Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Jones, and I'm really pleased that you decided to join this lesson today.

In this lesson we will look at objects and their paths and how we can manipulate the shape or line using the path nodes and handles.

So let's get started.

Welcome to today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called "Vector Paths" from the Unit Developing Vector Graphics, and by the end of this lesson you'll be able to edit the paths of vector shapes to create unique shapes.

There are three key words to today's lesson.

Path.

Path is a line that goes from one point to another and can be straight or curved.

Node.

A node is the points that mark the start, end, or a change in direction of a path.

Freehand.

Freehand is where it's drawn freely without the use of any tools.

There are three sections to today's lesson.

The first is explain that vector graphics are made up of paths.

The second: create and modify straight and curved paths.

And the third: edit paths to create a new shape.

So let's start with explain that vector graphics are made up of paths.

All vector graphics are made up of paths.

A path is a route between two points, and it can be straight or curved.

The paths that make up vector graphics can be edited.

A vector path has nodes at the start, end, and at changes of direction.

This path has four nodes, and you can see there they are the little diamonds at each point at the start, at the point at the top, down at the bottom right point, and at the top of the line going up at the end.

You see these here at the start and end.

And then you've got the ones where you've got changes of direction.

Nodes can be moved or removed.

They can also be added at any point or longer path.

Let's have a quick check.

Nodes cannot be moved or removed.

Is that true or false? Pause the video to consider if that's true or false, and then we'll check it.

Let's check your answer.

The answer was false.

Pause the video to consider why that is false, and then we'll check it.

Let's check your answer.

Nodes can be moved or removed.

They can also be added at any point a along a line.

Well done if you got that correct.

By creating a path, you can manipulate lines and shapes in greater detail.

If you look at this example of moving path nodes to adjust lines and shapes, you can see the icon that was selected, which was the one underneath the arrow selector on the top left toolbar, and you can see as we're selecting each of the shapes by clicking and dragging and moving, you can adjust each node on that path to change the shape or the line.

And when you click, if it's curved, you get handles there as well.

So you can see the moving of using the circle one there to adjust the curve.

Again, here we can adjust the the nodes.

We've got a curve so we can use the handles to adjust it further and change the shape.

These bottom two are freehand ones which have more nodes.

You can adjust any of those to create any shapes or readjust lines.

Paths are fundamental to vector drawing.

They let you manipulate lines and shapes.

Using paths, you can create precise designs, such as logos, illustrations, or icons, that can be scaled up without losing their quality.

Some examples here we have a whale, a zebra, and an icon logo here.

Let's have a quick check.

Fill in the missing words.

All vector graphics are made up of blank.

A path is a blank between two points and it can be blank or curved.

The paths that make up blank graphics can be blank.

And you've got five possible words to use here.

Vector, paths, straight edited, and route.

Pause the video to consider where those words go to complete that sentence, and then we'll check your answers.

Let's check your answers.

All vector graphics are made up of paths.

A path is a route between two points and it can be straight or curved.

The paths that make up vector graphics can be edited.

Well done if you've got those correct.

Let's do an activity.

Explain that vector graphics are made up of paths using the following words: path, node, vector graphic, straight, and curved.

Pause the video, use your worksheet, go back through the slides, and complete that activity, and then we'll give an example answer solution.

Let's check your answer.

So Izzy has put, "Vector graphics are made up of paths.

A path shows the route between one point and another.

Paths can be straight or curved.

You can edit paths as well as add or remove nodes.

This means instead of using the existing shapes, you can create your own." A good example there done by Izzy, and well done for completing that activity.

And if you got that correct, something similar to that, well done.

Let's move to the second part of today's lesson.

Create and modify straight and curved paths.

In Inkscape, you can draw your own lines and shapes.

You can see two icons here that are on the toolbar.

The lines can be straight, which looks like this, curved, like this, or freehand, which looks like this.

To draw straight lines, you click at each point where you want the line to change direction.

So you can see the tool icon that was used, and you can see that as they're moving, clicking to add each of those nodes, which draws a straight line from one to another.

You double click to complete the line.

And if you double click on the start point, it will create a closed shape.

To draw curve lines, click and drag to set the length of the curve, and then release the mouse button, and then click again to set the point where you want the line to change direction.

Double click to complete the line.

And double click on the start point will create a closed shape.

So again, you can see the icon that's used.

And as it's clicked, you can move it around and create those curved lines.

To draw a freehand line, choose the freehand tool, then click and drag to draw a line.

Release the mouse button to complete that line.

Release the mouse button when the mouse pointer is on the start point to create a closed shape.

Let's have a quick check.

What are the three different types of line used in Inkscape to create images? Pause the video to consider your answer, and then we'll check it.

Let's check your answer.

Straight, curved, freehand.

Well done if you've got those correct.

