Pen Tool

4m 22sPublished Sep 8, 2025

SummaryVersion Notes (Draft)

This lesson introduces the Pen tool, the primary tool for creating custom vector paths in Rive. It covers the basics of placing vertices, creating curves with Bezier handles, and understanding the different vertex types (Straight, Mirrored, Detached, and Asymmetric) to achieve precise path control.

Edit Vertices Mode: You must be in "Edit Vertices" mode (tap Enter) to modify individual path points.
Vertex Duplication: Hold Alt/Option and drag a vertex to create a perfect copy with the same properties.
Corner Radius: Straight vertices can have a "Corner" property applied in the inspector to round them without manually drawing curves.

📌 Key Points

Create vertices, Bézier curves, edit shapes, vertex types (mirrored/detached/asymmetric).

📝 Notes

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Step by Step

00:12

Activate the Tool

Click the Pen tool in the Create Tools menu or use the shortcut P.
00:21

Placing Vertices

Click to create a new vertex; hold Shift to snap new vertices to 45° angles.
00:36

Creating Curves

Click and drag to pull out Bezier handles and define curves.
00:49

Closing Shapes

Click the first vertex to close the path, then tap Enter or click "Done Editing" to finish.
01:18

Hierarchy Structure

Understand that the "Path" lives inside a "Shape Layer," each having its own transform properties.
01:32

Adding/Deleting Points

In edit mode, tap P again to add new points along a path or delete existing ones.
01:49
Vertex Types
- Straight: No handles, used for sharp corners.
- Mirrored: Handles have equal angle and length.
- Detached: Handles have independent angles and lengths.
- Asymmetric: Handles share the same angle but can have different lengths.
03:26

Shortcuts

Use Cmd + Click to toggle mirrored mode, and Alt + Click handles to switch to detached mode.