Engaged
,
I'm trying to reverse a path in Photoshop.
So a simplied version is a two point path, in which a stroke fades along its length. I want to reverse the direction - flipping the image will work, but only for this simple example. Not a long term solution.
I know this can be done by taking said path into Illustrator and reversing Path Direction. I'm looking for a Photoshop only solution.
I know about changing shapes from Combine Shapes to Subtract Front Shape. However, that don't work .
I've also tried scripting:
srcDoc.pathItems[0].reverse();Which I thought would be the easiest solution - but no luck.
function reverse_path(array)
{
var output = [];
for (var i = array.length - 1; i> -1; i--)
{
output.push(array[i]);
}
return output;
}
I tried reversed the order but you can't seem to apply that back to a created path (unmutable??)
Also tried to copy the existing path in reverse:
var srcDoc = app.activeDocument;
// Assuming there's an active document and a path named "MyPath"
var pathName = "MyPath";
var pathItem = undefined;
// Find the path by name
for (var i = 0; i < srcDoc.pathItems.length; i++)
{
if (srcDoc.pathItems[i].name === pathName)
{
pathItem = srcDoc.pathItems[i];
break;
}
}
if (pathItem !== undefined)
{
// Loop through subPathItems
for (var s = 0; s < pathItem.subPathItems.length; s++)
{
var subPath = pathItem.subPathItems[s];
var points = subPath.pathPoints;
// Create an array of points
var pointsArray = [];
for (var p = 0; p < points.length; p++)
{
pointsArray.push(points[p]);
}
// Reverse the array
pointsArray.reverse();
// Reassign points in reversed order
for (var p = 0; p < points.length; p++)
{
points[p].anchor = pointsArray[p].anchor;
points[p].leftDirection = pointsArray[p].leftDirection;
points[p].rightDirection = pointsArray[p].rightDirection;
}
}
}
else
{
alert("Path not found.");
}
No good.
I'm all out of coffee and ideas.
TOPICS
Actions and scripting
1 Correct answer
Community Expert
,
Jul 26, 2025
Does the Script work for you or do you need the original Path to be edited instead of getting a duplicate?
edit:
// inverse the selected or the last path;
// 2025, use it at your own risk;
if (documents.length > 0) {
if (activeDocument.pathItems.length > 0) {
var selectedPath = selectedPath2020 ();
var thePath = collectSelectedPathPathInfoFromDesc ();
if (selectedPath == undefined) {
var thePath = collectPathInfoFromDesc2023 (activeDocument, activeDocument.pathItems[activeDocument.pathItems.
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Ghoul Fool
AUTHOR
Engaged
,
paths as in path paths, not file paths, vector mask paths or a path in the woods.
These bad boys:
See what I did there 😄
Community Expert
,
// create a inverted version of the selected path;
// 2025, use it at your own risk;
if (documents.length > 0) {
if (activeDocument.pathItems.length > 0) {
var selectedPath = selectedPath2020 ();
var thePath = collectSelectedPathPathInfoFromDesc ();
if (selectedPath == undefined) {
var thePath = collectPathInfoFromDesc2023 (activeDocument, activeDocument.pathItems[activeDocument.pathItems.length - 1]);
var theName = activeDocument.pathItems[activeDocument.pathItems.length - 1].name
} else {
var thePath = collectSelectedPathPathInfoFromDesc ();
var theName = selectedPath[2]
};
// revert pathpoints etc.;
var theReverse = new Array;
for (var m = 0; m < thePath.length; m++) {
var thisOne = thePath[m];
var newOne = new Array;
for (var n = thisOne.length - 3; n >= 0; n--) {
newOne.push ([thisOne[n][0], thisOne[n][2], thisOne[n][1], thisOne[n][3]])
};
newOne.push (thisOne[thisOne.length-2]);
newOne.push (thisOne[thisOne.length-1]);
theReverse.push (newOne)
};
// create path;
createPath2022(theReverse,theName+"_reverse")
}
};
////// collect path info from actiondescriptor, indices start at 1, not 0 //////
function collectPathInfoFromDesc2023 (myDocument, thePath) {
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.POINTS;
// based of functions from xbytor’s stdlib;
var idPath = charIDToTypeID( "Path" );
var ref = new ActionReference();
// check if thePath is an index or a dom-path;
if (thePath.constructor == Number) {
ref.putIndex(idPath, thePath)
}
else {
thePath.select();
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "Path" ), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
};
// get stuff;
var desc = app.executeActionGet(ref);
var pname = desc.getString(cTID('PthN'));
// create new array;
var theArray = new Array;
var pathComponents = desc.getObjectValue(cTID("PthC")).getList(sTID('pathComponents'));
// for subpathitems;
for (var m = 0; m < pathComponents.count; m++) {
var listKey = pathComponents.getObjectValue(m).getList(sTID("subpathListKey"));
var operation1 = pathComponents.getObjectValue(m).getEnumerationValue(sTID("shapeOperation"));
