Abstract: The present invention is for a system and process for simplifying complex graphical paths. The process first analyzes individual curve and straight line segments of the path, possibly splitting curved segments at local extrema points. Next, the process creates a list of points which includes the endpoints of all the original curve and straight line segments, as well as generating intermediate points along the curve and straight line segments. The process also flags each point in the list indicating what kind of point it is, or what the original path looks like at each point. Thereafter, the process flags any and all extrema points of the types the user specified. Then, the process uses a curve fitting routine for refitting each section of the path with new curves. The process tries to find a minimum set of curves which will reproduce the original path into a simplified version within the tolerances the user has specified.