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                <h1>
                    Types of paths and shapes
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                <div><p>You can create paths
and combine them in a variety of ways in InDesign. InDesign creates
the following types of paths and shapes:</p>
<dl><dt class="dlterm">Simple paths</dt>
<dd>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.</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">Compound paths</dt>
<dd>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).</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">Compound shapes</dt>
<dd>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.<div class="fignone"><img alt="" id="as_01" src="images/as_01.png" /><div class="figdesc">Types of paths and shapes </div><br /><dl><dt class="dlterm">A.</dt>
<dd>Three simple paths</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">B.</dt>
<dd>Compound
path</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p><dt class="dlterm">C.</dt>
<dd>Compound shape</dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
</div></dd><p class="dlseparator"></p></dl>
<p>For a video on working with objects, see <a href="http://www.adobe.com/go/vid0071" target="_blank">www.adobe.com/go/vid0071</a>.</p>
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