switch (operation1) {
case 1097098272:
var operation = 1097098272 //cTID('Add ');
break;
case 1398961266:
var operation = 1398961266 //cTID('Sbtr');
break;
case 1231975538:
var operation = 1231975538 //cTID('Intr');
break;
default:
// case 1102:
var operation = sTID('xor') //ShapeOperation.SHAPEXOR;
break;
};
// for subpathitem’s count;
for (var n = 0; n < listKey.count; n++) {
theArray.push(new Array);
var points = listKey.getObjectValue(n).getList(sTID('points'));
try {var closed = listKey.getObjectValue(n).getBoolean(sTID("closedSubpath"))}
catch (e) {var closed = false};
// for subpathitem’s segment’s number of points;
for (var o = 0; o < points.count; o++) {
var anchorObj = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(sTID("anchor"));
var anchor = [anchorObj.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), anchorObj.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
var thisPoint = [anchor];
try {
var left = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(cTID("Fwd "));
var leftDirection = [left.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), left.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
thisPoint.push(leftDirection)
}
catch (e) {
thisPoint.push(anchor)
};
try {
var right = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(cTID("Bwd "));
var rightDirection = [right.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), right.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
thisPoint.push(rightDirection)
}
catch (e) {
thisPoint.push(anchor)
};
try {
var smoothOr = points.getObjectValue(o).getBoolean(cTID("Smoo"));
thisPoint.push(smoothOr)
}
catch (e) {thisPoint.push(false)};
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(thisPoint);
};
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(closed);
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(operation);
};
};
// by xbytor, thanks to him;
function cTID (s) { return cTID[s] || cTID[s] = app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
function sTID (s) { return sTID[s] || sTID[s] = app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
// reset;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
return theArray;
};
////// create a path from collectPathInfoFromDesc2023-array //////
function createPath2022(theArray, thePathsName) {
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.POINTS;
// thanks to xbytor;
cTID = function(s) { return app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
sTID = function(s) { return app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
var ref1 = new ActionReference();
ref1.putProperty(cTID('Path'), cTID('WrPt'));
desc1.putReference(sTID('null'), ref1);
var list1 = new ActionList();
for (var m = 0; m < theArray.length; m++) {
var thisSubPath = theArray[m];
var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc2.putEnumerated(sTID('shapeOperation'), sTID('shapeOperation'), thisSubPath[thisSubPath.length - 1]);
var list2 = new ActionList();
var desc3 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc3.putBoolean(cTID('Clsp'), thisSubPath[thisSubPath.length - 2]);
var list3 = new ActionList();
for (var n = 0; n < thisSubPath.length - 2; n++) {
var thisPoint = thisSubPath[n];
var desc4 = new ActionDescriptor();
var desc5 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc5.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[0][0]);
desc5.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[0][1]);
desc4.putObject(cTID('Anch'), cTID('Pnt '), desc5);
var desc6 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc6.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[1][0]);
desc6.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[1][1]);
desc4.putObject(cTID('Fwd '), cTID('Pnt '), desc6);
var desc7 = new ActionDescriptor();
desc7.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[2][0]);
desc7.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[2][1]);
desc4.putObject(cTID('Bwd '), cTID('Pnt '), desc7);
desc4.putBoolean(cTID('Smoo'), thisPoint[3]);
list3.putObject(cTID('Pthp'), desc4);
};
desc3.putList(cTID('Pts '), list3);
list2.putObject(cTID('Sbpl'), desc3);
desc2.putList(cTID('SbpL'), list2);
list1.putObject(cTID('PaCm'), desc2);
};
desc1.putList(cTID('T '), list1);
executeAction(cTID('setd'), desc1, DialogModes.NO);
// name work path;
var desc30 = new ActionDescriptor();
var ref6 = new ActionReference();
var idPath = charIDToTypeID( "Path" );
ref6.putClass( idPath );
desc30.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref6 );
var ref7 = new ActionReference();
ref7.putProperty( idPath, charIDToTypeID( "WrPt" ) );
desc30.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "From" ), ref7 );
desc30.putString( charIDToTypeID( "Nm " ), thePathsName );
executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "Mk " ), desc30, DialogModes.NO );
/// get index;
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putProperty(stringIDToTypeID("property"), stringIDToTypeID("itemIndex"));
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Path"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
var pathDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
// return index;
return pathDesc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("itemIndex"))
};
////// collect selected path info from actiondescriptor //////
function collectSelectedPathPathInfoFromDesc (){
try {
// get index;
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putProperty (stringIDToTypeID("property"), stringIDToTypeID("targetPathIndex"));
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
var docDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
var theIndex = docDesc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("targetPathIndex"))+1;
// collect data;
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.POINTS;
// based of functions from xbytor’s stdlib;
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putIndex(cTID("Path"), theIndex);
var desc = app.executeActionGet(ref);
var pname = desc.getString(cTID('PthN'));
// create new array;
var theArray = new Array;
var pathComponents = desc.getObjectValue(cTID("PthC")).getList(sTID('pathComponents'));
// for subpathitems;
for (var m = 0; m < pathComponents.count; m++) {
var listKey = pathComponents.getObjectValue(m).getList(sTID("subpathListKey"));
var operation1 = pathComponents.getObjectValue(m).getEnumerationValue(sTID("shapeOperation"));
switch (operation1) {
case 1097098272:
var operation = 1097098272 //cTID('Add ');
break;
case 1398961266:
var operation = 1398961266 //cTID('Sbtr');
break;
case 1231975538:
var operation = 1231975538 //cTID('Intr');
break;
default:
// case 1102:
var operation = sTID('xor') //ShapeOperation.SHAPEXOR;
break;
};
// for subpathitem’s count;
for (var n = 0; n < listKey.count; n++) {
theArray.push(new Array);
var points = listKey.getObjectValue(n).getList(sTID('points'));
try {var closed = listKey.getObjectValue(n).getBoolean(sTID("closedSubpath"))}
catch (e) {var closed = false};
// for subpathitem’s segment’s number of points;
for (var o = 0; o < points.count; o++) {
var anchorObj = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(sTID("anchor"));
var anchor = [anchorObj.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), anchorObj.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
var thisPoint = [anchor];
try {
var left = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(cTID("Fwd "));
var leftDirection = [left.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), left.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
thisPoint.push(leftDirection)
}
catch (e) {
thisPoint.push(anchor)
};
try {
var right = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(cTID("Bwd "));
var rightDirection = [right.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), right.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
thisPoint.push(rightDirection)
}
catch (e) {
thisPoint.push(anchor)
};
try {
var smoothOr = points.getObjectValue(o).getBoolean(cTID("Smoo"));
thisPoint.push(smoothOr)
}
catch (e) {thisPoint.push(false)};
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(thisPoint);
};
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(closed);
theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(operation);
};
};
// by xbytor, thanks to him;
function cTID (s) { return cTID[s] || cTID[s] = app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
function sTID (s) { return sTID[s] || sTID[s] = app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
// reset;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
return theArray;
} catch (e) {
return undefined
}
};
////// determine selected path //////
function selectedPath2020 () {
try {
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putProperty (stringIDToTypeID("property"), stringIDToTypeID("targetPathIndex"));
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
var docDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
var theIndex = docDesc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("targetPathIndex"))+1;
//
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID("Path"), theIndex);
var pathDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
var theKind = pathDesc.getEnumerationValue(stringIDToTypeID("kind"));
var theName = pathDesc.getString(stringIDToTypeID("pathName"));
//
return [theIndex, theKind, theName];
}
catch (e) {return undefined}
};
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