A method of determining tow path surfaces associated with manufacturing a composite ply includes computing, from an initial tow path surface, a projected tow path surface corresponding to a projection of the initial tow path surface onto a layup surface. The method also includes determining, for particular start and end points, edge lengths of opposing sides of the projected tow path surface. The method further includes comparing a difference between the edge lengths of the opposing sides to a threshold, to determine if the amount of curvature along the projected tow path surface is acceptable.