Offset Paths

Offset Paths

Expand and contract your selections using Offset Paths.

When to use

Offset Paths are useful when you want to add an extra outline around a shape, text, or other vector object. 

Instructions

Adding Offset Paths to Shapes

• Select the 'Outline' layer containing the vector path that goes all the way around the red pepper.
• Go to the Object Menu and choose Path > Offset Path from the menu.
• Enter a value of '10px' and click 'OK' to apply the changes.
• In order to fill the new path with black, we first need to select the main outline shape and press 'D' to give it a white fill with a black outline.
• Increase the weight of the outline to about '6pt' using the Stroke Panel.
• Now you can select the offset path in the back and fill it with solid black.

Adding Offset Paths to Text

• Select the Type Tool (T) from the toolbar.
• Click anywhere on your canvas and type out a single word.
• Click and drag outwards from any of the four handles around your text box while holding the Shift Key to scale up your text proportionally.
• Convert your text to outlines by going to the Type Menu and choose 'Create Outlines' from the dropdown. 
• Now that you've converted your text to vector shapes, you can go to the Object Menu and choose Path > Offset Path like we did with our pepper shape.
• This time, enter a value of '-4px' and click 'OK' to apply the changes.
• Select your text with the Selection Tool (V) and Ungroup the text by pressing Command/Ctrl + Shift + G or by going to the Object Menu and choosing 'Ungroup'. 
• After ungrouping the text, grab your Selection Tool (V) again and click on the inner parts of each of the letters while holding the Shift Key.
• With all of the inner parts of the letters selected, group them by pressing Command/Ctrl + G or by going to the Object Menu and choosing 'Group'.
• Press 'D' on the keyboard to reset your default colors and then remove the stroke so you have a solid white fill and no outline.
• You can now select the back of each of your letters, group them together, and change the fill and stroke separately from the inner shapes.

Hints & tips

• You can enter a negative or positive value with Offset Paths. Using a negative value will contract your selection, while a positive value will expand it.
• When applying Offset Paths you may need to ungroup your text to be able to select the inner and outer parts. You can do this by going to the Object Menu and choosing 'Ungroup' or by using the keyboard shortcut Command/Ctrl + G.