Fillet and Chamfer
Fillet rounds a corner with a smooth arc. Chamfer cuts a corner into a flat angled edge.
Fillet and ChamferFillet and Chamfer are two complementary corner-modification tools in the 2D editor. Fillet replaces a sharp corner with a smooth arc, while Chamfer cuts it into a flat diagonal line. Both tools work the same way: set a size value in the tool panel, hover any corner of a path or polygon to preview the result, then click to apply. No pre-selection is required — the tools detect corners by hover.
Activate the Fillet or Chamfer tool
Open the Modification section of the left toolbar and click either Fillet or Chamfer. The tool panel appears on the left showing a single dimension input: Fillet Radius for Fillet, or Chamfer Distance for Chamfer. Both values are in your project's current unit system (metric or imperial).
Set the radius or distance
Type the desired size into the Fillet Radius or Chamfer Distance field in the tool panel. For Fillet, a larger radius creates a gentler, wider curve. For Chamfer, a larger distance produces a longer diagonal cut. The minimum allowed value is 0 — negative values are not accepted.
Hover a corner to preview
Move the cursor over any corner of a line, polyline, polygon, or rectangle. A live preview highlights the proposed arc (Fillet) or diagonal cut (Chamfer) in place of the sharp corner. You can hover different corners before committing — the preview follows your cursor.
Click to apply
Click the corner to apply the modification. The corner is permanently replaced with the arc or angled segment. You can immediately move to the next corner and click again — the same radius or distance stays active until you change it in the tool panel.
Apply to multiple corners in sequence
Continue hovering and clicking corners one at a time. Each click modifies one corner. To change the radius or distance mid-session, update the value in the tool panel — the next click will use the new value. When you are done, press Escape or switch to another tool.
Use Fillet on patio and lawn corners for a softer, more natural look and easier mowing — rounded lawn edges are far easier to trim neatly than sharp right angles. Use Chamfer on path entry points and deck corners for a crisp, modern geometric aesthetic.
Both tools work on corners of lines, polylines, polygons, rectangles, and regular polygons. They do not act on smooth Bezier curves — those shapes have no distinct corners to modify.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Escape | Cancel / finish tool |
Key Parameters
| Name | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fillet Radius | 0 | The radius of the arc inserted at the corner. A larger value produces a wider, gentler curve. Stored in meters internally; displayed in your project's unit system. |
| Chamfer Distance | 0 | How far back from the original corner each end of the diagonal cut is placed. A larger value produces a longer angled edge. Stored in meters internally; displayed in your project's unit system. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nothing previews when I hover a corner — why?
Fillet and Chamfer only act on distinct path corners. Hover precisely over a corner vertex of a line, polyline, polygon, or rectangle. Smooth Bezier curves do not have corner vertices, so there is nothing to round or cut on those shapes.
The arc or cut is too large and overlaps an adjacent segment. What should I do?
Reduce the Fillet Radius or Chamfer Distance in the tool panel. The radius or distance cannot exceed half the length of the shortest adjacent segment — if your value is too large for the corner, reduce it until the preview appears correctly.
Do I need to select the shape before using Fillet or Chamfer?
No. Both tools work entirely by hover and click — there is no pre-selection step. Just activate the tool, set the size, and click any corner on the canvas.
Can I undo a fillet or chamfer I applied by mistake?
Yes. Use the standard Undo shortcut (Ctrl+Z on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Z on Mac) immediately after applying. Each click is a separate undoable action, so you can step back one corner at a time.
What is the difference between Fillet and Chamfer aesthetically?
Fillet produces a curved arc, giving organic and softened corners that suit naturalistic garden styles, lawn edges, and patio shapes intended for foot traffic. Chamfer produces a straight diagonal cut, giving a geometric, modern look that suits contemporary decks, formal parterres, and hard-edged path junctions.