Offset Shapes

Quick Reference: Offset Shapes

Creates an outline around selected shapes, at a specified distance away or within.

Location

Modifiers Toolbar

Tools → Offset Shapes
Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows: Alt+O

Mac: Option+O
Keyboard Modifiers

Hold Ctrl/Cmd and click to apply the last-used Offset parameters.

The Offset Shapes tool creates a new shape by outlining the objects in your selection at a distance you specify, either inward, outward, or in both directions at once.

It's great for making borders around text, cut lines around engravings, inverting engravings, and creating a variety of patterns.

Offset Shapes works with any vector graphic, including paths, Primary Shapes, and Text Objects. You can offset multiple shapes, as well as Grouped shapes, all at the same time.

Using the Offset Shapes Tool¶

To open the Offset Shapes tool, first select all shapes you'd like to offset, then go to Tools → Offset Shapes, click the Offset button in the Creation Toolbar, or press Alt/Option+O to open the Offset dialog window, where you establish the settings that will determine the size, shape, and direction of your offset.

Click any option in the image below to jump directly to the relevant section for that option, or scroll down for a list of options and descriptions.

Offset Distance¶

Offset Distance controls the amount the new shape will be offset away from the original. Adjust the distance by typing a value into the adjacent field, clicking the arrow buttons, hovering over it and scrolling with your mouse wheel, or dragging with two fingers, if you're using a trackpad.

Direction¶

Direction determines on which side of the original shapes the new offset shape will be created.

Outward (left) offsets away from the original shapes.
Inward (right) offsets in toward the center of the original shapes.
Both creates two new offset shapes, one Outward and one Inward from the originals.

Note

You can only create Inward offsets for shapes that are closed, meaning they are complete, continuous loops whose start and end nodes are the same.

Corner Style¶

Corner Style controls the style of the corners in the offset shapes. You can choose Round, Bevel, or Corner.

Corner Style and Inward/Outward Corners

Corner Style affects outward- and inward-pointing corners differently — offset corners are only beveled or rounded when they're created in the direction a corner points. In the opposite direction, offset corners are always corners as well.

Notice the difference in the inward and outward offsets for the letter T below. The corners of the outer offset are beveled and rounded where the corners of the T point out, while the corners of the inner offset are beveled and rounded where the T's corners point in.

Options¶

Each switch beneath Options can be enabled or disabled. When enabled:

Outer shapes only: will ignore any shapes contained within others when creating the offset, leaving just the outermost border.

Use Offset Shapes to create a cut around a complex engraving
Select resulting objects: will select the new path you created upon completion of the offset.
Delete original objects: will delete the objects that you had selected before opening this dialog, replacing them with the new offset.
Optimize / Simplify results: will reduce the number of nodes in the result, great for reducing file size of complex objects such as image traces.

Previewing and Completing the Offset¶

When you open the Offset dialog window, the offset that will be created as the result of your settings will appear in your Workspace, and will live-adjust to reflect settings changes you make.

Click OK to create the offset, or Cancel to discard the settings and exit the window.

Tip

To repeat an offset with the last settings you used, select the shapes you wish to offset, then hold Ctrl/Cmd while clicking the Offset button. It will perform the offset operation using the previous settings, without bringing up the dialog.

Tips¶

Offset Shapes can sometimes fix odd or broken vectors by running the offset with a Distance of 0.
You can use Offset to invert/negate an engraving:

Use Offset Shapes to invert an engraving

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