Offset Modifiers: Tips and Tricks

When creating or editing Offset Modifiers, it’s worth keeping the following situations in mind.

Examples_CurvedEdgesNotSupported.png 

Curved edges of Fills cannot be used in Offset Modifiers.

Only straight segments are supported.

Examples_EdgesCrossStretchNotSupported.png 

Non-horizontal and non-vertical Fill edges that cross Stretch Modifier lines cannot be used in Offset Modifiers.

This is because Stretch Modifiers break these edges to allow stretching/compression to occur between Stretch lines.

Examples_EdgesFacingsamedirection.png 

In an Offset Modifier, two parallel Offset edges that face the same direction can prevent the Offset from working.

A warning will appear when Storing the Profile. The Profile is saved, but this Modifier can’t be used until the issue is resolved.

To resolve it, try flipping the direction of one of the edges.

Examples_TwoOffsetsOverconstrained.png 

Two Offset Modifiers connected to each other will cause an over-constraint, preventing either Offset from moving.

A warning will appear when Storing the Profile. The Profile is saved, but this Modifier can’t be used until the issue is resolved.

To resolve it, try moving one Offset Modifier anchor to another point.

Examples_NominalandOffsets.png 

Offset Modifiers do not affect or modify the Nominal Size of a profiled element.

The Total Size is calculated from the entire bounding box of a profiled element, including Offset Modifiers.

Examples_NominalandStretch.png 

Modifying a profiled element’s size (such as height, width or thickness) affects both Nominal Size and Stretch Modifiers.

Offset Modifier values won’t be affected, to maintain their constraint and distance to anchor point.

Examples_OffsetwhenColinear.png 

An Offset Modifier that is adjacent to another edge will create a new edge when offset. This newly created edge will take its properties from the Fill as defined in the Profile Editor.

Examples_ZeroDistanceSupport.png 

Offset Modifiers can remove geometry, such as if you set a thickness to zero. This is supported and valid.

However, if the entire element will disappear as a result, the action will be invalid, and the value will be reverted – to avoid a profiled element with no geometry.

Examples_GeometryFlippingSupport.png 

Offset Modifiers can cause geometry to flip, such as if you set a negative value. This is supported and valid.

Examples_OverlappingFillSupport.png 

Overlapping Fills in the Profile Editor are supported.

The geometry will be regularized at the element level based on the Building Material Intersection Priority of each Fill.