1. A computerized method of applying a contour gradient to a two-dimensional path, the method comprising: constructing a three-dimensional polygonal shell from the two-dimensional path; projecting the three-dimensional polygonal shell into two dimensions, resulting in a two-dimensional projected model, while saving values for a third dimension for each point in the two-dimensional projected model; determining a range of all values for the third dimension in the two-dimensional projected model from the saved values; mapping the range to a visual attribute; and displaying the two-dimensional projected model using the mapped visual attribute.