The developer Kushiro has released a free modelling add-on for Blender named Outset Boundary, available on Gumroad. The tool adds an “outset” function, which expands face boundaries outward — effectively acting as the inverse of Blender’s native Inset operation. The developer describes it simply: “Outset Boundary is a simple tool for outset (reverse of Blender Inset) boundary edges.”
Key features and workflow
Outset Boundary allows artists to increase the margin of selected faces quickly while automatically handling overlaps. When expanded faces collide, the add-on intelligently merges and connects them to maintain clean geometry. The tool correctly handles right-angled corners by inserting quads at intersections, ensuring a stable topology even during aggressive outsets. It also supports limited use on curved or non-flat surfaces, extending its usefulness beyond basic planar modelling.
A rotation parameter lets users rotate the newly created geometry around the original edge, which helps when working on curved or angled hard-surface components. A threshold distance setting defines how close faces can get before the merge behaviour triggers, giving finer control over geometry intersections.
In use, the workflow is straightforward: in Edit Mode, switch to Edge Mode, select one or several boundary edges, then right-click in the viewport context menu and choose “OutSet Boundary.” The tool then expands the selection outward according to the chosen parameters.
Version history and updates
The Gumroad release notes list a number of updates. Version 1.3.1 improved the merge algorithm for overlapping faces and added a “Reset Rotation” option. Version 1.3.0 introduced a “Select Boundary” function that allows repeated runs of the tool using the Ctrl + R shortcut in Blender. Version 1.2.0 refined the algorithm and fixed several bugs. Earlier, version 1.1.0 had added the rotation and threshold-distance options, improving precision when working on complex meshes.
These updates suggest that the developer is actively refining the tool based on user feedback and ongoing testing, although no roadmap for future releases is provided.
Licensing and cost
Outset Boundary is distributed under a pay-what-you-want model (“$0+”) on Gumroad, making it effectively free to download. The developer notes that the tool is still under improvement but already stable enough for use. No explicit licence terms are stated regarding commercial use or redistribution, so users should verify conditions directly on the Gumroad page before deploying it in commercial projects.
Why it matters for production artists
In hard-surface modelling, the ability to expand face boundaries outward rather than only inward is useful when building shells, adding frame edges, or constructing offset geometry. Outset Boundary directly fills that gap in Blender’s standard toolkit. Its ability to merge overlapping faces is particularly helpful when maintaining clean topology across connected panels or modular assets. By simplifying the expansion process and offering quick iterative controls, the tool could save time in environment, prop, and mechanical modelling workflows. However, as with all community add-ons, production artists should confirm its behaviour on large meshes, non-planar geometry and complex Boolean structures before integrating it into studio pipelines.
Limitations and caveats
While the developer states that Outset Boundary supports curved and non-flat surfaces, there are no detailed test results for highly complex geometry such as multi-material meshes or dense subdivided surfaces. The ongoing-development note suggests that the feature set may change or expand over time, meaning version consistency across team environments should be monitored carefully.
Verdict
For those interested, the tool is currently available for download from Kushiro’s Gumroad page. As always, any newly released add-on should be tested thoroughly in production-like conditions before being used on deliverables.
