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For an optional design, you can offset the doily we created to add additional layers. You will perform the same steps that we did back in Lesson One: Adjust an Object Freehand.

Move the design further into the screen if necessary in order to be able to see the offset layer.

Select the doily.

Change the Offset direction* to minus (-) by selecting it from the dropdown control.

Leave the Reveal value at .25".

Click the Offset Circuit button.  

The doily is offset to create the second layer.

*RULES:

Enclosed objects:

Positive value offsets to the inside.

Negative value offsets to the outside.

Arcs and Curves Greater than 180 Degrees use the same rules as for closed objects.

For lines, imagine a line's start point to be the center of a circle. The plus offsets clockwise and minus offsets counterclockwise. 

The new offset created arcs that overlap in the corners. We want to break the intersections in the newly offset object, rather than all of the intersections in the design.

Have the outside layer selected.

Click the Explode button in order to edit the outside segments separately.

The object is exploded into the individual entities that can be edited separately and will appear gray.

We will now join all of the segments that will make up the outside layer of the design.

Hold down the CTRL key and click on the each of the arcs that make up the outside layer of the design.

Click the Join button.

The segments of the outside layer are now joined to create one object.

We could repeat these same steps to add a third layer using a 1/8" reveal by offsetting the outside object by .125", exploding the newly offset object, then rejoining the outside elements to create the top layer.

Depending upon the template, the size, the parameters, etc., you may not need to explode the elements before joining them together if the offset connects together neatly in the corners.

Trace the CutArt. Remember to Add a layer in the Layers section for each layer of matboard you want to trace. Click on the desired layer, select the object to trace, then select the bevel/cartridge to trace the item for that layer.

Save the CutArt. You will get a message stating that this design contains objects that do not have an assigned bevel type. This refers to the leftover lines and arcs that we didn't trace. Click Yes that you wish to continue.

Load the CutArt.

Cut the CutArt.
Optionally, you can also bring the CutArt straight to the Cut Preview from Trace.

The multi-layered doily design is completed.

Set up as a one layer design:

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Set up as a two layer design:

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