Offset

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Offset Curve

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The Offset command copies a curve so that all locations on the copied curve are a specified distance from the original curve.

Steps

Select a curve or edge.
Click on one side the curve.
For best results, use proportionately small offset distances and smooth curves; otherwise, you may get kinks and doubled-back curves.

Command-line options

Distance

Sets the offset distance.

Loose

Yes

Offsets a curve by moving its edit points.

Polycurve segments offset individually. Segments will break apart at corners in the result.
The Corner and Tolerance options are not used and are not shown.
Curves with fewer edit points may distort more in the result.
The output curve has the same parameter structure as the input curve.

No

Offsets the curve shape within the Tolerance setting.

A small tolerance creates an output curve with more control points.

Corner

Specifies how corners are handled when they are offset to the "convex" side as pointed out in the image.

Original curve (blue). Offset curve (red).

Sharp

Curves offset to the outside of a corner will be extended to meet at sharp corners with position (G0) continuity.

Round

Curves offset to the outside of a corner will be filled with arc segments with tangent (G1) continuity.

Smooth

Curves offset to the outside of a corner will be filled with blend segments with curvature (G2) continuity.

Chamfer

The corners of the offset curves will be filled with a straight line between their endpoints.

ThroughPoint

Offsets through a picked point instead of at a distance.

Tolerance

Sets the tolerance for the offset curve. Type 0 to use the default system tolerance.

BothSides

Offsets the curve on both sides of the input curve.

InCPlane

The curve is offset in the plane of the original curve. This option offsets the curve in the plane of the current construction plane instead.

Cap

Closes the gap at the curve ends.

None

No closing segments are added. The offset curve goes on the current layer.

Flat

Straight-line segments are added between the curves and joined. The object goes the same layer as the original.

Round

Tangent arcs are added between the curves and joined. The object goes the same layer as the original.

SubCrv

Type subcrv to select part of a curve as input.

See also

OffsetMesh

Copies a mesh so that all vertices on the copied mesh are moved a specified distance from the original mesh vertices.

OffsetCrvOnSrf

Copy a curve on a surface parallel to the original.

OffsetNormal

Copy a curve on a surface parallel to the original in the surface normal direction.

OffsetMultiple

Copy curves or surface edges parallel to the original.

Create curves from other objects

Rhinoceros 6 © 2010-2020 Robert McNeel & Associates. 11-Nov-2020