Path Operations

Inkscape has a number of commands to form new paths from two or more preexisting paths. The z-order (see “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.