EXP [design] v2.6 — A smoother canvas, and everyday tools.

EXP [design] v2.6

A smoother canvas, and tools for the everyday work.

This small update focuses on busy design documents: the versions, inspiration
images, complex vectors and walls of icon possibilities you keep around while
working. It also adds a Knife that follows your hand, nested-folder Unite, and
three ways to copy just the appearance you need.

Faster large documents

• Selecting, moving and recoloring large batches avoids repeated layer-tree
  searches and individual updates for every icon.
• Panning and zooming complex vector walls do less work. Dense path-based pattern
  fills use a cached canvas preview while the editable vectors and export remain
  intact.
• Ruler pointer markers move independently of the artwork, so moving the pointer
  with rulers visible no longer redraws the entire canvas.

A Knife that follows your stroke

• Press K, click to select artwork, then draw the cut you want. The cut follows
  the path you draw, including bends and closed loops.
• Choose what to cut: shapes, lines, paths and images. Choose the layer scope:
  top layer, within the group, or all layers/groups.
• Mask shapes can be cut too. Image cuts keep the original image and use editable
  masks rather than discarding pixels.
• Object → Path → Cut with Line keeps straight cuts precise, with a movable,
  rotatable preview and keyboard stepping for measurements and angle.
• Unite can collect compatible vector shapes from nested folders, so you no
  longer have to select every shape individually. Mixed folders stay intact.

Copy exactly the style you need

Copy / Paste	Shortcut	Includes
Effects	⇧⌘C / ⇧⌘V	Effects, opacity and blending
Style	⌥⌘C / ⌥⌘V	Fill, gradients/patterns, stroke and corners
Style & Effects	⌥⇧⌘C / ⌥⇧⌘V	Both together

Each command keeps its own clipboard. Paint can reach compatible artwork in
nested folders; pasting appearance remains one Undo step.

Small conveniences

• Save a named type style directly from Properties into Design Language.
• Checked and unchecked artboard notes export as proper GitHub-flavored Markdown
  task lists in the Handoff Package.

Limits worth knowing

• A cut must cross the artwork or form a closed loop to split a filled shape.
  Locked and hidden layers are protected.
• Paint attributes apply where the target supports them. Live text supports solid
  color and outlines; images and component instances receive whole-layer effects.
• Appearance clipboards stay within the current editing window/session.
• Complex pattern previews are a canvas optimization; SVG/export fidelity and
  editable pattern sources are preserved.

EXP [design] 2.6 is build 17 and requires macOS 26.2 or later.