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Straight Line Tool — In Depth

The Straight Line tool draws light strands along straight segments — rooflines, eaves, window frames, garage outlines, and any feature with straight edges.

What you'll learn

  • Trace mode for multi-point paths
  • Place mode for quick two-point strands
  • How to finish, cancel, and undo while drawing

Trace mode (default)

Trace mode lets you click a series of points to follow an architectural feature. Lumineer connects them with straight segments and fills the path with lights.

Activate: Press L (or click "Line" in the toolbar). Make sure Trace is selected in the options bar.

Drawing flow

  1. Click to place the first point — a blue circle appears.
  2. Click again to add more points — a blue line connects each new point to the previous one. You can add as many points as you need to follow the roofline.
  3. Finish the strand using one of these methods:
    • Click near your last point (within about 15 pixels) — the fastest method, just double-tap the same spot.
    • Press Enter — works from anywhere on the canvas.
  4. The blue guide disappears and Christmas lights appear along the path.

Undo and cancel while drawing

  • Ctrl+Z / Cmd+Z — Removes the last point you placed. Keep pressing to remove more points. If you undo down to zero points, the drawing is cancelled.
  • Escape — Cancels the entire drawing and removes all points.

Drawing info bar

A floating banner at the bottom of the canvas shows contextual instructions:

  • Before drawing: "Click to start drawing a straight line path"
  • After 1 point: "Click to add another point"
  • After 2+ points: "3 points - Double-click to finish - Escape to cancel"

Place mode

Place mode creates a simple two-point strand in a single click-and-drag gesture. It's faster for simple straight runs.

Activate: Press L, then switch to Place in the options bar.

Drawing flow

  1. Click and hold where you want the strand to start.
  2. Drag to the end point — lights appear in real-time along the drag line, giving you a live preview of the strand.
  3. Release — the strand is created.

Tip: Place mode is ideal for quick straight segments like individual window outlines or single eave runs. For complex rooflines with corners, Trace mode is better since you can place as many points as needed.

When to use each mode

| Scenario | Best mode | |----------|----------| | Full roofline with multiple corners | Trace — click each corner point | | Simple eave run (straight line) | Place — one drag gesture | | Window outline (4 straight sides) | Trace — click 4 corners | | Quick mockup, speed over precision | Place — one strand per feature |

After drawing

Once a strand is created, switch to the Select tool (A) to edit it:

  • Drag white handle points to refine the path
  • Change bulb type, colors, and spacing in the sidebar
  • Adjust layer ordering if strands overlap

See Select, multi-select, and edit for full editing details.

Related:

PreviousSelect, Multi-Select, and Edit ElementsNext Curved Line Tool — In Depth