Page Comparison

As the design becomes more and more involved, more and more thought and planning is required. This lesson shows how to make a multi-layers oval inset mat.

To create a multi-layered oval inset mat, start the design in MatDesigner.

Design a large oval with two layers.Place an 8.75 x 11.75 #102 Oval Template with two layers on the FrameShop Design Editor. 

Bring in two small ovals with four layer each and overlap them slightly as shown.a. that are 3x5.

Edit the small ovals and make them four layers.

• Width of the inner reveal is how much of the inner mat shows (i.e., .25).

• Width of the middle reveal is the width of the bridge between the two objects (i.e., .5).

• Outer reveal is the inner mat of the bridge on the large object side (i.e., .25).

It may help to print out the design and highlight which lines will connect for which objects (use different colored pens if desired).

With the ovals on the screen, click File > Print Mat Dimensions in MatDesigner.

Save the design as a Path.

Open the path in PathTrace.

Bring the design into Trace via the Right-Click Menu* or from the Cut Preview Screen.

*If you use the Right-Click method, hold down the CTRL key and select each of the openings before selecting Convert to CutArt. 

The View from Back toggle toggles between viewing the design from the front or from the back of the mat.

Because of the complexity of this design, it may be easier to break all of the intersections and reconnect the desired arcs.

Click Click Edit > Break all Intersections.

All intersecting arcs are broken and each arc can be treated as a separate entity.

Zoom Buttons

Zoom buttons are frequently used when working on complicated designs to zoom in and out when picking out specific objects.

Zoom All: View the entire drawing.

Zoom Window: Draw a box around a specific area to zoom in to view.

Zoom Previous: Return to previous view.

Undo button may also be used to undo the last command performed.

The design has been exploded and consists of many tiny arcs. Zoom in/out as needed to select the smaller arcs.

Click Prep Design tab.

Click Join Segments.

Holding down the CTRL key, click on each segment that is forming the inner layer of the lower oval by clicking on each arc in the order they are sitting.

When the oval is completely selected, either right-click to close it, or click Close Circuit button then click on the oval again.

Connect the outer click Join.

The oval is now a connected singular object.

Connect the arcs making up the next layer of the bottom oval in the same manner.

Connect the arcs for the bottom layer of the top oval. Notice that this will use arcs from the original outer layer of the bottom oval, to form part of this top oval.

Connect the arcs for the top next layer of the top oval in the same manner.

Connect the inner layer of the large oval. Notice that this will use arcs from the original outer layer of the smaller ovals, to form part of this large oval.

Connect the arcs for the top next layer of the large oval in the same manner.

The ovals are now connected.

NOTE: It is not necessary to delete the leftover arcs. Because the spare arcs are not connected, the user can simply trace the desired objects. The leftover arcs are deleted here for illustration purposes.

Click Edit > Tangify all Circuits.

Click Edit > Convert Arcs to Splines.

Go to the Set Bevels Tab.

Select and delete two of the layers by clicking Remove.

The two layers we will trace this design on will remain.

Trace, save and cut the design.

You can see how much we changed the design when you compare it to the original version.