Vector Edit - Vanilla JS/TS

This guide shows how to use the vector edit APIs to enter path editing mode, switch between move, bend, add and delete modes, control bezier handle mirroring, and manage anchor points on any shape.

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Vector edit mode lets you modify any shape at the path level. When you enter vector edit mode on a shape, CE.SDK converts it to a vector path and exposes its anchor points and bezier handles for direct manipulation.

import type { EditorPlugin, EditorPluginContext } from '@cesdk/cesdk-js';

import {
  BlurAssetSource,
  ColorPaletteAssetSource,
  CropPresetsAssetSource,
  DemoAssetSources,
  EffectsAssetSource,
  FiltersAssetSource,
  PagePresetsAssetSource,
  StickerAssetSource,
  TextAssetSource,
  TextComponentAssetSource,
  TypefaceAssetSource,
  UploadAssetSources,
  VectorShapeAssetSource
} from '@cesdk/cesdk-js/plugins';
import { DesignEditorConfig } from './design-editor/plugin';
import packageJson from './package.json';

class Example implements EditorPlugin {
  name = packageJson.name;
  version = packageJson.version;

  async initialize({ cesdk }: EditorPluginContext): Promise<void> {
    if (!cesdk) {
      throw new Error('CE.SDK instance is required for this plugin');
    }
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new DesignEditorConfig());

    await cesdk.addPlugin(new BlurAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new ColorPaletteAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new CropPresetsAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(
      new UploadAssetSources({ include: ['ly.img.image.upload'] })
    );
    await cesdk.addPlugin(
      new DemoAssetSources({
        include: [
          'ly.img.templates.blank.*',
          'ly.img.templates.presentation.*',
          'ly.img.templates.print.*',
          'ly.img.templates.social.*',
          'ly.img.image.*'
        ]
      })
    );
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new EffectsAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new FiltersAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new PagePresetsAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new StickerAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new TextAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new TextComponentAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new TypefaceAssetSource());
    await cesdk.addPlugin(new VectorShapeAssetSource());

    // Enable vector path editing feature
    cesdk.feature.enable('ly.img.shape.edit');

    await cesdk.actions.run('scene.create', {
      page: { width: 100, height: 100, unit: 'Pixel' }
    });

    const engine = cesdk.engine;
    const page = engine.block.findByType('page')[0];

    // Create a graphic block with a star shape
    const graphic = engine.block.create('graphic');
    const starShape = engine.block.createShape('star');
    engine.block.setShape(graphic, starShape);

    const solidFill = engine.block.createFill('color');
    engine.block.setFill(graphic, solidFill);
    engine.block.setWidth(graphic, 60);
    engine.block.setHeight(graphic, 60);
    engine.block.appendChild(page, graphic);
    engine.block.setPositionX(graphic, 20);
    engine.block.setPositionY(graphic, 20);

    await engine.scene.zoomToBlock(page, { padding: 40 });

    // Select the graphic block and enter vector edit mode.
    // This converts the shape to a vector path so you can
    // manipulate individual anchor points and curves.
    engine.block.select(graphic);
    engine.editor.setEditMode('Vector');

    // Move mode (default): select and drag anchor points.
    // All mode flags start as false — move mode is active
    // when none of the other modes are set.

    // Bend mode: drag path segments to pull out bezier handles.
    engine.editor.setVectorEditBendMode(true);
    engine.editor.getVectorEditBendMode(); // true

    // Add mode: click on a path segment to insert a new anchor point.
    engine.editor.setVectorEditBendMode(false);
    engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(true);
    engine.editor.getVectorEditAddMode(); // true

    // Delete mode: click an anchor point to remove it from the path.
    engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(false);
    engine.editor.setVectorEditDeleteMode(true);
    engine.editor.getVectorEditDeleteMode(); // true

    // Return to move mode by clearing all flags.
    engine.editor.setVectorEditDeleteMode(false);

