Hi there, I'm brand new to Inkscape so please go easy on me with any help you can give.

What I want to do is create letters or numbers with a stroke-style outline that has a gap between the object and the stroke. Attached is a picture as an example.

The blue number (4) is the main object. The red outline is what I want to achieve, but I would like the white gap between the blue shape and red outline to remain transparent. I've tried playing around but not sure how to do it. Please could somebody give me some bullet points on how to do it?

 

Hi.

Duplicate the "4" and go Path->Union to convert into shape. Kill fill color and add a red stroke of decent width - then go Path->Dynamic Offset and adjust with node tool - if the little triangle vanishes your offset is to wide or you need to increase the "Miter" value at "Fill and Stroke" panel: Stroke Style. If you prefer sharp inner edges give the blue 4 a white stroke with Order: Stroke/Fill/Markers and raise the 4 above red outline. I know lot´s of steps on "unknown terrain".

Thank you, Polygon. That's worked a treat, really appreciate the speedy help.

Follow-up question - I'm trying the same trick (thanks again) with a star now, but I can't get the outside edges to look sharp despite trying various mitre settings (0, 10, 50, 99, 999, etc). Any tips here? Pic attached.

NM, worked around it by just making two shapes :)