gimp/help/C/dialogs/paths/paths.html

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<HTML
><HEAD
><TITLE
>The Paths Dialog</TITLE
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>GIMP User Manual</TH
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><TD
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><A
HREF="../../paths/index.html"
>Prev</A
></TD
><TD
WIDTH="80%"
ALIGN="center"
VALIGN="bottom"
>Chapter 7. Paths</TD
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HREF="../../paths/new_path.html"
>Next</A
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><HR
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><DIV
CLASS="SECT1"
><H1
CLASS="SECT1"
><A
NAME="DIALOGS-PATHS-PATHS"
>The <SPAN
CLASS="INTERFACE"
>Paths Dialog</SPAN
></A
></H1
><A
NAME="AEN1951"
></A
><A
NAME="AEN1953"
></A
><P
> Basically paths are a way to store <A
HREF="../../tools/bezier_select.html"
>bezier selections</A
>. Limiting
paths to that statement misses a lot of their functionality
though. A better way to see it is as a way to manage vector
curves. If you are familiar with vector drawing programs such as
<SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Adobe Illustrator</SPAN
> and
<SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Corel Draw</SPAN
>, then paths will be
something very familiar.
</P
><P
> You will work with paths just like you work with bezier curves.
Bezier curves are, as a matter of fact, Paths. You may just not be
aware of the power that is hidden within them. The big difference
is that you can edit your curve, you can paint with your curve, or
even save, import and export the curve.
</P
><P
> There are three command areas in the Paths dialog:
<P
></P
><UL
><LI
><P
> The top edit area
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
> The path area with its right button popup menu
</P
></LI
><LI
><P
> The bottom control area
</P
></LI
></UL
>
</P
><DIV
CLASS="SECT2"
><H2
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
NAME="AEN1968"
>Control area</A
></H2
><P
> From left to right we count:
<P
></P
><DL
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>New Path</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/new_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> You will create a new path and activate the bezier tool.
The path is named Path#<TT
CLASS="REPLACEABLE"
><I
>X</I
></TT
>
<A
NAME="AEN1981"
HREF="#FTN.AEN1981"
>[1]</A
>.
If you want to rename it you have to double click on the
path in the path area. If you do so a <SPAN
CLASS="INTERFACE"
>name
dialog</SPAN
> will appear.
</P
></DD
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>Duplicate Path</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/duplicate_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> Will duplicate the active path. To activate/mark a path
you single click on it in the path area. The name is, by
default, OldName#<TT
CLASS="REPLACEABLE"
><I
>X</I
></TT
>
<A
NAME="AEN1993"
HREF="#FTN.AEN1993"
>[2]</A
>.
</P
></DD
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>Path to Selection</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/to_selection_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> Will create a selection out of a path. Notice that the
path doesn't have to be closed. The created selection
will simply join the endpoints with a line that will
follow the curves direction in each endpoint.
</P
></DD
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>Selection to Path</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/selection_to_path_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> Will create a path out of a selection. Beware of
complicated selections such as selections done by quick
mask or select by color. Such selections will create
very complex paths which are hard to control.
</P
></DD
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>Stroke Path</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/stroke_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> Will stroke the path with the brush of the active
device. The path doesn't have to be closed. The stoke
will stroke from one endpoint to another.
</P
></DD
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>Delete Path</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/delete_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> Will delete the active path.
<DIV
CLASS="WARNING"
><P
></P
><TABLE
CLASS="WARNING"
WIDTH="90%"
BORDER="0"
><TR
><TD
WIDTH="25"
ALIGN="CENTER"
VALIGN="TOP"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/warning.gif"
HSPACE="5"
ALT="Warning"></TD
><TD
ALIGN="LEFT"
VALIGN="TOP"
><P
> No confirmation dialog will appear.
</P
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
></DIV
>
</P
></DD
></DL
>
</P
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="SECT2"
><H2
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
NAME="AEN2029"
>Edit area</A
></H2
><P
> To be able to edit a path, the bezier tool must be active. If
it isn't, you will not be able to edit a path. In the top edit
area we count from left to right.
<P
></P
><DL
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>New Point</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/pen_normal_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> This command will add a control point to the path and
make a line from the last control point to the new
point. There a two ways to create a path. You can just
click to add a point. This will create a curve with
sharp corners. If instead you click and drag you will
stretch and form the curve related to the added control
point. If you create the path this way, you will end up
with a curve with smooth <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"corners"</SPAN
>. You can,
naturally, combine the two ways to create curves.