    // Mirror mode controls how bezier handles behave when you
    // adjust one side of an anchor point.
    // 0 = None: handles move independently.
    // 1 = Angle & Length: handles mirror both angle and length.
    // 2 = Angle Only: handles mirror angle but keep their own length.
    if (engine.editor.hasSelectedVectorNode()) {
      engine.editor.setSelectedVectorNodeMirrorMode(1);
      engine.editor.getSelectedVectorNodeMirrorMode(); // 1

      // Toggle smooth/sharp for the selected node.
      engine.editor.toggleSelectedVectorNodeSmooth();
    }

    // Query whether any vector anchor node is currently selected.
    engine.editor.hasSelectedVectorNode();

    // Insert a new anchor point at the midpoint of the
    // selected segment (only works in add mode).
    engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(true);
    // engine.editor.addVectorNode();

    // Remove the currently selected anchor point from the path.
    // engine.editor.deleteVectorNode();
    engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(false);

    // Exit vector edit mode and return to the normal transform mode.
    engine.editor.setEditMode('Transform');
  }
}

export default Example;

Setup#

Before using vector edit, enable the ly.img.shape.edit feature flag. This flag is disabled by default and must be explicitly enabled. The design editor and video editor starter kits enable it automatically.

await cesdk.addPlugin(new DesignEditorConfig());

await cesdk.addPlugin(new BlurAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new ColorPaletteAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new CropPresetsAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(
  new UploadAssetSources({ include: ['ly.img.image.upload'] })
);
await cesdk.addPlugin(
  new DemoAssetSources({
    include: [
      'ly.img.templates.blank.*',
      'ly.img.templates.presentation.*',
      'ly.img.templates.print.*',
      'ly.img.templates.social.*',
      'ly.img.image.*'
    ]
  })
);
await cesdk.addPlugin(new EffectsAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new FiltersAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new PagePresetsAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new StickerAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new TextAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new TextComponentAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new TypefaceAssetSource());
await cesdk.addPlugin(new VectorShapeAssetSource());

// Enable vector path editing feature
cesdk.feature.enable('ly.img.shape.edit');

await cesdk.actions.run('scene.create', {
  page: { width: 100, height: 100, unit: 'Pixel' }
});

const engine = cesdk.engine;
const page = engine.block.findByType('page')[0];

// Create a graphic block with a star shape
const graphic = engine.block.create('graphic');
const starShape = engine.block.createShape('star');
engine.block.setShape(graphic, starShape);

const solidFill = engine.block.createFill('color');
engine.block.setFill(graphic, solidFill);
engine.block.setWidth(graphic, 60);
engine.block.setHeight(graphic, 60);
engine.block.appendChild(page, graphic);
engine.block.setPositionX(graphic, 20);
engine.block.setPositionY(graphic, 20);

await engine.scene.zoomToBlock(page, { padding: 40 });

Entering Vector Edit Mode#

Select a block that supports shapes and call engine.editor.setEditMode('Vector'). CE.SDK converts the current shape to a vector path so you can manipulate individual anchor points and curves.

// Select the graphic block and enter vector edit mode.
// This converts the shape to a vector path so you can
// manipulate individual anchor points and curves.
engine.block.select(graphic);
engine.editor.setEditMode('Vector');

Edit Modes#

Vector edit provides four mutually exclusive modes. Only one can be active at a time — setting a new mode clears the others. When all mode flags are false, you are in the default move mode.

Mode	Purpose
Move	Select and drag anchor points and control handles
Bend	Drag path segments to pull out bezier handles
Add	Click on a path segment to insert a new anchor point
Delete	Click an anchor point to remove it from the path

// Move mode (default): select and drag anchor points.
// All mode flags start as false — move mode is active
// when none of the other modes are set.

