A computer implemented method determines an output path for use in
rendering one or more graphical objects, the output path being determined
from two or more input paths, based on a predetermined set operation,
with each of the input paths having at least one edge, and each of the
edges including one or more original segments. The method includes the
steps of converting each of the two or more input paths into
corresponding simple outline path representations, each of the simple
output path representations having one or more of the original segments
or parts thereof, and intersecting at least one original segment from one
of the simple outline path representations with at least one original
segment from at least another one of the simple outline path
representations, depending on the predetermined set operation, to select
one or more of the original segments or parts thereof to be used in the
output path. The selected original segments or parts thereof are combined
to determine the output path.