of the inspector sets the **Font**, **Size** and weight, **Align**, **Italic**, **Leading** (the space between lines) and tracking (the space between letters).

## Select, move, resize and rotate

Choose **Select** (`V`):

- **Click** an object to select it. Hold `Shift` and click, or drag a box across empty artboard, to select several. **Edit** > **Select all** selects every object you can edit.
- **Drag** to move. Hold `Shift` to keep to a straight line across or down.
- **Drag a corner or edge handle** to resize. Hold `Shift` to keep the proportions, or `Alt` to resize from the centre.
- **Drag the round handle above** the selection to rotate it. Hold `Shift` to turn in steps of 15 degrees.
- **Arrow keys** nudge the selection by 1 pixel, or 10 with `Shift`.

With **Snap to edges and centres** on in the options strip, objects snap to each other and to the artboard as you drag, with guide lines to show it.

## Combine shapes with Pathfinder

1. Select two or more shapes.
2. In the **Pathfinder** section of the inspector, or **Object** > **Pathfinder**, choose:

| Command | Result |
| --- | --- |
| **Unite** | One shape covering all of them. |
| **Minus front** | The bottom shape with the shapes in front cut out of it. |
| **Intersect** | Only the area where they overlap. |
| **Exclude** | Everything except where they overlap. |

The new shape takes the fill and stroke of the bottom shape. Text and other objects that are not shapes are left as they are. If **Minus front** cuts the shape away completely, nothing is left and a message says so; click Undo to get the shapes back.

**Join into one path**, in the same section, combines the selected paths into a single path without changing their outlines.

## Arrange, align and distribute

With objects selected, the **Arrange** section of the inspector, and **Object** > **Arrange** and **Object** > **Align**, offer:

- **Bring to front**, **Bring forward**, **Send backward** and **Send to back**: change which object sits on top.
- **Align** left, centre, right, top, middle or bottom. With one object selected, it aligns to the artboard, which is the quick way to centre something. With several, they align to each other.
- **Distribute horizontally** and **Distribute vertically**, with three or more selected: spaces them evenly.

## Appearance

The **Appearance** section sets a selected object's **Opacity** and **Blend** mode. See [Layers and blend modes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-layers-and-blending).

## Common questions

**My shape drew on a different layer.** Vector objects cannot go on a paint layer, so they went on the top vector layer. Click the layer you want in the layers panel before you draw.

**How do I change the colour of a shape I have drawn?** Select it with **Select** (`V`), then change **Fill** or **Stroke** in the inspector.

**Pathfinder is not in the inspector.** It shows when two or more shapes are selected.

**How do I make a hole in a shape?** Put the shape for the hole on top, select both, and choose **Minus front**.

## Related tasks

- [PlexiiDraw overview](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-overview)
- [Layers and blend modes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-layers-and-blending)
- [Paint with brushes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-painting-and-brushes)
- [Export artwork](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-export)
- [Start an artwork and set up the artboard](https://plexiidesk.com/help/draw-start-artwork)