// Bend mode: drag path segments to pull out bezier handles.
engine.editor.setVectorEditBendMode(true);
engine.editor.getVectorEditBendMode(); // true

// Add mode: click on a path segment to insert a new anchor point.
engine.editor.setVectorEditBendMode(false);
engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(true);
engine.editor.getVectorEditAddMode(); // true

// Delete mode: click an anchor point to remove it from the path.
engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(false);
engine.editor.setVectorEditDeleteMode(true);
engine.editor.getVectorEditDeleteMode(); // true

// Return to move mode by clearing all flags.
engine.editor.setVectorEditDeleteMode(false);

Mirror Mode#

Mirror mode controls how the two bezier handles of an anchor point behave when you adjust one of them.

Value	Name	Behavior
`0`	None	Handles move independently
`1`	Angle & Length	Handles mirror both direction and distance
`2`	Angle Only	Handles mirror direction but keep independent lengths

Use toggleSelectedVectorNodeSmooth() to quickly switch between a sharp corner (no handles) and a smooth curve.

// Mirror mode controls how bezier handles behave when you
// adjust one side of an anchor point.
// 0 = None: handles move independently.
// 1 = Angle & Length: handles mirror both angle and length.
// 2 = Angle Only: handles mirror angle but keep their own length.
if (engine.editor.hasSelectedVectorNode()) {
  engine.editor.setSelectedVectorNodeMirrorMode(1);
  engine.editor.getSelectedVectorNodeMirrorMode(); // 1

  // Toggle smooth/sharp for the selected node.
  engine.editor.toggleSelectedVectorNodeSmooth();
}

Node Operations#

Use these APIs to query selection state and add or remove anchor points programmatically.

// Query whether any vector anchor node is currently selected.
engine.editor.hasSelectedVectorNode();

// Insert a new anchor point at the midpoint of the
// selected segment (only works in add mode).
engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(true);
// engine.editor.addVectorNode();

// Remove the currently selected anchor point from the path.
// engine.editor.deleteVectorNode();
engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(false);

Exiting Vector Edit Mode#

Call engine.editor.setEditMode('Transform') to leave vector edit mode and return to the normal transform controls.

// Exit vector edit mode and return to the normal transform mode.
engine.editor.setEditMode('Transform');

Keyboard Shortcuts#

In the built-in editor UI, vector edit mode supports keyboard shortcuts:

Backspace / Delete removes the selected anchor point from the path.

Troubleshooting#

Edit Path Button Not Visible#

Ensure the ly.img.shape.edit feature flag is enabled via cesdk.feature.enable('ly.img.shape.edit').
Verify the selected block supports shapes: engine.block.supportsShape(block) must return true.

Shape Not Converting#

Only blocks with a valid shape can enter vector edit mode. If the block has no shape, create and assign one first using engine.block.createShape() and engine.block.setShape().

API Reference#

Method	Category	Purpose
`engine.editor.setEditMode('Vector')`	Mode	Enter vector edit mode
`engine.editor.setEditMode('Transform')`	Mode	Exit vector edit mode
`engine.editor.setVectorEditBendMode(flag)`	Mode	Enable or disable bend mode
`engine.editor.getVectorEditBendMode()`	Mode	Query bend mode state
`engine.editor.setVectorEditAddMode(flag)`	Mode	Enable or disable add mode
`engine.editor.getVectorEditAddMode()`	Mode	Query add mode state
`engine.editor.setVectorEditDeleteMode(flag)`	Mode	Enable or disable delete mode
`engine.editor.getVectorEditDeleteMode()`	Mode	Query delete mode state
`engine.editor.hasSelectedVectorNode()`	Selection	Check if an anchor is selected
`engine.editor.addVectorNode()`	Edit	Insert anchor at segment midpoint
`engine.editor.deleteVectorNode()`	Edit	Remove selected anchor
`engine.editor.toggleSelectedVectorNodeSmooth()`	Edit	Toggle smooth/sharp anchor
`engine.editor.setSelectedVectorNodeMirrorMode(mode)`	Edit	Set handle mirror behavior
`engine.editor.getSelectedVectorNodeMirrorMode()`	Edit	Query handle mirror mode