To edit a path, choose the edit node tool, and then click on a path.

Once you have selected a path, the nodes will be shown.

Nodes can be dragged to move them.

You can drag the line between nodes to form a curve.

Curves can be adjusted using the handles.

So you can see here in these examples as they're working through that, clicking and moving the nodes to be able to adjust that.

And then clicking on a curved line.

You can click on the node, you get the handles, and then you can adjust the curve.

We'll just look at a few more examples on there.

Again, here we're using the handles to adjust the curve.

And on the freehand ones, we've got more nodes, and we're adjusting the nodes to adjust the shapes.

Let's have a quick check.

You can drag nodes to change the appearance of a line using the node tool.

What does this tool look like? Is it A, B, or C? Pause the video to consider which of those icons is the right tool to change the node.

Let's check your answer.

The answer was B.

Well done if got that correct.

Let's do an activity.

This one, you're going to create an edit paths to draw the facial features of a superhero.

You're going to use straight, curved, and freehand.

And you can choose what facial features to add.

Some examples here.

Please note though that you'll create the head in the next activity.

So we're just doing the features.

Pause the video, use your software, and have a go at using and editing paths for straight, curved, and freehand to create the facial features of your new superhero.

And then we'll look at an example.

Let's have a look at an example.

So here's one that Izzy has created.

She's created the eyes, eyebrows, and a mouth for her superhero.

I hope yours is looking just as good with those features and you've had fun creating those using the different paths and nodes.

And well done for completing that part of this activity.

Let's move to the last part of today's lesson.

Edit paths to create a new shape.

Shapes that are created in Inkscape can be converted into editable paths.

So here we have the object, and the path is the line around the edge there highlighted in red with the nodes at each point.

After you have added a shape to Inkscape, you can edit the path.

And you can see that here we've got the edit.

Clicking the edit button by clicking on it.

You can also go to Path.

You select it, click the Path menu, you choose object to path, and you can drag the nodes around the edge of the object to change its shape.

So you can see here object path.

Click on the edit nodes.

And now the nodes are visible, and you can drag the nodes around the edge to create a new shape from the original shape that was added.

Using that node tool, you can double click on the edge of the shape to add a node as well.

Let's have a quick check.

Which options do you need to choose to turn your shape into a path? Is it A, Object menu, object path, B, Path menu, object path, C, Path menu, split path? Pause the video to consider your answer, and then we'll check it.

Let's check your answer.

The answer was B, Path menu, object path.

Well done if you got that correct.

Editing a path allows you more flexibility when editing the shape.

Imagine you were going to make this whale from the shapes available in Inkscape.

You can see here you start off with a rectangle, adding on elements, different shapes here to build up the start of your whale.

You could make some of the whale using shapes.

How could you create the rest of the image? Sofia says, "You could draw the remaining parts of the whale freehand.

But it would take a long time." And Jun says, "Some of the shapes you need may be difficult to create." Now, think about the flexibility of using paths.

When you edit the path of a shape, you can manipulate the line by clicking and dragging the nodes.

Izzy said, "I used objects, turned them into paths, and made these shapes." Then I placed them together to make the whale image." Here's her shapes placed together to make the whale image, which is a really good example of using the paths, adjusting the nodes, and creating something that we can actually tell what it is as a whale.

Let's have a quick check.

True or false? Editing a shape's path allows you more flexibility in your drawings.

Pause the video to consider if that is true or false, and then we'll check your answer.

Let's check your answer.

The answer was true.

Pause the video to consider why that's true.

How would you explain that? And then we'll check your answer.

Let's check your answer.

Paths can give you more control over the shapes outline.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's do the activity.

And in this part we're gonna add head to your character, using a shape with edited paths.

Here's some examples of using the shape, changing the paths and the nodes to be able to create a head and different shapes around the facial features you created in Task B.

Remember, you'll need to send the head shape to the back of your drawing.

And develop your character further using any of the skills you've learned in this or previous lessons.

Pause the video, go back through the slides, and look at some of the video clips of how to use these tools, and have a go at creating the head and any other features to go with your superhero.

And then we'll have a look at a possible example solution.

Let's have a look at an example solution.

So here's Izzy's creation, and she has used the facial features in the first that she created in Task B, and then added the head, but added some extra features.

We've now got a nose.

We've developed the mouth a bit more.

And we've got some ears as well as a hairline all added with different paths, shapes, turning objects into paths and being able to edit those further.

Well done to Izzy there, and well done to you for creating your superhero, and I hope yours looks just as good.

In summary, a path is a line that goes from one point to another.

It can be straight or curved.

Nodes mark the start, end, or a change in direction of a path.

You can convert a basic shape into a path so you can edit it more closely.

Editing paths gives you more control and flexibility than using basic shapes alone.

Well done for completing this lesson on vector paths.