---
title: Edit Mode
order: 3
---

**Edit** is the Chisel tool's second state: the tool works on the [points](../getting-started/concepts.md#point) of every selected shape (a path shape's points, an Ngon's corners, a Sweep's path, a Bisect fence's corners, a Lattice cage's controls) instead of on objects. It is a state of the tool, not Blender's Edit Mode: Blender stays in Object Mode.

## Edit button and Tab

- **Edit** in the tool settings row (after *Chisel Disable*) switches the state; it stays pressed in while the tool is in Edit. The `D` popup has the same button across its top.
- `Tab` switches it with a Chisel shape (or nothing) active. On any other object `Tab` is Blender's Edit Mode. The switch is an undo step.

![the tool settings row in Edit](../assets/tool-header-edit.webp)

In Edit the row shows **All**, **None** and **Invert** for the points instead of the Mode list. The state stays when you switch to another tool and back.

## What shows

- A shape's **own** handles (an [Ngon](../primitives/shapes/ngon.md)'s dots, the handles of a [Tube, Outline, Rail or Lathe](../primitives/paths/index.md)) show only in Edit.
- Modifier handles (Sweep, Bisect, Lattice and the others) show in both states; in Edit their points can be selected too.
- The active shape shows all its handles. Every other selected path shape shows its point dots, and every other selected Ngon its corners. Press a dot on one of them and that shape becomes the active one, with all its handles.
- A point's dot is **black**, **blue** when selected. A point's own ring and rounding handle respond only while it is selected.

## Selecting points

| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Click a dot | Select that point alone (the other shapes' points too are deselected) |
| `Shift` + click a dot | Add the point, or remove it if it was selected |
| Drag on empty space | Box select: the points inside replace the selection |
| `Shift` + drag | Box select, adding to the selection |
| `Ctrl` + drag | Box select, taking from the selection |
| Click away from the dots | Deselect every point |
| `A` / `Alt + A` / `Ctrl + I` | Select all points / none / invert |

![click, Shift-click, a box, then a click on empty space](../assets/edit-select.webp)

A click away from the dots only clears the points while some are selected; with none selected it selects the object under the mouse. To pick another shape while points are selected, click it twice, or `Shift`-click it. A drag where no points show box-selects objects. The point selection is not saved and is not an undo step.

## Dragging a selection

- A drag on an unselected dot selects that point and moves it alone.
- A drag on a selected dot moves every selected point, on every shape.
- A drag on a selected ring or rounding handle changes every selected point the same way; `1`–`5` set the profile of every selected corner.
- `Esc` or `RMB` puts the points and the selection back.

![one drag moving the selected points of a Tube and an Ngon together](../assets/edit-multi-drag.webp)

The keys of each drag are on [Points](../primitives/paths/points.md#drag-keys).

## Move Selected Points (G)

`G` moves every selected point, of every shape and modifier, with the mouse. The move follows the view plane through the points' middle.

- `X`, `Y` or `Z` keeps the move to a **world** axis (a coloured line shows it); the same key again frees it
- `Shift` is precision
- `LMB`, `Enter` or `Space` confirms; `RMB` or `Esc` puts every point back

Each point stays where its shape allows: an Outline's on its plane, the ends of a solid Lathe on its axis, a Lattice control at its fold limit. The whole move is one undo step.

![G, then Z to lock the move](../assets/edit-g-move.webp)

## Scale Points Radius (S)

`S` scales the **radius** of the selected Tube and Rail points, by how far the cursor moves from their middle (like `Alt + S` on Blender curve points). `Shift` is precision; `LMB` confirms, `RMB` cancels. It does not move the points.

![S growing the radius of three points](../assets/edit-s-radius.webp)

> [!warning]
> With no selected point that `G` or `S` can act on, the key is Blender's own and moves or scales the **objects**. For example, with only Ngon corners selected, `S` scales the Ngon object.

## Remove Selected Points (X, Delete)

`X` or `Delete` removes every selected point (path points, Ngon corners, Sweep and Bisect fence points; a Lattice cage keeps its points) as one undo step.

Each shape keeps its fewest points. If the selection would leave a shape with too few, none of that shape's points go and a warning says why (*"A Tube needs at least 2 points"*, *"An Ngon needs at least 3 vertices"*). With no point selected, `X` over a dot removes that one point, and anywhere else it is Blender's *Delete*.

![box-selecting two points and pressing X](../assets/edit-remove.webp)

## The right-click menu in Edit

The [right-click menu](rmb-menu.md) leads with the selected points' entries, then a line and the usual menu:

- **Point Kind**: *Smooth*, *Corner* or *Free* for every selected path point
- **Corner Profiles**: *Round*, *Sharp*, *Soft*, *Tight* or *Chamfer* for every selected corner (a path's Corner points and an Ngon's corners)
- **Remove Selected Points** (`X`)
- **Select All Points**, **Select No Points**, **Invert Points**

![the right-click menu of an Outline in Edit, Point Kind open](../assets/edit-rmb-menu.webp)

## Many shapes (100 handles)

A view shows at most **100 point handles** of the selected shapes. The active shape always shows all of its own. The other selected shapes follow in selection order, a whole shape at a time: one that does not fit shows only its outline. Make a shape active to bring its points (`Shift`-click it to keep the selection). Only the points that show can be selected, boxed or dragged.

## Turning handles off

The tool settings row has a **Shapes** icon that hides every shape's own handles at once. The gizmo drop-down next to it has a switch per family: *Ngon* (with *Rounding Handles* and *Edge Add Dots*) and *Tube, Lathe, Outline, Rail* (*Points*, *Radius Rings*, *Shape Handles*). See [Gizmos](gizmos.md#tool-bar-switches).

## See also

- [Points](../primitives/paths/points.md): point kinds, handles and drag keys
- [Path Shapes](../primitives/paths/index.md), [Ngon](../primitives/shapes/ngon.md)
- [Sweep](../modifiers/sweep.md), [Bisect](../modifiers/bisect.md), [Lattice](../modifiers/lattice.md): modifier points in Edit
- [Chisel Tool](active-tool.md), [Keymap](../keymap.md)