Shave off the outer edge of a shape

[prepress21]

So is there a way to easily shave off the outside of a shape?

Here is a very simplified example:

Say you have a square and you want to reduce it by 1pt all the way around.

Basically I have a logo that is going to be cutout and I need to make my cut layer slightly smaller to allow for a "bleed".

Of course my logo is not a simple square, think more inline with an "O". I need the outer and inner edges of the "O" to be reduced by a point.

I've accomplished this before by adding a stroke, converting my stroke to a fill, going through several pathfinder options and deleting the fill, etc. I'm hoping there is a "reduce" button somewhere I've been missing or a quicker way.

Thanks!

[Ray Yorkshire]

How is it constructed ?

maybe object > path > offset path

-2

ok

[Kris Hunt · Accepted solution]

First, if at all possible, you should be expanding the edges of the logo to add bleed, not contracting the die line to cut into it.

Along the lines of what Ray said, first create a silhouette of the logo by doing a Command-C, Command-F, Pathfinder > Unite sequence, then use Object > Path > Offset Path.

[prepress21]

Can't just expand edges of logo because there's a lot more going on with it.

But Offset Path was the easy button I was looking for. Thanks!