Section 4 · Vector Construction

Path

Definition

The fundamental vector object — a line or shape defined by anchor points and the segments connecting them. A path can be open (a line) or closed (a shape).

Why it matters

Everything in a vector application is a path. Understanding that a shape is a set of mathematical instructions, not a picture of a shape, is what makes vector editing predictable.

Example

A circle is four anchor points with curved segments between them — not a collection of round pixels.