Symmetry Mode

Symmetry Mode creates mirrored copies of your shapes automatically as you draw. A vertical symmetry line divides the canvas, and every stroke you make is reflected to the opposite side.

Enabling Symmetry Mode

Click the Symmetry Mode button in the mode toggle panel at the top of the 2D canvas. The button shows a vertical flip icon.

When Symmetry Mode is enabled:

• A dashed vertical line appears at the center of the canvas
• Drawing tools create mirrored copies automatically
• The toolbar switches to show only symmetry-compatible tools

The symmetry line

The symmetry line is a vertical dashed line that runs down the center of the canvas at x=0. All shapes drawn on one side of this line are mirrored to the opposite side.

The symmetry line position is fixed at the canvas center. Shapes on the left (negative x) are mirrored to the right (positive x), and vice versa.

Supported tools

The following tools work with Symmetry Mode:

Pen Tools

• Freehand
• Polygon
• Brush

Shape Tools

• Star
• Circle
• Circle Segment
• Rectangle
• Triangle
• Polygon (multi-point)
• Heart

Other Tools

• Eraser

When Symmetry Mode is enabled, tools that do not support mirroring (Transform, Text, Photo Guide, Bucket) are hidden from the toolbar. If you have an unsupported tool selected when entering Symmetry Mode, CADit switches to the previously selected pen tool.

How mirroring works

When you draw a shape in Symmetry Mode:

1. The original shape is created where you draw it
2. A mirrored copy is created on the opposite side of the symmetry line
3. Both shapes are linked together

The mirrored shape stays synchronized with the original. When you edit the original shape, the mirror updates to match. This synchronization continues even after you exit Symmetry Mode, as long as the shapes remain linked.

Toggling symmetry on existing shapes

You can add or remove symmetry from shapes that already exist on the canvas:

1. Select one or more shapes
2. Right-click to open the context menu
3. Click "Toggle Symmetry"

Adding symmetry: If the selected shapes are not mirrored, CADit creates mirrored copies for each one.

Removing symmetry: If the selected shapes are mirrored (or are mirrors themselves), CADit detaches them. Both the original and mirror remain on the canvas, but they are no longer linked. Editing one will not affect the other.

Working with mirrored shapes

Editing originals

When you modify an original shape (resize, reshape, move), its mirror updates automatically to reflect the changes. The mirror maintains its position relative to the symmetry line.

Editing mirrors

You can also edit the mirrored copy directly. Changes to the mirror propagate back to the original, keeping both shapes in sync.

Selecting mirrored shapes

Original shapes and their mirrors can be selected independently. Select one to edit it while keeping the other synchronized, or select both to move or delete them together.

Deleting mirrored shapes

• Delete an original shape: The mirror is also deleted
• Delete a mirror: The original remains, but loses its mirror

Exiting Symmetry Mode

Click the Symmetry Mode button again to exit. When you exit:

• The symmetry line disappears
• All drawing tools become available again
• Existing mirror relationships are preserved

Shapes that were mirrored continue to stay synchronized. To stop synchronization, select the shapes and use "Toggle Symmetry" from the context menu to detach them.

Tips

• Draw on one side of the symmetry line for best results. Shapes that cross the symmetry line will still be mirrored, but may produce overlapping geometry.
• Use Symmetry Mode for faces, characters, logos, or any design with bilateral symmetry.
• Combine with Doodle Mode to create symmetric layered designs.
• Exit Symmetry Mode before using the Transform tool, Text tool, or other non-supported tools.