P: Expand/contract work path

I don 't know man, I just tested as you suggest and got equal results. I drew a rectangular path, loaded it as a selection, contracted it 4 pixels and filled. Then I transformed the path proportionally to the same size and filled, then compared the two layers in Difference mode and they were exactly the same.

But I don't work for Adobe or anything like that, just sharing what works for me. I hope you get what you need!

@Scott@7224 Mahn: Try this: Draw a rectangle and scale it down via transform. Notice that it scales proportionately? While that's fine, it is not what we're wanting in some cases. Now ctrl + click on the rectangle shape (to select it via marching ants selection) and do Select -> Modify -> Contract by a few pixels. Notice the difference? We're not simply asking for a proportionate scaling, we actually want to bring in the edges of all sides equally, so to speak. You might know this as Path Offset in Illustrator.

Not sure what you mean, you can transform a path of any shape.

But you obviously have a specific need in mind that isn't clear to me.

@Scott@7224 Mahn: That only works for symmetrical shapes.

You can transform a path to scale it (expand/contract).