Draw shapes with the Pen tool in Pixelmator Pro on Mac
You can use the Pen tool to draw precise lines or shapes with anchor points that connect as you draw. Anchor points are connected by vector paths, which can be straight or curved, depending on how you draw. Sharp anchor points create hard angles where two paths connect, while smooth points create curved paths.
Draw a straight vector line with the Pen tool
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select
in the Tools sidebar.
Click anywhere in the canvas to add an anchor point.
Click another area of the canvas to make a sharp anchor point.
The new anchor point automatically connects to the previous anchor point via a straight vector path (a line segment).
Repeat step 4 as many times as necessary to add more line segments.
Tip: To delete the most recently added anchor point, press the Delete key.
To complete the shape, do one of the following:
Create an open shape: Press Return.
Create a closed shape: Click the first anchor point you made.
A new shape layer is added to the Layers sidebar.
Draw a curved vector line with the Pen tool
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select
Click anywhere in the canvas to add an anchor point.
Move the pointer to another area of the canvas, then do one of the following:
Insert a smooth anchor point: Begin dragging in the canvas to add the anchor point and adjust the angle of the curved line segment leading up to it. Release and move the pointer to a new position to adjust the angle of the curved line segment on the other side of the anchor point.
Insert a sharp anchor point: Click in the canvas.
Repeat step 3 to add more smooth anchor points (with curved line segments) or sharp anchor points (with straight line segments).
The currently active anchor point is solid red, and the other ones are white outlined in red.
Tip: To adjust the curve of the previous smooth anchor point, drag its direction handle.
Press Return to finish the line, leaving the vector path open.
After you draw a vector path, you can further refine, remove, or add anchor points. See Edit vector paths.
Draw a vector shape with the Pen tool
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select
Click anywhere in the canvas to insert an anchor point, then insert as many sharp or smooth anchor points as you like, to begin drawing a shape.
Click the first anchor point to close the vector path, and complete the shape.
Smooth or sharpen a vector path
You can convert any vector path to all sharp or all smooth anchor points.
In Pixelmator Pro on Mac, select a shape layer.
Control-click the shape and choose either of the following:
Smooth Path: converts all anchor points to smooth anchor points, making an angular path appear curved.
Sharpen Path: converts all anchor points to sharp anchor points, making a curved path appear angular.