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How to offest object to create smaller or larger version (by James Cotsell)
Hi Forum, I would like to create a smaller version of an object by doing something like offsetting the outline so that when I extrude the combined lines it creates a hollow version of the irregular shape. I was wondering if there is any way to do this? Thanks.
Sun Jul 27 2025, 18:53:03
(no subject) (by Paul)
If you need to create an offset outline in a 2d sketch, one way to do it is draw a second outline inside the original and then constrain it. For straight lines, constrain the inner and outer ones parallel, then select one line and one point from the other line. Press D to enter the point-line distance (the thickness you're looking for. Repeat this for all line pairs in the sketch.

If you have rounded corners you'll need to do the same for the inner outline. Im not sure what constraint to use for the radius... radial construction lines with length difference constraint might work.

Bezier curves can not be exactly offset by the same degree curve, but in practice I find construction lines connecting the control points can be offset similar to regular lines as a first approximation.
Mon Jul 28 2025, 18:45:27
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