Snap to geometry
Use recognizable points, directions and references to place or move geometry.
The snap palette controls which candidates are available during the active tool or transform. The canvas marker and label identify the current snap. Available controls depend on the editor and the geometry being manipulated.
Show and enable the palette
Use Panels in the canvas menu bar to show the snap palette where supported. Its master action reports Snapping ON or Snapping OFF. Shift+S toggles that state. Enable only the point and relation types you need.
Choose point and contour candidates
The palette offers options such as Endpoint, Midpoint, Center, Intersection, Quadrant, Nearest and Guides. Edge fractions includes fractional points along a straight edge; Model base targets a model’s placement base. These are not all interchangeable with an endpoint.
Use direction and relation snaps
Tangent, Perpendicular, Extension, Parallel, Axes and Angle Snap constrain or derive different geometric relations. Some need a placed start point or a hovered reference edge. Watch the relation preview before committing rather than expecting every relation at every cursor position.
Force one snap for the next point
Right-click a supported snap-type button to arm it for the next point only. Keyboard users can focus that button and use Shift+Enter or Shift+Space. Check the Next snap: indicator and use Clear or the applicable Esc action to cancel it.
Cycle or lock a candidate
The shared snap gestures use ] for next snap and [ for previous snap. Shift locks the current direction; arrow gestures choose an axis or reference relation. Rest the pointer on a point or edge for 0.6 seconds by default to pick it up as a reference. Rest again to drop it, or use Esc to clear picked-up references. The snap help lists the applicable gesture and current state.
Temporarily turn snapping off
Hold Ctrl for the snap-help gesture Snapping off while held. Release it to restore snapping. The palette’s Snapping off for next gesture action instead suspends snapping for one gesture. An active tool or context can reserve a modifier for its own action, so follow its live feedback.