Converting to a Path | Converting an Outline to

##
Converting a Text Area, Text-Path or Pattern to a Path

To convert the outline of a
,
or
to a
, first |
| the text area, text-path or pattern and select the menu item Transform->Convert Outline To Path. The text will then be converted to a
of paths where each path approximates the shape of the corresponding character. Converting a text area or text-path to a path allows you to:

- Apply a line/fill color to the text (so that the text outline is a different color to the text's interior.

- Include the image in LaTeX document when you don't have the equivalent LaTeX font.

- Make a `\parshape` or `\shapepar` from the text's outline.

- Use a gradient text color when you want to |
  | to a format that doesn't support this.

Note that you will have to |
| the paths before you can |
| them. If you had a gradient paint text color, the gradient will be applied to each path. You can however, |
| the paths, which will apply a single gradient resembling the original text area (see Figure 8.40).

| (a) | (b) | (c) |
Figure 8.40: Converting a text area to a path: (a) original text area; (b) converted to a path; (c) ungroup and merge paths.

Converting to a Path | Converting an Outline to