Path Overlays
By default Autograph shows the path overlays of all paths within the Composition, whether they are used within a shape layer, mask, or other kind of path (such as a follow-path trajectory).
Some options in the overlays menu of the viewer let you control which path overlays to show in the viewport.
Path are divided into 3 types: Shape Layer paths, Mask paths, Other paths (such as a follow-path trajectory). These path types can be enabled/disabled from the menu to filter them in the viewport.
The Shape Contour Visibility option determines which paths should be displayed for the given enabled path types:
- Always: (the default), all paths of the Composition are visible. This is useful to switch quickly between paths of various layers.
- Never: No path contour whatsoever are visible
- Hovered or selected: Only the path that is selected and the path on which you have your mouse over is selected
- Selected Layers: Only paths that belong to the layers selection are visible. This is useful when you have many paths across many layers in the Composition.
Path Selection
Paths contours are not only displayed in the Shape Tool, but also in the Transform, Layout and Motion-Path tools, if Shapes Selection mode is enabled.
Transform tool paths selection
In this mode, only paths (and not layers) can be selected in the viewer. Hovering your mouse over a path that can be selected will show its contour with a cyan color. Other paths are displayed using their color specified in the properties
A selected path contour is either yellow, indicating that this is the active path used in active-editing actions, otherwise orange for other selected paths.
Locked paths are visible in a white contour, but cannot be selected.
Selecting multiple paths can be done by clicking while holding the (Shift) key.
Note
Double-clicking on the contour of path while in Transform tool, switches automatically to the Shape Tool.
Note
When a path has modifiers, such as Swirl, these modifiers are not taken into account when selecting: only the original path geometry is taken into account to determine whether the mouse cursor is on the path or not. To workaround this, it may be useful to disable temporarily the modifiers on the path.
Paths can also be selected by drawing a selection rectangle with the mouse: any path intersecting or contained in the rectangle will be selected. When holding (Ctrl + Shift), the rectangle removes paths from the selection. When holder (Shift), the rectangle adds paths to the existing selection.
Shape tool paths selection
Selection of paths in the Shape tool can be performed using the Move Control Points sub-tool.
This tool is primarily used to select individual control points of the path. However, once at least 1 control point is selected, the path is considered selected.