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      Mastering the Draw Lines Tool in LightBurn

      Create Straight Lines, Curves, and Custom Vector Paths

      The Draw Lines tool is the cornerstone of vector path creation in LightBurn. It allows you to place nodes connected by straight lines or curves, enabling you to design from scratch, modify existing graphics, or trace outlines manually.

      Quick Reference: Draw Lines

      • Purpose: Create straight lines, curves, and vector paths.
      • Access Points:
        • Tools Toolbar → Draw Lines
        • Tools → Draw Lines
      • Keyboard Shortcut:
        • Windows: Ctrl + L
        • Mac: Cmd + L
      • Keyboard Modifiers:
        • Press S to toggle between corner and smooth nodes.

      QuickRef-DrawLines

      Anatomy of a Vector Path

      A vector path consists of:

      • Nodes: Points in space that define the shape of the path.
      • Handles (for curves): Control the direction and intensity of curves between nodes.
      • Straight and Curved Lines: Connections between nodes that form the path.

      Diag-PathAnatomy-1

      How to Use the Draw Lines Tool

      Activate the Tool

      • Click the pencil icon in the Tools Toolbar or press Ctrl/Cmd + L.
      • The cursor will indicate whether you’re placing corner or smooth nodes.

      Ref-DrawLines-DrawLinesInToolbar

      Placing Straight Lines Icon-DrawLinesCornerNode-1

      1. Click anywhere in the Workspace to place the first node.
      2. Move the cursor to a new location and click again to place another node, creating a straight line.
      3. Continue adding nodes until:
        • You close the shape by clicking the starting point.
        • You right-click or press Esc to stop.

      Ref-DrawLines-BasicDemo

      Creating Curves Icon-DrawLinesSmoothNode

      1. Auto-Smoothed Mode:

        • Press S to toggle between corner and smooth node placement.
        • Place a smooth node, and the next segment will automatically curve based on the next node’s position.

      Ref-DrawLines-ModeAutoSmoothed

      1. Controlled Mode:

        • Click, hold, and drag to place a smooth node with handles.
        • Move the cursor to adjust the curve’s direction and intensity.
        • Release the mouse button to finalize the handle and click again to place the next node.

      Ref-DrawLines-ModeControlled

      Constrain Placement Angles

      • Hold Shift while moving the cursor to constrain node and handle placement to horizontal, vertical, or 45-degree angles.

      Ref-DrawLines-ConstrainPlacement

      Ref-DrawLines-ConstrainPlacementHandle

      Connecting and Extending Paths

      • Continue Drawing: Click on the start or endpoint of an open path to extend it seamlessly.
      • Auto-Join: If you connect two open paths, LightBurn will automatically join them into a single path, indicated by an animated dash pattern.
      • Hold Ctrl/Cmd while placing nodes to disable the Auto-Join feature.

      Ref-DrawLines-AutoJoin

      Snapping

      • Snap nodes to existing geometry, including corners, midpoints, intersections, and other nodes.
      • The cursor changes to indicate the type of snapping point.
      • Hold Alt/Option to increase the snapping range for more precise alignment.

      Ref-DrawLines-SnappingDemo

      Measuring While Drawing

      • The Status Bar provides real-time measurements:
        • dx: Horizontal distance of the cursor.
        • dy: Vertical distance of the cursor.
        • len: Length of the current line segment.
        • Angle between successive segments.

      Ref-DrawLines-MeasureInStatusBar

      Tips for Refinement

      • Edit Nodes Tool: After roughing out your design with the Draw Lines tool, use the Edit Nodes tool to fine-tune node positions and curve handles for greater precision.
      • Practice Mode: Experiment with straight lines and curves in an empty Workspace to build confidence in using the tool.

      Summary

      The Draw Lines tool is a powerful feature for creating and editing vector paths in LightBurn. By mastering node placement, snapping, and curve adjustments, you can design intricate and precise graphics with ease. Use this tool in combination with other editing features to refine your creations and optimize your workflow.