Adobe InDesign - Manual (Page 581)

Understanding paths and shapes
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Simple paths
Compound paths
Compound shapes
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Types of paths and shapes
About paths
About direction lines and direction points
Types of paths and shapes
You can create paths and combine them in a variety of ways in InDesign. InDesign creates the following types of paths and shapes:
Simple paths are the basic building blocks of compound paths and shapes. They consist of one open or closed path, which may be
self-intersecting.
Compound paths consist of two or more simple paths that interact with or intercept each other. They are more basic than
compound shapes and are recognized by all PostScript-compliant applications. Paths combined in a compound path act as one object and share
attributes (such as colors or stroke styles).
Compound shapes consist of two or more paths, compound paths, groups, blends, text outlines, text frames, or other shapes
that interact with and intercept one another to create new, editable shapes. Some compound shapes appear as compound paths, but their
component paths can be edited on a path-by-path basis and do not need to share attributes.
Types of paths and shapes
A. Three simple paths B. Compound path C. Compound shape
About paths
As you draw, you create a line called a path. A path is made up of one or more straight or curved segments. The beginning and end of each
segment are marked by anchor points, which work like pins holding a wire in place. A path can be closed (for example, a circle), or open, with
distinct endpoints (for example, a wavy line).
You change the shape of a path by dragging its anchor points, the direction points at the end of direction lines that appear at anchor points, or the
path segment itself.
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