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Paths

A path defines one or more shapes, or subpaths. A path can consist of straight lines, curves, or both. It can be open or closed. A path can be a simple shape, such as a line, circle, rectangle, or star, or a more complex shape such as the silhouette of a mountain range or an abstract doodle. Figure 3-1 shows some of the paths you can create. The straight line (at the upper left of the figure) is dashed; lines can also be solid. The squiggly path (in the middle top) is made up of several curves and is an open path. The concentric circles are filled, but not stroked. The State of California is a closed path, made up of many curves and lines, and the path is both stroked and filled. The stars illustrate two options for filling paths, which you’ll read about later in this chapter.

In this chapter, you’ll learn the building blocks that make up paths, how to stroke and paint paths, and the parameters that affect the appearance of paths.

Contents:

Path Creation and Path Painting
The Building Blocks
Creating a Path
Painting a Path
Clipping to a Path

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