Create outline 1/4" away from image?

[Clever Endeavor]

Good morning all!

We're making print & cut vinyl, and we need a white border about .25" around the outside of the objects. I've included a screenshot of what I'm looking at. I need the white (background) to trace around the tree and the totalscape. I can draw it with the pen, but it's not going to look right. Is there a trick in  the pathfinder tool or something similar that will help keep these outlines uniform?

Thank you very much!

I'm still an illustrator noob. InDesign, no problem, but AI is apparently my nemesis. I lose battles all the time.

Blake

[t-pat]

try outlining it with the pen tool as you say, as best as you can. Then offset the stroke, and simplify it smooth or use the smooth tool. HTH

[beermonster]

copy everything, make a new layer under all that lot, put all the copied stuff on the new layer, merge it all with pathfinder, give it a white stroke width of your choice

since it's now a single shape and underneath the maingraphics, half of the stroke width will be visible - increase or decrease as required

to be able to "see" it, make yet another layer, put it under the new white layer, draw a big box and fill with say blue and your white stroke will be visible. lock the new blue box layer and the top graphic layer/layers and leave the white stroke layer active for easy editing of the white stroke

hope this helps

[Skryber]

Select only the parts of the image that will have the border with the direct selection tool. Go to Appearance and in the menu area select add new stroke. Then effect-path-outline object. Then you can change stroke weight and such.

[Skryber]

I forgot, then "align stroke to outside" in strokes panel.

Beer's way will probably work better though bc I'm not sure with that intricate path if stokes will overlap your image.

You should send me that logo so I can play.

[andyfest]

copy everything, make a new layer under all that lot, put all the copied stuff on the new layer, merge it all with pathfinder, give it a white stroke width of your choice

since it's now a single shape and underneath the maingraphics, half of the stroke width will be visible - increase or decrease as required

to be able to "see" it, make yet another layer, put it under the new white layer, draw a big box and fill with say blue and your white stroke will be visible. lock the new blue box layer and the top graphic layer/layers and leave the white stroke layer active for easy editing of the white stroke

hope this helps

Further, if you set the stroke of the selected bottom layer items at 36 pt, then use Skryber's technique to outline the stroke ie: convert to fills and fill with white on a bottom layer, you should end up with 1/4 in white border around the selected shapes.

[beermonster]

andyfest is right - however i always preferred to keep things live so i never convert the stroke to outline - that way i can edit the stroke if needed

[Clever Endeavor]

https://www.yousendit.com/download/M3BsM25IQVM1UjdOUjhUQw

Here is the file. It has a pencil drawing around it. That gives you an idea of what I need. The stroke idea is great, but it stroke each leaf in the tree, and I don't want that.

Feel free to look and play around.

Thanks!

[DigiCorn]

You can expand the stroke and then ungroup and delete the portions you don't want (unless they overlap and unite).

[t-pat]

how many prepressers does it take to outline a shape?

[Skryber]

If using Freehand.....just 1!

[beermonster]

i just did it and posted it - where the bejeebub is it?

[beermonster]

ok i've posted the file twice now and it's not showing up

[David]

someone mention beer?

[Farabomb]

ok i've posted the file twice now and it's not showing up

Need a FTP? I can help, PM me.