# Subtract with tiny offset **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature requests\ **Created:** [September 24, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877 "2024-09-24T16:32:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1

**Author:** ![Messages4alex](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/messages4alex/32/450_2.png) [@Messages4alex](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Messages4alex)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/1 "2024-09-24T16:32:01Z")

I end up creating a lot of larger parts than what will print on my 3D printer. I would love to see a subtract feature where the parts can have a tiny gap of .01~.04mm in all directions (where the subtraction took place) for ease of reassembly after printed. This would greatly speed up creating print in place parts as well ---

**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/2 "2024-09-24T20:22:51Z")

Hi, Perhaps can be done using Tools \> Offset Face Select body \> Offset Face \> -0.4 ---

**Author:** ![Messages4alex](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/messages4alex/32/450_2.png) [@Messages4alex](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Messages4alex)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2024, 12:33am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/3 "2024-09-25T00:33:50Z")

That only works if you’re subtracting a whole body from another. I’m referring to a few faces subtracting from another body and there being a gap to make something printable in place on export for us hobbyists I’m just looking for something that will remove a time-consuming process, by just allowing for a simple gap with the subtract feature. Simple being subjective. I’m pretty sure the coding behind it is probably many sleepless nights. ---

**Author:** ![jean-philippe2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/jean-philippe2/32/27353_2.png) [@jean-philippe2](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/jean-philippe2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2024, 6:02am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/4 "2024-09-25T06:02:33Z")

I’m not sure to understand… Can you show us what you want ? A drawing by hand will suffice ---

**Author:** ![karel.works](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/karel.works/32/26997_2.png) [@karel.works](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/karel.works)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2024, 8:02am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/5 "2024-09-25T08:02:09Z")

Hello, I think that You want to make more clearances between two parts. So whole object got same size but faces in contact with another part has small gap. There is no such tool yet, but I found this way: I tried it with this object ![IMG_1098](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/8/a/8a2a81b42282b0992c6d4de0be2b214c6ac224a7.jpeg) 1/ So first I put parts apart so i can select faces (you can move with all objects apart) 2/Then i offset all faces in contact by small negative amount (-0,05) this depends on your tolerances Best way Is to do that on one side and than go to History find that step ( **Face Offset** ) and there **Edit…** Faces and select all faces on all objects you want). Click _ **Done** _ ![IMG_1099](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/a/d/ad7454267a87cc6a6c35ad5730d7b4c03035dfb2.jpeg) 3/ And than, suppress that **Movement/Rotation** step from 1/ step. So all parts are align again but with proper clearance. ![IMG_1100](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/e/b/ebeb095cbcc01df59f71736f721673f0a7c16d61.jpeg) Maybe there is better way, but this seems quite easy. I hope it helps you ---

**Author:** ![Messages4alex](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/messages4alex/32/450_2.png) [@Messages4alex](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Messages4alex)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/6 "2024-09-25T12:43:33Z")

Thank you for the demonstration. Yes that is an example of what I am requesting. I know how to do it. What Im asking for in this FEATURE REQUEST section is THIS feature. It seems simple when it’s a few faces, but when its 20-30 faces, not so simple. Im asking for this ability, to be a switch that can be turned on in the subtraction mode, to automatically do this in future updates. If the majority of users are using a 3D printer for making parts, then this would be useful to that audience, no? ---

**Author:** ![karel.works](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/karel.works/32/26997_2.png) [@karel.works](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/karel.works)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2024, 1:10pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/7 "2024-09-25T13:10:53Z")

I agree, that is great feature. And how this _”gap tool”_ will work? Maybe you can select two or more bodies and than make _gap_ in between those bodies, only on faces which are ”touching”? that could work. it could look like this:) ![IMG_1105](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/a/d/ad794a1c6e2219b8d4b2d47b2e2e72e269b2ab25.jpeg) ---

**Author:** ![phitauah](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/phitauah/32/33810_2.png) [@phitauah](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/phitauah)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/8 "2025-08-28T12:51:15Z")

Any update on this feature request? It is something I run into frequently. ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/9 "2025-08-28T15:38:35Z")

This should be part of the boolean offset command. Lof of 3d CAD software have this feature, but I understand we only recently got the!!! Pseudo Offset Constraint that doesn’t work on Splines. So probably we get the Real Curve Offset before we get the Boolean offset. Wouldn’t this be a dream come true, adding offset distance. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/4/5/45700fe323df346445a444a4aad4aa4ddca362cc.png) ---

**Author:** ![BKE](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/bke/32/31690_2.png) [@BKE](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/BKE)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/10 "2025-08-28T17:45:06Z")

> [@SCALEMODEL](#): > > Pseudo Offset Constraint ? + least 10 characters 🙂 ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/subtract-with-tiny-offset/33877/11 "2025-08-28T18:12:16Z")

Alex explained it. So what we got the Pepsi version Offset Constraint 🫠, no offset constraint on Splines. > [@Offset constraints not updating properly](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/offset-constraints-not-updating-properly/39080/11): > > Before they introduce offset constraint you alway could use distance constraint to achieve the same result. I believe they just use distance constraint for new offset constraint under the hood. But where is no distance constraint for splines. So offset don’t have it too. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/7/0/70275a5cda7190edd102c4690f6d44546a3d0b2e.png)