← Design elements & tools

Draw and edit a path: create your own shapes and lines

Last updated October 22, 2026

In the template editor, you draw your own shape point by point with the Add path tool. A path can be a straight line, a curve or a closed outline, such as a speech bubble or a wave.

This takes three steps:

  1. Draw the path on the canvas.
  2. Edit its points on the canvas.
  3. Style the path in the properties panel.

Draw a path

  1. Click the pen nib in the middle of the toolbar. This is the Add path tool.
    Toolbar with the Add path tool highlighted.
  2. Click on the canvas to set the first point.
  3. Set the next point:
    • For a straight line: click another spot.
    • For a curve: drag with the mouse button held down after clicking. The line bends while you drag.

    Set all further points the same way.
    A path being drawn: points on the canvas and a curve with its handle.
  4. Finish the path depending on the shape:
    • For a closed shape: click the first point again. The outline closes, and you can edit its points right away.
    • For an open line: press Esc.

    The path is now done. It has a black outline and no fill.

Edit the points

  1. Click the cursor button to the left of the image icon in the middle of the toolbar. If it doesn't show an arrow, hover over it and choose Select. A click now selects points instead of setting new ones.
    Toolbar with the Select tool highlighted.
  2. Double-click the path. The points appear on the path, and a bar with path tools appears at the top of the canvas. You can also select the path and press Enter.
    No points appear?

    If the path sits inside a group or mask, the first double-click only selects the path. Double-click it again. Locked paths don't open on the canvas: click the lock in their row in the layers panel to unlock them.

  3. Depending on what you want to change:
    • Move a point: drag it.
    • Select several points: hold Shift and click them. Or drag a frame around them, starting on an empty spot. The frame only works while the layout grid is off.
    • Add a point: click the line between two points. You can drag the new point right away.
    • Delete points: select them and press Backspace or Delete.
    • Change a curve: click a point and drag the small square handles next to it. On an arc, you drag the round handle in its middle.
  4. Depending on what you want to change in the bar at the top of the canvas:
    • Change the line to the selected point: click one of the six icons on the right. The line becomes a gap, a straight line, one of three kinds of curve or an arc.
    • Close or open the path: click the button on the far left. Its tooltip says Close path. On a closed path it says Open path and separates the last point from the first again.

    Point editing: the bar with path tools at the top of the canvas, below it a selected point with its curve handles.
  5. Press Esc or double-click the canvas to leave point editing.
  6. Check the result with the path deselected.

While you edit, Cmd + Z (Windows: Ctrl + Z) undoes your last change to the points. Cmd + Shift + Z (Windows: Ctrl + Shift + Z) redoes it.

Style the path

In the properties panel, you set the properties of the selected element, here the path's.

  1. Click the path on the canvas. Its properties appear in the properties panel.
  2. Tick Fill Color in the Appearance section if the path should have a fill. It starts out white, and you pick the color below.
  3. Set the outline with Stroke Color, Stroke Width and Dash.
  4. Click the Path section if you want to place points exactly. It lists every point with its X and Y values. You can type values there or delete a point with ×.