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Starting point of path

While open paths have obvious starting and ending points, closed paths have a starting point, too (which is the same as its ending point). Expression Design uses the starting point of a closed path to determine how a brush stroke fits on a path, for example. You can change which node on a path is marked as the starting point by selecting the Start Point tool  in the Toolbox and then clicking the node.

The original path's start point is in the upper-left corner; clicking on the lower-right corner changes the look of the brush stroke.

You can also use the Start Point tool on an open path. If you click on the starting point or ending point of an open path, Expression Design simply reverses the direction of the path. If you click on any node other than a ending or starting point, the path converts to a closed path, and that node is set as the starting point of the path.