Draw straight and curved paths with the Pen tool
Last updated: September 10, 2026 · 5 min read
Place points to draw your own line or shape, then finish it as an open path or a closed shape.
A path is a series of connected points. Clicking adds a corner point; pressing and dragging creates handles that control a curve. You can combine straight and curved sections in one path. For your first attempt, use a clear area of the page.
Follow these steps
- 1
Activate the Pen tool
EditorPen tool (draw)
Click the pen-nib icon in the block toolbar. Its tooltip reads Pen tool (draw). You can also press P on your keyboard. The Pen item under Elements in the left library activates the same drawing tool.
- 2
Draw straight sections
EditorCanvas
Click and release to place the first point. Click elsewhere to add a second point and connect them with a straight line. Continue clicking to create a series of segments or the sides of a polygon.
Hold Shift when placing the next point to constrain its direction to horizontal, vertical or 45-degree angles.
- 3
Add a curve
EditorCanvas
At the next point, keep the mouse button held down and drag. Handles appear on either side of the point. The direction and distance of your drag change the curve. Release when it looks right, then place another point. You can also drag when placing the very first point.
The Pen tool places one point per press; it does not trace a continuous freehand stroke. Dragging shapes the curve at that point. Hold Shift while dragging a handle to constrain its direction in 45-degree increments.
- 4
Make a sharp turn after a curve
EditorCanvas
Click the last curved point again. This adds no new point: it removes the handle leading into the next section. Click elsewhere to continue with a sharp corner while keeping the curve you already drew.
To adjust an existing curve handle, hold Alt (Option on macOS) and drag its endpoint. Its length and direction change independently; the opposite handle stays in place. Hold Shift to constrain the direction to 45-degree steps, or press Esc to cancel this handle adjustment.
- 5
Correct the last point before finishing
EditorCanvas
Press Delete or Backspace to remove the last point. Cmd+Z on macOS or Ctrl+Z on Windows and Linux undoes the last drawing action, whether adding a point or adjusting a curve handle.
Redo with Cmd+Shift+Z on macOS or Ctrl+Shift+Z on Windows and Linux. A new drawing action clears the previous redo history.
- 6
Finish with two open ends
EditorCanvas
To leave the ends unconnected, place at least two points and press Enter. Drawing finishes, the selection tool becomes active and the path’s Properties panel opens.
For a closed shape, use the next method instead of Enter. Escape does not finish the path; it cancels the current draft.
- 7
Finish as a closed shape
EditorCanvas
Place at least three points. Return to the first point and click it to connect the last point back to the start and finish the shape. Press and drag on the first point if you want to curve the closing section.
For example, click three different locations, then click the first point again to make a triangle. To leave a path open, press Enter without returning to the start.
Controls while drawing
These controls apply to a Pen draft. Editing the points of a finished path is a separate task.
| Control | Where? | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Pen tool (draw) / P | Editor | Starts point-by-point drawing. |
| Click | Editor | Places a point without curve handles. |
| Press and drag | Editor | Creates a curved point with direction handles. |
| Shift | Editor | Constrains a new straight section or a dragged handle to 45-degree increments. |
| Alt / Option | Editor | Drag an existing handle endpoint to adjust its length and direction independently. While creating a new curve point, you can also keep the incoming handle fixed and adjust the outgoing handle. |
| Enter | Editor | Finishes a path with at least two points, leaving it open. |
| Click the first point | Editor | Closes a draft with at least three points. |
| Delete / Backspace | Editor | Removes the last point of the current draft. |
| Escape | Editor | Cancels the draft and returns to the selection tool. |
Result
Your drawing remains on the page as a selected path object. You can move it, resize it or change its appearance in Properties. Activate the Pen tool again to start another drawing.
Troubleshooting
- P does not activate the Pen tool
- If you are editing text or a panel value, leave that field first. Alternatively, use the pen icon in the block toolbar.
- Enter does not create a path
- An open path needs at least two points. Enter after a single point does not finish the draft; add another point first.
- The path closes sooner than expected
- With three or more points, clicking very close to the start is treated as closing the path. Zoom in for small details so you can place the points farther apart on screen.
- My drawing disappeared after Escape
- Escape discards the unfinished draft. To keep your drawing, finish it with Enter or close it by returning to the first point.
- I cannot get a straight section after a curve
- Click the last curved point again to remove its outgoing handle, then click elsewhere. This lets you continue with a corner while preserving the preceding curve.