# Lasso Tool

The Lasso tool is the canvas’s dedicated masking tool. It always draws into **inpaint mask layers** and is designed for quickly defining irregular regions for inpainting.

You can activate the Lasso tool from the canvas toolbar or with the default hotkey `L`.

## Where Lasso Draws

Lasso always targets an **enabled inpaint mask**:

- If an enabled inpaint mask is currently selected, Lasso draws into that mask.
- If no enabled inpaint mask is available, Lasso creates a new inpaint mask automatically and commits the contour there.

## Common Behavior

- Lasso always commits a **closed contour**.
- Hold `Ctrl` on Windows/Linux or `Cmd` on macOS to switch to **subtractive** mode and remove area from the mask instead of adding to it.
- Press `Esc` to cancel the current lasso session.
- Hold `Space` during an active session to pan the viewport without discarding the unfinished contour.

## Lasso Modes

**Freehand**  
Click and drag to sketch an irregular contour. Releasing the pointer closes and commits the contour automatically.

**Polygon**  
Click to place vertices. Click the first point to close and commit the contour. Hold `Shift` while placing the next edge to snap it to horizontal, vertical, and 45 degree angles.

## Moving and Panning During Drawing

The Lasso tool uses `Space` for panning in both modes:

- **Freehand:** While drawing, hold `Space` to pan the viewport without discarding the unfinished contour. Release `Space` to continue drawing.
- **Polygon:** During an active polygon session, hold `Space` to pan the viewport without discarding the unfinished contour. Release `Space` and continue placing points.

This is especially useful when drawing large mask regions that extend beyond the current viewport.

## Working With Masks

- Use **Freehand** for organic shapes like hair, smoke, foliage, fabric, and quick blocking.
- Use **Polygon** when you need straight edges and deliberate corner placement.
- Use **subtractive mode** to trim or punch holes in an existing inpaint mask.
- Use Lasso when you want mask-first editing behavior without first creating a mask layer by hand.

## Practical Notes

- Polygon mode shows the starting point so you can close the contour precisely.
- After at least three polygon points, moving near the start point lets you click it to finish the shape.
- Freehand is faster for loose silhouettes. Polygon is better when edge placement matters.

## Summary

The Lasso tool is the fastest way to create and refine inpaint masks on the canvas. Use Freehand for organic regions, Polygon for hard edges, and hold `Ctrl`/ `Cmd` whenever you need to subtract from the mask instead of adding to it.