The problem has been corrected for my drawing, but not sure about what was corrected:

I selected my segments and converted them to a path with Ctrl-K, then applied Outset, with the results of an inside and outside line, both deviating from the original path in strange ways. I did more experimentation, selecting segments then converting to path, then Simplifying the path before adding Outset resulted with same inside & outside offset lines. More experimenting in this vein had similar results.

Only after the object was initially created as one single path, with 'z' connector at the end, did the Outset become a proper exact copy 36px (~1cm) outside of the object.

Not sure about all the issues involved here, it's just nice to know for the moment which hammer was required to achieve the desired result. Later maybe a smaller hammer will do.

- Susan

Message: 4

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:37:33 -0500 From: Susan Spencer <susan.spencer@...155...> Subject: [Inkscape-user] Inkscape 4.8 outset/inset behavior To: inkscape-user@lists.sourceforge.net Message-ID: <AANLkTi=+owBm1Ka_jN1ZHMRfRHKGMOD2P4anDqev-kWk@...156...> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

In trying to add a 1cm seam allowance outside a pattern drawn with Inkscape 4.8, :

1. the Outset is shaped properly, has the correct width, but it is

positioned *over* the path, half in and half out, instead of being placed 100% outside of the path. Is this the intended behavior? 2. The outset doesn't inherit the properties of the path selected, it has a 'fill' by default. I have to select the edit object icon, and set fill to 'x' and stroke to solid. Is there a way to cause the 'Outset' path to inherit the selected path's properties? 3. When I select 'Inset' on the same path,just as a test to see what happens, I get a very small tight grouping of points that have no apparent relationship to my pattern shape. I don't really need 'Inset' at the moment, just thought I'd mention it.

I'm new to Inkscape, so perhaps there is something that I am missing.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Susan