</P
><P
> You close your path by joining the first and last point
(this is done by adding the last point really close to
the first point) a <SPAN
CLASS="GUIBUTTON"
>square</SPAN
> sign
will now appear inside the path. This command will turn
the path into a selection. Clicking outside the
previously closed curve will start a new bezier curve.
The square path to selection command will now be
deactivated and you can add more points inside the
previously closed curve. You can have as many closed
curves as you want, but you can only have one that isn't
closed in the same Path. This may look like a
limitation, but you can have as many paths as you like.
This will enable you to have as many unclosed curves as
you want as long as they are in separate paths.
</P
></DD
></DL
>
<P
></P
><DL
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>Add Point</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/pen_add_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> Will add a point to your curve. The new point must be
located on the curve. You can't add a point outside the
curve. You will notice that your cursor will have a
little <SPAN
CLASS="GUIBUTTON"
>+</SPAN
> sign when you are over a
curve in the image. When the <SPAN
CLASS="GUIBUTTON"
>+</SPAN
>
sign appears it means that you are able to add a point
by clicking on the curve. The new point will be adjusted
to fit the curve and the curve's shape will not be
altered.
</P
></DD
></DL
>
<P
></P
><DL
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>Remove Point</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/pen_delete_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> Will remove a point in your curve. The point must be
between the endpoints in a non-closed curve. If the
curve is closed it can be any point within the curve.
However you always have two points in the curve.
</P
></DD
></DL
>
<P
></P
><DL
><DT
><SPAN
CLASS="GUILABEL"
>Edit Point</SPAN
>
(<SPAN
CLASS="INLINEMEDIAOBJECT"
><IMG
SRC="../../../images/pen_edit_icon.png"
></IMG
></SPAN
>)</DT
><DD
><P
> Will allow you to adjust the curve. When you click on an
anchor point, two little handles appear. If you pull the
handles, they will change size and direction and shape a
curve. By pressing <B
CLASS="KEYCAP"
>Ctrl</B
>, you can move
an anchor point anyway you like. To be able to adjust
each handle separately, you have to press
<B
CLASS="KEYCAP"
>Shift</B
>.
</P
></DD
></DL
>
</P
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="SECT2"
><H2
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
NAME="AEN2075"
>Path area</A
></H2
><P
>
The path area is where you choose the path that you want to work
with. If you <SPAN
CLASS="MOUSEBUTTON"
>right</SPAN
> click on a path, a
popup menu will appear with commands for copy, paste etc. Please
see <A
HREF="../../paths/index.html"
>Chapter 7</A
> for references of those
commands. The default name of a path is simple &mdash; it's just
<TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>Path</TT
> followed by a number. It can be useful
to change a path's name. To change its name, simply double click
on the path and a name dialog will appear.
</P
></DIV
></DIV
><H3
CLASS="FOOTNOTES"
>Notes</H3
><TABLE
BORDER="0"
CLASS="FOOTNOTES"
WIDTH="100%"
><TR
><TD
ALIGN="LEFT"
VALIGN="TOP"
WIDTH="5%"
><A
NAME="FTN.AEN1981"
HREF="../../dialogs/paths/paths.html#AEN1981"
>[1]</A
></TD
><TD
ALIGN="LEFT"
VALIGN="TOP"
WIDTH="95%"
><P
>where X is a number</P
></TD
></TR
><TR
><TD
ALIGN="LEFT"
VALIGN="TOP"
WIDTH="5%"
><A
NAME="FTN.AEN1993"
HREF="../../dialogs/paths/paths.html#AEN1993"
>[2]</A
></TD
><TD
ALIGN="LEFT"
VALIGN="TOP"
WIDTH="95%"
><P
>where X indicates the nth duplication of
the path</P
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
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><A
HREF="../../paths/index.html"
>Prev</A
></TD
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><A
HREF="../../contents.html"
>Home</A
></TD
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><A
HREF="../../paths/new_path.html"
>Next</A
></TD
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><TD
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ALIGN="left"
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>Paths</TD
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VALIGN="top"
><A
HREF="../../paths/index.html"
>Up</A
></TD
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WIDTH="33%"
ALIGN="right"
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>New Path</TD
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