Paths, like layers and channels, are components of an image. When an image is saved in GIMP's native XCF file format, any paths it has are saved with it. The list of paths in an image can be viewed and operated on using the Paths Dialog. You can move a path from one image to another by copying and pasting using the pop-up menu in the Paths dialog, or by dragging an icon from the Paths dialog into the destination image window.

Las rutas de GIMP son de un tipo matemático llamado “rutas de Bézier”. Lo que en la práctica significa que están definidas por anchas y tiradores. Las “Anclas” son puntos a través de los que va la ruta. Los “Tiradores” definen la dirección de una ruta cuando entra o deja un punto de ancla: cada punto de ancla tiene dos tiradores unidos a él.

Paths can be very complex. If you create them by hand using the Paths tool, they probably won't contain more than a few dozen anchor points and usually a less than that. However, if you create them by transforming a selection into a path, or by transforming text into a path, the result can easily contain hundreds or even thousands of anchor points.

Los segmentos de una ruta pueden ser rectos o curvos. Una ruta que tiene todos sus segmentos rectos es llamada “poligonal”. Cuando crea un segmento de ruta, éste comienza siendo recto, porque las anclas de los nodos son inicialmente de longitud cero (se encuentran sobre el nodo). Puede hacer curvo un segmento arrastrando una ancla hacia afuera del nodo.

Cada componente de una ruta puede ser abierto o cerrado: es “cerrado” cuando el último nodo está conectado con el primero. Si se transforma una ruta en una selección, los componentes abiertos se convierten automáticamente en componentes cerrados, conectando el último nodo con el primero mediante un segmento recto.

Path segments can be either straight or curved. A path is called “polygonal” if all of its segments are straight. A new path segment is always created straight; the handles for the anchor points are directly on top of the anchor points, yielding handles of zero length, which produces straight-line segments. Drag a handle away from an anchor point to cause a segment to curve.

One nice thing about paths is that they use very few resources, especially in comparison with images. Representing a path in RAM requires storing only the coordinates of its anchors and handles. Therefore, it is possible to have literally hundreds of paths in an image without causing any significant stress to your system. Even a path with thousands of segments consumes minimal resources in comparison to a typical layer or channel.

Se pueden crear y manipular rutas usando la Herramienta rutas.