How to Create a Path in Affinity Designer?

To create a path in Affinity Designer, you draw a vector line, curve, or shape using the vector drawing tools.

Understanding Paths in Affinity Designer

In Affinity Designer, a "path" typically refers to any vector line, curve, or closed shape that can serve as a guide for other elements, most commonly for placing text along it (path text). Unlike some software where you might convert pixels to a path, in Affinity Designer, you directly create the path as a vector object.

Methods for Creating Paths

You can create a path using various drawing and shape tools available in the software. The act of drawing a vector element with these tools is the process of creating the path itself.

Using Drawing Tools

Drawing tools allow you to create freehand or precisely controlled lines and curves that act as paths.

• Pen Tool: Ideal for creating precise straight lines and smooth curves by placing nodes. This is the go-to tool for custom path shapes.
• Pencil Tool: Use this tool for drawing freehand lines and curves, similar to drawing with a real pencil. The software smooths the lines as you draw.

Using Shape Tools

Any closed shape drawn with the shape tools can also function as a path.

• Ellipse Tool, Rectangle Tool, Polygon Tool, etc.: These tools create predefined shapes. Once created, the outline of the shape serves as a path, allowing you to place text around a circle, inside a square, or along any other shape's perimeter.

The Key Requirement

As stated in the reference, for a path to be used (e.g., for path text):

"The path can be created from any line, curve or shape drawn using any of the line or shape tools. These include, but are not limited to, the Pen Tool, Pencil Tool, and Ellipse Tool. The only criterion is that a line, curve or shape must exist on the page before path text can be implemented."

This means the fundamental step is simply creating a vector object on your artboard using one of the appropriate tools.

Step-by-Step Examples

Here are simple examples of creating different types of paths:

Example 1: Creating a Curved Path with the Pen Tool

1. Select the Pen Tool from the Tools panel.
2. Click on the artboard to place the first node.
3. Click and drag to place the second node and create a curve.
4. Continue placing nodes (clicking for straight lines, clicking and dragging for curves) to define your desired path shape.
5. Press Esc to end an open path, or click back on the starting node to create a closed path.

Example 2: Creating a Circular Path with the Ellipse Tool

1. Select the Ellipse Tool from the Tools panel.
2. Click and drag on the artboard to draw an ellipse. Hold Shift while dragging to create a perfect circle.
3. Release the mouse button. The outline of the ellipse/circle is now a closed path ready to be used.

Practical Tips

• Modifying Paths: After creating a path, you can edit its shape using the Node Tool. Select the path, then use the Node Tool to move nodes, adjust curve handles, add new nodes, or delete existing ones.
• Open vs. Closed Paths: Lines and curves created with the Pen or Pencil tools can be open (having distinct start and end points) or closed (forming a complete loop). Shapes created with shape tools are typically closed paths. Both types can be used as paths.

By simply drawing vector objects with the appropriate tools, you are creating the paths needed for various design purposes in Affinity Designer.