Drawing and editing vector objects : Understanding raster and vector objects
 
Understanding raster and vector objects
When you draw raster objects, you are really painting on a raster layer. Even though you create a raster object in the same way as a vector object, the result is a pixel-based shape. You can edit the pixels with raster editing tools.
Important! You can only draw raster objects on raster layers. If you draw a raster object on a vector layer, Corel PaintShop Pro creates a new raster layer for your object.
A vector object’s properties — such as its outline color, fill color, size, and location — can be easily changed. You can also edit the paths, contours, line segments, and nodes that make up vector objects.
Important! You can only draw vector objects on vector layers. If you try to draw a vector object on a raster layer, Corel PaintShop Pro creates a new vector layer for the vector object.
For more information on vector and raster objects, see Starting from a blank canvas. For information about vector, floating, and selecting text, see Working with text.
The anatomy of a vector object
In order to understand vector objects, you must be familiar with the following terms.
Object — anything you create with the Pen or Preset Shape tool. Each object is represented by its own bounding box. An object has properties you can control such as line style and fill color. Each object contains one path made up of contours and nodes. For more information, see Aligning, distributing, and arranging vector objects.
Path — includes all of the contours in an object. The properties of the path are controlled by the object’s properties. A path’s direction flows from its start to its end point. Some paths are closed, in which their start and end points are the same.
An example of a closed path
An example of an open path
Contour — contains at least one line segment. A contour can be open or closed. Some of a contour’s properties are determined by the object’s properties, such as the line style, fill color, and anti-aliasing.
Node — a point on a path or contour that lets you define its shape. For more information about nodes, see Working with nodes.
An example of a contour
Line Segment — the straight or curved line between two nodes. For more information, see Drawing lines.