This lesson explains the crucial distinction between Shape Layers and Path Layers in Rive. While path layers define the actual form and geometry of an object, shape layers control aesthetic properties such as fills, strokes, and draw order. This separation allows multiple paths to share the same styling, offering powerful flexibility for both design and performance.
- Organization: Using a single shape layer for complex objects (like a cloud made of multiple circles) is much more efficient than using many separate shape layers.
- Draw Order: Within a single shape layer, multiple paths do not follow an individual draw order for their strokes; they are treated as a combined vector object.
- Flexibility: You can drag and drop path layers between different shape layers in the hierarchy panel at any time.