Inkscape - Path Offsetting (Inset/Outset)

Inkscape can expand and contract shapes not only by scaling, but also by offsetting an path.

Offsetting move each nodes of the path in a perpendicular way in the inside or outside direction.

Offseting has three modes:

• static: the operation will not remember the original path position
• dynamic: the operation will remember the original path position
• linked: the operation will connect to a parent path which remains editable

• Inset Ctrl+) move the nodes inside
• Outset Ctrl+( move the nodes outside.

• Select the path object
• Path > Dynamic Offset (Ctrl+J)
• Inkscape creates an object with a draggable handle controlling the offset distance

When you don't need it to be adjustable anymore, you can always convert an offset object back to path.

You can have any number of linked offsets for one source path. You can move or transform the offset objects independently without losing their connection with the source.