Path Operations

Inkscape » Paths » Path Operations

Inkscape has a number of commands to form new paths from two or more preexisting paths. The z-order (see the section called “Ordering Objects (Z-Order)”) of the paths is important. In all cases except for the Cut Path command, the Fill and Stroke of the new path is inherited from the bottom path. For some operations, the top path can be thought of as operating on the bottom path; that is, part of the bottom path remains and the top path is thrown away. This is explained in more detail for each operation that it applies to below. All commands are accessible under the Path menu.

Any open paths are, for the purpose of these commands, closed by a line between the path's end points. Shape objects and text objects are automatically converted to paths.

Union (Ctrl++): Union of one or more paths. One new path is created, containing all the areas of the original paths. A union of one path removes self-intersections, creating individual sub-paths for each section. Note that this is different from the Path Combine command where no nodes are lost or created.

The path Union operation.
Difference (Ctrl+-): Difference of two paths. The area of the top path is removed from the bottom path.

The path Difference operation.
Intersection (Ctrl+*): Intersection of two or more paths. The new path encloses the common area of the original paths.

The path Intersection operation.
Exclusion (Ctrl+^): Exclusion of two or more paths. One new path consisting of multiple sub-paths is created according to an Even-Odd Fill rule. Inkscape v0.46 and earlier allowed only two paths to be used.

The path Exclusion operation.
Division (Ctrl+/): Division of two paths. The first path is split by the second path. Two or more new paths are created.

The path Division operation. The upper-right corner of the “After” illustration has been shifted to show the two new paths clearly.
Cut Path (Ctrl+Alt+/): Cutting by two paths. The first path is cut by the second path. Two or more new paths are created. The new paths do not have any Fill.

The path Cut Path operation. The path in the upper-right corner of the “After” illustration has been shifted to show the two new paths clearly.


Editing Paths		Chapter 8. Live Path Effects (LPEs)