# Curves and drawing Add and draw curves, draw vector paths with the Pen and Freehand tools, import SVG files, add 3D text, and engrave or emboss them into a model. **Use this when:** you want a wire, tube or flowing shape, a hand-drawn or vector path, or a logo cut into or raised from a surface. **Don't use this for:** basic shapes and how Goop and Form work in general. Read Modelling. ## Curves A curve is a chain of curve points. Womp fills the space between the points with one shape, so the curve looks like a tube, a wire or a string of beads. ### Add a curve Press `O` to open the objects menu, then choose from `Curves`: - `Default` (`Shift` + `C`) - `Droplet`, `Square`, `S shaped`, `Donut` and `W - Helix`. These are ready-made curves. You can edit them like any other curve. ![The top of the objects menu: the search field, the Objects row (Cube, Cylinder, Sphere, Text, OpenSCAD) and the Curves row (Default, Droplet, Square, S shaped, Donut).](/docs/images/ui/curves-and-drawing-objects-menu.webp#narrow) *The `Curves` row of the objects menu (`O`).* ### Draw a curve Click `Draw` in the left toolbar. Under `Curves`: - `Curve Brush`: sketch on the model. - `Curve Points`: place points on the model. - `Size`: the thickness of the curve you draw. ![The Draw menu: Curves (Curve Brush, Curve Points), Color, Size, and the Vector group with Pen (P) and Freehand (Shift + P).](/docs/images/ui/curves-and-drawing-draw-menu.webp#narrow) *The `Draw` menu with `Curve Brush` and `Curve Points`. `Pen` and `Freehand` carry the Pro crown.* ### Curve settings Select the whole curve in the scene list, not one point. The inspector shows: - **Shape:** the shape the curve is made of. `Sphere`, `Cylinder`, `Cube` and `Cone` are free. `Pyramid` and `Torus` need Pro, and current (v2) projects also offer `Ellipsoid`, `Capsule`, `Link`, `Hexagon`, `Triangular` and `Octahedron` (Pro). The whole curve uses one shape. - `Roundness`: 1 to 10. Sets how round the bends are. - `Density`: 0 to 250. The number of shapes between two curve points. A low value gives a bead effect. A high value gives a smooth tube but makes the scene heavier. - `Goop Strength`: 0 to 1000. Blends the curve with nearby objects and with itself. ![The inspector for a new curve: Form with Shape set to Sphere, Combine and Goop, then a Curve section with Roundness 2 and Density 80, Material with one material per curve point, and Mirror.](/docs/images/ui/curves-and-drawing-curve.webp#narrow) *A new curve selected: its `Roundness` and `Density`, and a material for each point.* ### Curve point settings Select one curve point to set its `Position`, `Rotation`, `Size` and `Roundness`. Each point can have its own size and material, so a curve can taper or change color along its length. Turn on `Fixed Point` to make the curve always pass through that point, even when the curve is rounded. ## Pen and Freehand The `Draw` menu has a `Vector` group. Both tools need a Pro project. Without Pro, Womp shows the plan options; in a project that is not a Pro project, it offers to upgrade the project. | Tool | Key | What it does | | --- | --- | --- | | `Pen` | `P` | Place points. Press `Enter` to finish. | | `Freehand` | `Shift` + `P` | Sketch a vector path. | The shortcuts list calls the Pen `Pen tool`. ## Vector path settings Select a path (drawn or imported). The inspector shows: - `Inflate`: gives the path rounded volume. - `Stroke`: shows the outline of the path instead of the fill. Set the outline width when it is on. - `Outline stroke`: turns the stroke into a filled shape. - **Path operations** (select more than one path): `Union`, `Subtract`, `Intersect`, `Exclude`, `Combine` and `Divide`. These work on the 2D paths. They are not the same as a union in the scene list. - `Simplify shape`: removes extra points from one selected path. - `Goop` (hidden while `Inflate` is on), `Position`, `Rotation` and `Size`. ## Import an SVG Open `Functions` in the left toolbar and choose `Import SVG`, or choose `Import image and sticker`, then `SVG`. Both need Pro. `Import SVG` appears in current (v2) projects only. The SVG comes in as vector paths with the settings above. Simple files with few paths work best. ## 3D text Press `O` and choose `Text` (`Shift` + `T`). It is in alpha (the flask in the `Text` section). Type up to 60 characters. Select the text to set: - `Font Style`, `Font Weight`, `Font Size`, `Line Height` and `Letter Spacing`. - **Fonts:** pick from `All fonts` or your `Library`. `Upload a font` is Pro. Only `.ttf` and `.otf` files work. - `Goop` (0 to 500), `Position`, `Rotation` and `Size`, as on other objects. ![The inspector for a new text object: Material, Form, Goop, and a Text section with the text Hello Womp (10/60), font Roboto, weight Medium, size 45, line height 1, letter spacing 0, and alignment Left.](/docs/images/ui/curves-and-drawing-text.webp#narrow) *A new 3D text object (`Shift + T`). The `Text` section has the text box, font, weight, size, line height, letter spacing and alignment.* Text uses `Form` like other objects, so you can engrave or emboss it the same way as an SVG below. ## Engrave or emboss an SVG 1. Import the SVG, or draw a path. 2. Turn off `Inflate`. The `Form` setting shows only when `Inflate` is off. 3. Move and scale the path with the handles so it passes into the surface of the model. 4. Set `Form`: - `Negative` cuts the path into the model (engrave). - `Positive` adds the path to the model (emboss). Raise `Goop` to blend it into the surface. - `Stain` and `Intersect` need Pro on vector paths. 5. With `Negative`, turn on `Material Residue` if you want the cut surface to keep the cutting path's material. 6. Make sure the path is in the same union as the model and sits in the right place in the scene list. A negative object cuts the objects above it. See [Modelling](https://womp.com/docs/make.md) for how `Form` and `Goop` work. ## Use instead - **Wrong move:** looking for `Form` on an inflated path. **Why:** `Form` is hidden while `Inflate` is on. **Right move:** turn off `Inflate`, then set `Form` to `Negative` or `Positive`. - **Wrong move:** putting a negative path above the object it should cut. **Why:** a negative object cuts the objects above it in the list. **Right move:** move the path below the object in the scene list. - **Wrong move:** engraving thin lines or small text for a print. **Why:** fine detail can be too small to print. **Right move:** check [Detail and lettering](https://womp.com/docs/print/detail-and-lettering.md) first. --- Last checked: 2026-11-10. Womp version: Womp web app, November 2026.