Draw shapes and paths in Blend

In Blend, a shape is exactly what you’d expect. For example: a rectangle, circle, or ellipse. A path is a more flexible version of a shape. You can do things like reshape them or combine them together to form new shapes.

Shapes and paths use vector graphics so they scale well to high resolution displays. If you want to learn more about vector graphics, see What are Vector Graphics or vector graphics.

In this topic:

• Draw a shape

• Draw a path

• Convert a shape to a path

• Combine paths

• Create a compound path

• Create a clipping path

Draw a shape

You can find shapes in the Assets panel.

Drag any shape that you want to your artboard. Then, you can use handles on the shape to scale, rotate, move, or skew the shape.

Draw a path

A path is a series of connected lines and curves. Use a path to create interesting shapes that are not available in the Assets panel.

You can draw a path by using a line, pen or pencil. You can find these tools in the Tools panel.

Draw a straight line

Use the Pen tool , or the Line tool .

Using the Pen tool

On the artboard, click once to define the start point, and then click again to define the end of the line.

Using the Line tool

On the artboard, drag from where you want the line to start, and then release at the point where you want the line to end.

Draw a curve

Use the Pen tool .

On the artboard, click once to define the start point of a line, and then click and drag your pointer to create the desired curve.

If you want to close the path, click the first point on the line.

Change the shape of a curve

Use the Direct selection tool .

Click the shape, and then drag any point on the shape to change curve shapes.

Draw a free-form path

Use the Pencil tool .

On the artboard, draw a free-form path just as you would by using a real pencil.

Remove part of a path

Use the Direct selection tool .

Select the path that contains the segment you want to delete, and then click the Delete button.

Remove a point in a path

Use the Selection tool , and the Pen tool .

Use the Selection tool to select the path. Then, use the Pen tool to click the point that you want to remove.

Add a point to a path

Use the Selection tool , and the Pen tool .

Use the Selection tool to select the path. Use the Pen tool to click anywhere on the path where you want to add the point.

Convert a shape to a path

To modify a shape in the same ways that you modify a path, convert the shape to a path.

Watch a short video:Working with paths: Convert a shape to a path.

Combine paths

You can combine paths and shapes into a single path.

	Two shapes before combining		Intersect
	Unite		Exclude Overlap
	Divide		Subtract

Watch a short video:Working with paths: Combine paths.

Create a compound path

When you create a compound path, any intersecting parts of the paths are subtracted from the result, and the resulting path takes on the visual properties of the bottommost path.

You can break apart a compound path any time after you create it.

Watch a short video:Working with paths: Create a compound path.

Create a clipping path

A clipping path is a path or shape that is applied to another object, hiding the parts of the masked object that fall outside the clipping path.

Watch a short video:Working with paths: Create a clipping path.

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