Making paths around beds

[GingerKatieSparkles]

I've got a big veg patch (roughly allotment size I guess) that got rotovated just before we moved in in November. The plan is to set out some beds and paths (will eventually be raised but I'll be doing that one bed at a time). I've got some of the permeable black fabric stuff for my paths as I figure that's the easiest way to not worry about weeds on them and just worry about weeds where I actually want to grow stuff! Has anyone laid this? What's the best way to do it? Do I have to compact the ground first, or can I just lay the fabric over it and walk on it a lot this summer and it'll sort itself out? It's not super-even at the moment but no massive rocks etc either - it's pretty heavy clay soil so should compact down nicely in the end!

Katie xx