diff --git a/lib/include/artist/point.hpp b/lib/include/artist/point.hpp
index 06f295f..49cd138 100755
--- a/lib/include/artist/point.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/artist/point.hpp
@@ -8,6 +8,16 @@
 
 namespace cycfi::artist
 {
+   ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+   // Axis
+   ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+   enum class axis : bool { x = false, y = true};
+
+   inline constexpr axis other(axis a)
+   {
+    return axis(! bool(a));
+   }
+
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    // Points
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -25,6 +35,9 @@ namespace cycfi::artist
       constexpr point   move_to(float x, float y) const;
       constexpr point   reflect(point p) const;
 
+      constexpr float&  operator[](axis a);
+      constexpr float   operator[](axis a) const;
+
       float             x;
       float             y;
    };
@@ -86,6 +99,16 @@ namespace cycfi::artist
    {
       return {x + (x - p.x), y + (y - p.y)};
    }
+
+   constexpr float&  point::operator[](axis a)
+   {
+      return a==axis::x ? x : y;
+   }
+
+   constexpr float  point::operator[](axis a) const
+   {
+     return a==axis::x ? x : y;
+   }
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/include/artist/rect.hpp b/lib/include/artist/rect.hpp
index f810710..8df5433 100755
--- a/lib/include/artist/rect.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/artist/rect.hpp
@@ -242,6 +242,41 @@ namespace cycfi::artist
       r.right = 0.0;
       r.bottom = 0.0;
    }
+
+   inline constexpr float axis_extent(rect const &r, axis a)
+   {
+     return a == axis::x ? r.width() : r.height();
+   }
+
+   inline constexpr float axis_min(rect const &r, axis a)
+   {
+     return a == axis::x ? r.left : r.top;
+   }
+
+   inline constexpr float axis_max(rect const &r, axis a)
+   {
+     return a == axis::x ? r.right : r.bottom;
+   }
+
+   inline constexpr float& axis_min(rect &r, axis a)
+   {
+     return a == axis::x ? r.left : r.top;
+   }
+
+   inline constexpr float& axis_max(rect &r, axis a)
+   {
+     return a == axis::x ? r.right : r.bottom;
+   }
+
+   inline constexpr auto make_rect(axis a, float this_axis_min, float other_axis_min, float this_axis_max, float other_axis_max) -> rect
+   {
+     if (a == axis::x) {
+       return rect(this_axis_min, other_axis_min, this_axis_max, other_axis_max);
+     }
+     else {
+       return rect(other_axis_min, this_axis_min, other_axis_max, this_axis_max);
+     }
+   }
 }
 
 #endif