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The Design Bounds defines the canvas size of the current design in Trace.

This controls both the Canvas Size for the current drawing and the Image Size for the currently loaded image.

Enter the Design Bounds before beginning your design.

See: Design Bounds Function

Raster to Vector is the process of taking a Raster image and converting it into a Vector to edit in Designer and Trace.

A Raster is a Bitmap image (JPEG, PNG, GIF, etc.) that is made up of a grid of Pixels, such as a photograph.

A Vector is a drawn graphic path which is defined by a Start and End point, which may contain other Points, Curves, and Angles, drawn in Trace.

See: Raster Definition

See: Vector Definition

See: Vectorize in Designer Function

See: Vectorize in Trace Function

Raster to Vector is the process of taking a Raster image and converting it into a Vector to edit in Designer and Trace.

A Raster is a Bitmap image (JPEG, PNG, GIF, etc.) that is made up of a grid of Pixels, such as a photograph.

A Vector is a drawn graphic path which is defined by a Start and End point, which may contain other Points, Curves, and Angles, drawn in Trace.

See: Raster Definition

See: Vector Definition

See: Vectorize in Designer Function

See: Vectorize in Trace Function

The Normal Bevel Opening is created by cutting into the matboard surface with the blade angled at 45°/52°, thereby slanting the bevel away from the matboard surface. The matboard core is visible from the front.

The Bevel Type refers to the angle at which the blade cuts the surface of the matboard when it deviates from the 90° right angle cut.

Select Normal Bevel or Normal Bevel-Front of Mat from the Current Bevel Type dropdown control to edit this configuration.

See: 45 Degree Normal Bevel Opening Configurations

See: 45 Degree Plus Normal Bevel Opening Configurations

See: 45 Degree Front Normal Bevel Opening Configurations

See: 52 Degree Normal Bevel Opening Configurations

See: 90 Degree Normal Bevel Opening Configurations

The Bevel Type refers to the angle at which the blade cuts the surface of the matboard when it deviates from the 90° right angle cut.

A Cartridge is the physical component that holds the Blade, Deboss Stylus, Pen or other application tool.

The Explode button will break up the Selected Object into the individual segments that make up the object in Trace.

The Explode All button will break All Objects into their individual segments that make up the object in Trace.

For example, a Rectanglewill be broken up into Four Individual Lines which can be edited separately.

See: Explode Function in Trace

See: Explode All Function in Trace

• The Tracing program has to determine which features of the image are Relevant and which are Artifacts.
  In the first step, the bitmap is broken down into a number of Paths, which form the boundaries between black and white areas.

• In the second step, each path is approximated by an Optimal Polygon.

• In the third step, each polygon is transformed into a Smooth Outline.

• In the fourth step, the resulting curve is optimized by Joining Consecutive Bezier Curve Segments together where possible.

• Finally, the Output is generated in the required format.

Tracing the Design provides the Bevel Type and other necessary information to the Vector design in order to either Cut or apply with a Non-Blade Tool on the CMC.

The Set Bevels Tab in Trace contains the tools needed to Trace the design.

See: Tracing the Design

A Path (.wpx) is a drawn Vector graphic path in Trace which is defined by a Start and End point, which may contain other Points, Curves, and Angles.

The Paths are independent of resolution, which means they can be resized without losing detail.

The Path file format in Trace will save all of the Vectorelements of the design as you work, whether it is Traced or not. 

When the design is completed, save it as a CutArt to load into Designer.

The Curve function allows you to draw a four-point mathematically defined Bezier/Spline Curve in the Trace software.

The Bezier/Spline Curve is defined by four points: Initial Position (called an Anchor), Two Separate Middle Points (called Handles) which can be moved to alter the shape, and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor)

The Convert Arc to Splines process will convert any Arcs to Splines/Curves which are easier to tangify to make cuts smoother.

See: Arc Definition

See: Arcs Tool Function

See: Splines Definition

See: Splines Tool Function

See: Convert Arc to Splines Function