An image editing application selectively edits a brushstroke in an image, based on a direction of the brushstroke. In some cases, the brushstroke is selectively edited based on a similarity between the direction of the brushstroke and a direction of an editing tool. Additionally or alternatively, directional data for each pixel of the brushstroke is compared to directional data for each position of the editing tool. Data structures capable of storing directional information for one or more of a pixel, a brushstroke, or a motion of an editing tool are disclosed.