Toolbar

The toolbar contains a variety of tools and features that you might use in Pixso.
The content displayed in the middle of the toolbar depends on what you select on the canvas.

1. Menu

Click on the menu icon to expand the main menu. This menu includes Pixso's Layer operations and user preferences, and the corresponding shortcut keys are displayed on the right side of the menu options. You can use these keys to trigger the function.

• Create new file: Create a blank file in a new tab.
• Search: Enter a keyword to quickly find the function you want.
• Edit: Use undo/redo, copy/paste, and advanced functions.
• View: Control the layout grid and ruler view settings, use the scale function, and locate objects on the canvas.
• Objects: Perform layer operations such as Group, Frame, Masking-out and Create component, etc.
• Text: Format the text in bold or italic and set the text size, height, and spacing.
• Arrange: Arrange the selected layers in certain ways, like alignment or equal spacing distribution.
• User preferences: Adjust your preferences by setting the effect of selected objects or the nudge amount when adjusting layers.
• Historical version: View saved historical versions and create the version history for your file.
• Import: Import Sketch, Adobe XD, or Pixso files into the editor.
• Export: Export the current file as a Pixso, Sketch, or Adobe XD file.

2. Drawing Tools

2.1 Move and Scale Tools

When you open a file in the editor, Pixso will take the move tool by default (shortcut: V).

The move tool allows you to select and reorder layers on the layers panel, or to move objects on the canvas.

Click the arrow beside the move tool to switch to the scale tool (shortcut: K), which helps you resize an entire object or layer in equal proportions.

2.2 Frame and Slice Tools

Pixso allows you to create a frame, which acts like a container. It enables you to select an area of the canvas to create and accommodate your design.

Unlike traditional frame tools, the Pixso frame is more powerful and can be nested in multiple layers, set automatic layouts, or make itself into freely definable objects by changing properties.

You select the frame tool (shortcut: A or F) and drag on the canvas to create a frame of any size, or you can select preset frame size from the right side panel.

Click the arrow on the right of the frame tool to switch to slice tool (shortcut: S). The slice tool allows you to customize the area for export.

2.3 Shape Tool

You can use the default shapes in Pixso. Click the drop down menu of the shape tool to select one:

• Rectangle (shortcut: R)
• Line (shortcut: L)
• Arrow (shortcut: Shift + L)
• Oval (shortcut: O)
• Polygon
• Star
• Place the image (shortcut: Option/Command + K)

2.4 Pen Tool

The pen tool allows you to create custom shapes and icons. You can also construct complex vector network layers using vector paths, anchor points, and Bezier curves (shortcut: Option/Shift + P).

2.5 Text Tool

Select the text tool from the toolbar (shortcut: T) to add a text layer to the canvas.

• Click once on the canvas to add a text layer stretching horizontally.
• Click on the canvas and drag it to create a fixed-size text layer and enter text inside.

2.6 Hand Tool

The hand tool helps you click and drag around the canvas without accidentally selecting or moving objects.
If you're using Pixso on a device with a touch screen, the hand tool allows you to move files with your fingers.

Note: Press the Space key to activate the hand tool.

2.7 Comment Tool

The comment tool allows you to quickly exchange ideas and feedback with collaborators. Press the C key to enter comment mode quickly.
Comments can be viewed by anyone who has permission to view or edit the file.

3. Layer Operating Tools

After selecting a layer or an object, you will see the layer operating tools in the middle of the toolbar. The tools you see depend on the layer type you choose.

3.1 Edit Object

Click the Edit object icon to enter vector editing mode. You can add, remove, or adjust individual anchors in the vector path.
This option is available only if you select a single vector path. You can also press the Enter/Return key to enter vector editing mode.

3.2 Create Component

Components are elements that you can reuse in your design. It helps to create and manage a consistent design system across projects. Click the Create component icon to create a component based on the layer of your choice.

If you select multiple layers or frames, you can use the arrow next to the icon to select the way to create components:

• Create component: Create the individual component as you choose.
• Create multiple components: Create multiple components in bulk for each layer or the frame you select.

Shortcut keys:

• macOS：Control+Command+K
• Windows：Ctrl+Alt+K

3.3 Reset Instance

When your selection contains overridden component instances, you will see the option to reset the instance. Click the Reset instance icon to reset any overridden content and restore it to the one that is consistent with the main component.

3.4 Mask Out

The mask allows you to show or hide specific parts of a layer or an object. Click the Mask icon to create a mask for the current selection.

When you create a mask, Pixso places each layer of the selected area in the mask group. Pixso will also use the outline of the currently selected layer to make sure that you can see the contents of the layer in the mask group.

Shortcut keys:

• macOS：Control+Command+M
• Windows：Ctrl+Alt+M

3.5 Boolean Operations and Path Splicing

Layers can be combined into shapes using Boolean operations or by path splicing.

• Unite: Combining overlapping vector paths into a single path yields the sum of two vector regions.
• Subtract the top layer: Remove any overlapping paths from the selected layer, and the region of the top vector layer will be removed from the figure of the next layer.
• Intersect: Creating a single path from any overlapping path preserves the overlap of the original graph.
• Subtract: Create a single path from non-overlapping parts of the layer, leaving only the non-overlapping parts of the original graph.
• Splice path: Create a single layer from the selected area and merge the Boolean layers into a full path layer.

Shortcut keys:

• macOS：Command+E
• Windows：Ctrl+E

Note: This option is available only if you select multiple layers.

When you do not select any layers, Pixso displays the project and filename in the middle of the toolbar. This gives you access to the following file operations:

• Publish styles and components: Open the panel of team resources library.
• Rename: Rename the file.
• Display history: Open version history on the right panel.
• Move files: Change the current file location to the project.

3.6 Search Function

In the editor of a design file, you can search plugins and functions in the following ways:

• Click the top-left menu and choose Search option.
• macOS: Command + /
• Windows: Ctrl + /

After you enter the keyword, the list below will return all matched results.

You can toggle an item by moving the cursor or pressing the  ↑ or ↓ key. You can also confirm the selection by directly clicking on it or press the ↵ key.