The active path is the current location of the inserted image file.
Compare the definitions for active path and saved path. The current active path is visible in the list view of the
Image Manager toolspace when you select the image. This is also where any changes to the image are saved if you click
Raster Tools tab 
Insert & Write panel
Save
on the ribbon.
If you want to edit an image without changing the original version, you should save a copy in a different location and file format. To do this, on the ribbon, click
Raster Tools tab
Insert & Write panel
Save As
. Doing this also directs the active path to the copy. For more information, see
Saving an Image to Another File Name, Type, or Location.