How to Use Virtual Segment Delete in CorelDRAW

The Virtual Segment Delete tool in CorelDRAW is a vector trimming feature designed to instantly remove overlapping line segments and curve portions between intersections. This guide provides a direct walkthrough on locating the tool, executing single-click segment removals, deleting multiple intersecting lines simultaneously, and utilizing shortcut keys to streamline your vector cleanup workflow.

Locating the Tool

The Virtual Segment Delete tool is housed in the standard toolbox on the left side of the CorelDRAW workspace.

  1. Locate the Crop tool group in the toolbox.
  2. Click and hold the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Crop tool icon to expand the flyout menu.
  3. Select the Virtual Segment Delete tool (represented by an icon showing a knife cutting through overlapping line segments).

Deleting a Single Segment

The tool identifies where two or more vector paths intersect and allows you to snip the exact segment between those intersection points.

  1. Ensure the objects or paths you wish to trim are not locked or converted into non-editable formats.
  2. Hover the cursor over the line segment you want to remove. The cursor will tilt upright to indicate that an active segment has been detected.
  3. Click the segment once. The portion of the curve between the nearest intersection points will immediately disappear.

Deleting Multiple Segments Simultaneously

You can clear multiple intersecting segments in a single motion rather than clicking each one individually.

  1. Select the Virtual Segment Delete tool.
  2. Click and drag a marquee box across every line segment you wish to cut.
  3. Release the mouse button. Any segment that falls completely or partially within the bounding area across an intersection will be deleted.
  4. To draw a freehand path through multiple lines instead of a rectangular box, hold down the Alt key while clicking and dragging across the target segments.

Combining Nodes After Deletion

Removing virtual segments breaks the original paths into separate open subpaths. If your goal is to create a closed shape for filling with color:

  1. Select the remaining segments using the Pick tool.
  2. Go to Object > Join Curves to open the Join Curves docker.
  3. Set your preferred tolerance and click Apply to weld the open endpoints together into a single, closed vector object.