Hi.  I have searched the forum for outset offset but no results.  I have image files in inkscape that I'd like to draw an outline around.  I understand I need to do an offset or an outset, but they are images not objects.  Do I need to convert to an object first, if so how do I convert my jpg and png files from image to object, because the object and path menu allow setting an object to a path.  Do I first have to trace the bitmap with the bezier tool to get it into a path before I do anything else?

Thanks

Yes. @ClarkyDan Follow tutorials on Trace Bitmap to get a path. A Path is needed for outsets or any other Inkscape operations on the path menu.

https://inkscape.org/doc/tutorials/tracing/tutorial-tracing.html

There's a neat trick to add an offset path to an jpg:

1. draw a rectangle larger than your illustration

2. take the fill bucket and fill the rectangle by clicking into an empty area

3. break path and delete the outer rectangle

4. go Path->Outset as much as you like:

Hi @PixelPest I cannot quite follow what is going on there.  Do you have a youtube links for those steps at all?

I'm not sure I can describe it any better as it's already in text+image.

1. you have placed your jpg already on the canvas

2. Take the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle around the image->black stroke-no fill color

3. Take the "fill bucket" and click inbetween image and rectangle (not on the image itself)

4. if you receive a color fill instead a contour adjust it accordingly like you alter stroke+fill colours by deleting Fill- and adding Stroke-color

5. with the shape (not the jpg) selected Go Path->Break apart 

6. select (S) rectangular outer shape and hit backspace to delete.

7. select inner shape (not the jpg) and go Path->Outset a few times till the space between jpg and stroke/contour fit your needs

8. There's no point beyond 7. ;)

9. Hope this helps. 🙏

I am trying to draw a line around an image for a cut line for a vinyl print.  I have found a youtube video that creates a white background that is dragged to be slightly larger than the image and moved to the bottom layer so the printer cuts around the white background but obviously doesn't print white.

Good luck.