CorelDRAW Contour Offset Distance Guide

The contour offset distance in CorelDRAW dictates the exact spacing between the original object's perimeter and each progressive contour line. This article explains how offset distances are defined, the practical and technical limits applied by the software, and how different contour directions impact the minimum and maximum distances you can specify.

Understanding Contour Offset Distance

In CorelDRAW, the contour offset defines the gap between concentric lines generated around or inside a vector object. When working with the Contour tool or the Contour docker (Inspector), the offset value determines whether lines are tightly packed or broadly dispersed.

Measurement Units and Numeric Precision

CorelDRAW allows you to define offset distances using any active document measurement unit, including:

  • Inches (in)
  • Millimeters (mm)
  • Centimeters (cm)
  • Pixels (px)
  • Points (pt)
  • Picas (pica)

The software allows high-precision decimal values, accepting entries as fine as 0.001 inches (or roughly 0.025 mm / 0.1 points), depending on document precision settings. The maximum numeric value can theoretically extend to the boundaries of the CorelDRAW drawing workspace (up to 1,800 x 1,800 inches in standard mode, or significantly larger in CorelDRAW's Large Scale Drawing mode).

Offset Distance by Contour Type

The allowed offset distance is directly constrained by the contour direction applied to the object:

1. Outside Contour

When applying an Outside Contour, there is practically no geometric ceiling on the offset distance. You can specify any distance from the minimum fraction of a unit up to the maximum dimensions of your drawing canvas. The offset determines the spacing for each discrete step extending outward.

2. Inside Contour

For an Inside Contour, the maximum offset distance is geometrically constrained by the size of the target object. The offset distance multiplied by the number of contour steps cannot exceed the shortest distance from the object's outer edge to its center point. If an offset value is entered that exceeds these physical boundaries, CorelDRAW will either automatically scale the value down, display an "Offset too large" warning, or fail to render the contour until the value is reduced.

3. To Center Contour

When using the To Center option, you do not set an arbitrary step count alongside the offset distance. Instead, you specify a fixed offset distance, and CorelDRAW automatically calculates the exact number of steps required to fill the object inward until the shape collapses at the center. Alternatively, if step counts are predefined, the software calculates the required offset distance automatically.

How to Specify the Offset Value

  1. Select a vector shape using the Pick tool.
  2. Activate the Contour tool from the toolbox (or press Ctrl + F9 to open the Contour Docker).
  3. Choose the contour direction: To Center, Inside, or Outside.
  4. In the Contour Offset box located on the Property Bar or Docker, enter your desired numeric value and unit.
  5. Set the number of Contour Steps if working with Inside or Outside modes.
  6. Press Enter to render the offset paths.