Path Offset

Overview

Grows or shrinks a path along its normals (like Illustrator's Offset Path). Closed paths grow outward with positive amounts and shrink with negative ones, regardless of drawing direction. Main uses: double outlines, glow bases, and pulsing silhouettes.

Usage tips

• Double outline: fill the original path with path_fill, then stroke the offset (+1-2) path with path_stroke.
• Glow base: offset by +2-3, convert with path_mask, blur, and use as the glow underlay.
• Pulse: attach a ping-pong motion to Amount with 🎞️ and the silhouette breathes in and out (slimes, auras).
• Open paths shift to the left of the drawing direction for positive amounts. To simply thicken a line, path_stroke thickness/taper is the better tool.

Common pitfalls

• Large offsets break the shape: this is an approximation without self-intersection cleanup. Shrinking shapes with thin parts will self-intersect. Stay within a few px.
• An open path moves to the wrong side: the side depends on direction — flip it with path_reverse.

Related nodes

• path_stroke / path_fill / path_mask — draw or mask the offset result
• outline — raster-side outlines (for artwork without a path)
• motion — drive Amount (pulsing)