# Offset Paths

Create offset for open or closed paths from non-bezier paths (destructive method). Python library **pyclipper** needs to be installed (which is automatically done, if you install MightyScape completely). Use [Approximate Curves by Straight Lines (Flatten Beziers)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/in-house-extensions/page/approximate-curves-by-straight-lines-flatten-beziers "Approximate Curves by Straight Lines (Flatten Beziers)") extension in advance of this plugin to convert your paths.

<p class="callout info">This extensions' code is based on [https://github.com/TimeTravel-0/ofsplot](https://github.com/TimeTravel-0/ofsplot)</p>

## Draw some [Ratchet](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/fablab-chemnitz-shape-generators/page/ratchet) (as example)

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/8ubqVq4sQ2ZwgyDW-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/8ubqVq4sQ2ZwgyDW-grafik.png)

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/9U0uDYwPYkU8LB19-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/9U0uDYwPYkU8LB19-grafik.png)

[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/VEnudQ1suw2uFsGr-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/VEnudQ1suw2uFsGr-grafik.png)

## Tests with Bezier curves

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-input-spiral-without" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 99.9734%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 33.289%;"></col><col style="width: 33.289%;"></col><col style="width: 33.289%;"></col></colgroup><thead><tr><td>**Input**</td><td>**Spiral without [Approximate Curves by Straight Lines (Flatten Beziers)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/in-house-extensions/page/approximate-curves-by-straight-lines-flatten-beziers)**</td><td>**Spiral with [Approximate Curves by Straight Lines (Flatten Beziers)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/books/in-house-extensions/page/approximate-curves-by-straight-lines-flatten-beziers)**</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/qv1ELOpKZKvUWXsw-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/qv1ELOpKZKvUWXsw-grafik.png)</td><td>[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/K9WmTXttyowZFl5w-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/K9WmTXttyowZFl5w-grafik.png)</td><td>[![grafik.png](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/Auh9BmWouP7XU6DV-grafik.png)](https://wiki.stadtfabrikanten.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/Auh9BmWouP7XU6DV-grafik.png)</td></tr></tbody></table>