Advanced shape operations

Vecta contains really powerful tools normally not seen on web applications, that enable you to make amazingly complex shapes with just a few simple operations.

Grouping shapes

To group shapes:

Select multiple shapes using the pointer tool
Right click, select Operations | Group or use the keyboard and press Ctrl + G

Ungrouping shapes

To ungroup shapes:

Select a grouped shape
Right click and select Operations | Ungroup or press Ctrl + Shift + G

Grouped shapes with text

Each grouped shape can have their own text, in addition to text on sub shapes.

Example of grouped shape having their own text

Flip vertical

To flip a shape vertically:

Select the shape, right click and select Operations | Flip vertical

Flip horizontal

To flip a shape horizontally:

Select the shape, right click and select Operations | Flip horizontal

Fragment shapes

To fragment shapes:

Select 2 or more shapes, then right click and select Operations | Fragment

Union shapes

Select 2 or more shapes, then right click and select Operations | Union

Difference shapes

Select 2 or more shapes, then right click and select Operations | Difference

Intersect shapes

Select 2 or more shapes, then right click and select Operations | Intersect

Flatten shapes

Flattening operations removes shapes that is under another shape.

Flattening is useful to produce SVG drawings suitable for plotters and laser cutters that detects paths and cut according to these paths. By flattening shapes, we ensure that paths that is hidden under another shape is not generated.

How flattening works

Flattening removes shapes and paths underneath filled shapes (irrespective of their filled color and opacity).

Flatten only removes when shapes are filled

Flattening will not remove shapes if the shape that is on top is not filled.

Trimming shapes

Trimming shapes essentially split a shape into its strokes.

To trim shapes:

Select multiple shapes, then right click and select Operations | Trim

Joining paths

Join essentially joins multiple paths into a single path and is the reverse of a trim operation. Paths must have a begin or end point that is at the same position as another begin or end point, to be joined.

To join paths:

Select multiple paths, then right click and select Operations | Join

Outline text

Outlining text

Converting shapes to path

Rectangles, ellipses and circles can be converted to paths for easier scaling.

To convert to paths:

Select rectangles or ellipses, then right click and select Operations || Convert to paths

Why convert to path?

If you have a rectangle with rounded corners, resizing the rectangle does not resize the rounded corners.

If converted to paths, the rounded corners will also get resize proportionally.

Resizing a rounded rectangle which is converted to path