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dzgnr89
dzgnr89
Inspiring
May 9, 2017
Question

Easy and flexible offsets in only one direction?

  • May 9, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 27871 views

I want to create offsets like these in only one direction. What is a fast and effective method to create such offsets? I also want better and individual lineweight and stroke control on every offset that I make.. These are screenshots from SketchUp. It offers a very easy and flexible to do offset command.

I know the brush method but that's quite rigid. I want to do offset after I make a curve.

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    1 reply

    Myra Ferguson
    Community Expert
    Myra FergusonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 9, 2017

    Select your path then go to Object > Path > Offset Path... and enter the amount of offset you want. The offset will enclose the path, so if it's not a closed shape, then you'll want to select the parts you want to remove and delete them.

    If you want to make the effect live so that you can modify the path and have the offset update, then select your path and in the Appearance panel add a new stroke at whatever weight you want, then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path... and set the offset there. The offset applied this way will also enclose your path, so if you want to delete part of it, you'll have to go to Object > Expand Appearance to make it selectable. However expanding it will also make it no longer live, so if you change the original path afterward, the offset won't update.

    It might work best to start your path from the center of where you want them, then keep the offsets on either side. Then select the portion you don't want and remove that, so in the end you have your set of open paths.

      dzgnr89
      dzgnr89Author
      Inspiring
      May 10, 2017

      https://forums.adobe.com/people/Myra+Ferguson  wrote

      Select your path then go to Object > Path > Offset Path... and enter the amount of offset you want. The offset will enclose the path, so if it's not a closed shape, then you'll want to select the parts you want to remove and delete them.

      If you want to make the effect live so that you can modify the path and have the offset update, then select your path and in the Appearance panel add a new stroke at whatever weight you want, then go to Effect > Path > Offset Path... and set the offset there. The offset applied this way will also enclose your path, so if you want to delete part of it, you'll have to go to Object > Expand Appearance to make it selectable. However expanding it will also make it no longer live, so if you change the original path afterward, the offset won't update.

      It might work best to start your path from the center of where you want them, then keep the offsets on either side. Then select the portion you don't want and remove that, so in the end you have your set of open paths.

      Well, of course I tried that. I should have written about it. Unlike sketchup, or AutoCAD, I cannot break a rectangle into 4 lines. Using scissor tool is quite tedious and doesn't give quick and accurate results of breaking a shape into its component lines.

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 10, 2017

      To break up a path, you can select one or more anchor points and click on the button in the control panel that splits paths.

      To offset your paths to one side, use the plugin CADtools.

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