Page Comparison

First we need to make sure we are designing the layers in the correct order for these instructions.

On the FrameShop Main Page, click Admin and stay on the Defaults tab.

Under Layer Direction select Bottom Up if it is not already set to that.

Click Save and return to the Main Page.

Click New Mat Design on the FrameShop Main Page.

Click Cancel on the New Openings Screen.

Click the Add Font Button on the Openingstab.

Select the desired LetterMat/TTF font from the pullout list.

The LetterMat/TTF placeholderis placed on the Editor.

Click on Properties to edit the LetterMat/TTF Properties.

Enter the desired text for the LetterMat/TTF in the Text field.

Change the Kerning to spread the letters out to make room for the double layer.

The amount will be determined by the Reveal size you decide for the second layer.

• Play with this value to see what works for your project.

If you want to adjust the spacing of the letters manually, click on the Advanced Tab and click Explode Font.

This will break up the LetterMat/TTF into individual letters that can each be moved separately.

Select all of the letters of the LetterMat/TTF.

Right-Click and select Convert to CutArt.

The letters will be brought into Trace.

Depending upon the complexity of the Font selected, sometimes you can just select all of the letters and offset them, so we’ll try that first.

Select all of the letters by drawing a rectangle around them.

They will turn White.

On the Offset section, select the desired Offset/Reveal size.

Select the Left < button to designate the direction to create the new offset from the Offset  control. 

• The Left < button will offset an enclosed object to the outside.

• The Right > button will offset an enclosed object to the inside.

The object will be Offset in the Direction and by the Amount specified.

Zoom in and make sure that the newly offset object is completely connected.

It should appear Black on the screen.

If it appears Grey, it is not connected and will need to be Joined in order to be a cuttable object.

Once that layer is completely connected, click on the Set Bevels tab.

Click the Add button to add a new layer.

Click on the Bottom layer which is the original LetterMat design.

It should show that it has several Objects listed on it.

The LetterMat should be displayed in the colors of the Bevel Types they were traced in.

Select the Outside Layer of the Drops of the by holding down the CTRL key and clicking on each of them.

They will turn White to show they are selected.

Select the desired Drop bevel type and click Set.

The Drops will turn the color of the Drop bevel type, showing that they are Traced.

Click on the new Layer we had created which is the top layer.

It should show that it has 0 (Zero) Objects on it, because we haven’t traced them yet.

Select the Inside Layer of the Drops of the new layer by holding down the CTRL key and clicking on each of them.

They will turn White to show they are selected.

Select the desired Drop bevel type and click Set.

The Drops will turn the color of the Drop bevel type, showing that they are Traced.

Now select each of the openings by holding down the CTRL key and clicking on each of them.

They will turn White to show they are selected.

Select the desired Opening bevel type and click Set.

The Drops will turn the color of the Opening bevel type, showing that they are Traced.

Save the new LetterMat design as a CutArt.

Load the new CutArt into Designer.

You now have a two-layer LetterMat.

Make sure to do a test cut and make adjustments if necessary.

If desired, reset the Layer Direction on the Admin screen.