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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.

Bring in two small ovals with four layer each and overlap them slightly as shown.

a. Width of the inner reveal is how much of the inner mat shows.

b. Width of the middle reveal is the width of the bridge between the two objects.

c. Outer reveal is the inner mat of the bridge on the large object side.

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.

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

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.

Start connecting the arcs to form the inner layer of the lower oval by clicking on each arc in order.

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 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 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 layer of the large oval in the same manner.

The ovals are 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.

Click Edit > Tangify all Circuits.

Click Edit > Convert Arcs to Splines.