Knife

Add nodes, break a path at a node, or add points where a line crosses the path.

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Choose Knife from the Vextra panel or the Illustrator toolbar.

Knife uses the same node and segment highlights as the Editor, and the point you see is the point it will use.

Add a Node to a Segment

Move over a line or curve until the target point appears, then click.

On a curve, Vextra adds the node without changing the shape. On a line, it adds a node to the straight segment.

Break at a Node

Move over a node and click while Vextra highlights it.

Knife breaks the contour there, and both new open ends are sharp. Smart Corner and G2 settings on other nodes stay in place wherever they still apply.

Draw a Cut Line

Drag a line across one or more contours. On mouse-up, Vextra adds a node at every crossing.

The cut line adds nodes only; it does not open the contours. To open one, click its node with Knife.

Hold Shift while dragging to constrain the cut line to 45-degree steps.

Use Knife from the Editor

With Vextra Editor active, start a drag in empty canvas while holding Control-Option / Ctrl-Alt. This draws a quick Knife line without changing the panel tool.

Cancel

Press Escape during a Knife drag to drop the preview and keep the path.

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For tools that extend paths and build loops, see Scissors.