# Add thickness to a shape line in directions of its norms

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/add-thickness-to-a-shape-line-in-directions-of-its-norms/39229>\
**Category:** Feature requests\
**Created:** [August 22, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/add-thickness-to-a-shape-line-in-directions-of-its-norms/39229 "2025-08-22T18:44:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BeemerGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@BeemerGuy](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/BeemerGuy)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/add-thickness-to-a-shape-line-in-directions-of-its-norms/39229/1 "2025-08-22T18:44:04Z")

</div>

**Summary:**

As I’m sketching a somewhat-uniform shape, I have to explicitly draw the thickness of it.  
I have to draw each edge of the thickness, which is double the work and making sure I don’t make mistakes.  
I wish there’s a way to sketch a single line, and then EXPAND it in both directions of its norms, ensuring it’s very accurate and uniformly symmetric.

**Details:**

Consider this sketch below (top portion). I’m sketching over an image to copy the thickness of the shape (which I will later extrude into a body). Notice the red arrows point at all the lines and arcs I had to draw, which add up to six (2 lines on the left, 2 arcs, then 2 lines on the right).

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/0/6/06846296a149644b16ff1e15ed1abbcbbf728b03.jpeg)

Now imagine there’s a feature where I’m sketching like the screenshot above (bottom portion). I sketch just one version of the shape in its center – 1 line on the left, 1 arc, then 1 line on the right.  
Then, I click whatever EXPAND button that I drag over my sketch, and it instantly clones the line into two copies in the direction of its norms, to achieve the thickness I need based on just a single line.

Imagine how much time this will save you that you can sketch ONE continuous line of your entire shape, and instantly give it thickness.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xdrakosha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/xdrakosha/32/24881_2.png) [@Xdrakosha](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Xdrakosha)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/add-thickness-to-a-shape-line-in-directions-of-its-norms/39229/2 "2025-08-22T19:22:42Z")

</div>

I think offset edge can help you with this kind of job.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/8/6/861243ee4af43823e78b19da5a8aeee2ee980a29.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BeemerGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@BeemerGuy](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/BeemerGuy)\
**Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/add-thickness-to-a-shape-line-in-directions-of-its-norms/39229/3 "2025-08-22T20:41:24Z")

</div>

OK WOW.  
I did not know that Offset Edge did that resizing!  
I thought it only offsets the same shape along a linear path.  
But that’s EXACTLY what I want.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/4/8/487d2fe9987939672b4bd2bb6f60e80dad341c0a.jpeg)

Thank you so much!

**PS.** then my “feature request” should now simply be another “Offset Edge” mode that goes bi-directional (the same way EXTRUDE has a bi-directional mode).

**PPS.** then again, if you’re gonna draw one, then draw one side, then offset to the other. No reason to draw one in mid-air then expand to the sides. Sorry about that confusion.