Page Comparison

• This lesson shows how to create a simple Doily shape.

• This also describes how to make an alternative design by adding Layers to it.

• Place a one Layer 4 x 5" #506 Star Template on the FrameShop Design Editor.  

• Click on the Properties tab.

• Click on the Parameters tab.

• Change the No. of Points to 6.

• Change the Spikiness to 0.

• Change the Mode to 2. 

• Change the Line Length to 2.

The Parameters are set of specified variable characteristics related to the selected object that can be modified through the accompanying fields in Designer.

For example, the Chamfer is the symmetrical angled surface at the corner of the Template.

In Designer, the Template Parameter Map displays a diagram describing each parameter field for the current Template.

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• Place a one Layer 2.75 x 2.75" #102 Oval Template in the top portion of the Polygon.

  • The circle will create the petal of the Doily.

• Move the circle so that it lines up with the Top of the Star Template.

• 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 both openings before selecting Convert to CutArt. 

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard that can be added to designs.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and edited, such as resizing and rotating.

They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

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See: Add CutArt Function

• We will add some Alignment Lines that we will use to Mirror the circle.

• You can Mirror the circle without the Alignment Lines, but adding them will help illustrate the process.

• Click the Line button on the Trace and Draw tab. The Draw radio button is automatically selected.

• Right-Click on the center point of one of the Lines of the Polygon. 

The Line tool in Trace will draw a Two-Point Line. 

The Line is defined by two points: Initial Position (called an Anchor) and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor).

After it is drawn, a third point in the Center will be displayed, which can be moved to alter the line into an Arc.

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See: Line Tool Function

• Right-Click on the center point of the opposite Line of the Polygon.

• The Line is placed.

The Line tool in Trace will draw a Two-Point Line. 

The Line is defined by two points: Initial Position (called an Anchor) and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor).

After it is drawn, a third point in the Center will be displayed, which can be moved to alter the line into an Arc.

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See: Line Tool Function

• Do the same with the other sides of the polygon, Right-Clicking and Snapping to the Center Point then Snapping to the Center Point on the opposite point.

• Make sure that the Circle crosses over the Lines a little in order to have the Mirrored version of the Circle overlap.

• If it doesn't, either make the Circle larger or Offset it to make it larger.

The Line tool in Trace will draw a Two-Point Line. 

The Line is defined by two points: Initial Position (called an Anchor) and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor).

After it is drawn, a third point in the Center will be displayed, which can be moved to alter the line into an Arc.

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See: Line Tool Function

• Click on the Edit radio button.

• Hold down the CTRL key and click on the Circle.

• Click the Mirror button.

• Right-Click on the point where the Upper Left Line begins.

The Line tool in Trace will draw a Two-Point Line. 

The Line is defined by two points: Initial Position (called an Anchor) and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor).

After it is drawn, a third point in the Center will be displayed, which can be moved to alter the line into an Arc.

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See: Line Tool Function

• Right-Click on the end of the line at the Lower Right Side.

• The Circle as been Mirrored using the Line we drew as the axis.

The Line tool in Trace will draw a Two-Point Line. 

The Line is defined by two points: Initial Position (called an Anchor) and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor).

After it is drawn, a third point in the Center will be displayed, which can be moved to alter the line into an Arc.

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See: Line Tool Function

• Click on the new Circle. 

• Click the Mirror button.

• Right-Click at each end of the Alignment Line.

• The Circle has been Mirrored using the Line we drew as the axis.

The Line tool in Trace will draw a Two-Point Line. 

The Line is defined by two points: Initial Position (called an Anchor) and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor).

After it is drawn, a third point in the Center will be displayed, which can be moved to alter the line into an Arc.

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See: Line Tool Function

• Repeat the process by selecting the next Circle, clicking the Mirror button, then snapping to each end of the Alignment Line.

The Line tool in Trace will draw a Two-Point Line. 

The Line is defined by two points: Initial Position (called an Anchor) and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor).

After it is drawn, a third point in the Center will be displayed, which can be moved to alter the line into an Arc.

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See: Line Tool Function

• The Circle has been Mirrored all the way around the design.

• Now we want to Break All of the Intersections where all segments in the design intersect with other segments.

• Click Edit > Break all Intersections.

The Break Tool tool is used to Bisect the Selected Segments at the point where they Intersect in the Trace software.

The Break All Intersections function bisects ALL Segments in the design where they intersect in the Trace software.

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See: Break All Intersections Function

• The Intersections are now Broken where the objects crossed over each other.

The Break Tool tool is used to Bisect the Selected Segments at the point where they Intersect in the Trace software.

The Break All Intersections function bisects ALL Segments in the design where they intersect in the Trace software.

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See: Break All Intersections Function

• We will now Join all of the segments that will make up the opening of the design.

• Hold down the CTRL key and click on the each of the Left Side Arcs of one of the Broken Circles.

• Click the Join button.

The Join button will connect the Selected Segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join All Adjacent Segments together in Trace.

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See: Join Tool Function

See: Auto Join Segments Function

• The Arcs are joined together as a single entity.

• If the Arcs don't connect as expected, you might have missed an Arc.

  • Click the Undo button, reselect the Arcs and click the Join button again. 

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.

Terminating Position (called an Anchor)

Splines are easier to handle in the software than Arcs for tangification which makes the cuts smoother between arcs.

The Convert Arc to Splines process will convert the Arcs to Splines for software simplification purposes.

Arcs are provided for those that prefer to draw with them.

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See: Arc Tool in Trace

See: Arc Tool Definition 

See: Splines Definition

See: Convert Arc to Splines Function

The Join button will connect the Selected Segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join All Adjacent Segments together in Trace.

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See: Join Tool Function

See: Auto Join Segments Function

• Hold down the CTRL key and select the Arcs of the next Broken Circle.

• Click the Join button. 

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.

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See: Arc Definition

See: Arcs Tool Function

See: Splines Definition

See: Splines Tool Function

See: Convert Arc to Splines Function

The Join button will connect the Selected Segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join All Adjacent Segments together in Trace.

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See: Join Tool Function

See: Auto Join Segments Function

• Continue selecting the arcs that make up each of the Broken Circles and Joining them until you have Joined each of the outside Arcs.

• Hold down the CTRL key and select all of the newly joined Arcs. 

• Click the Join button.

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.

Terminating Position (called an Anchor)

Splines are easier to handle in the software than Arcs for tangification which makes the cuts smoother between arcs.

The Convert Arc to Splines process will convert the Arcs to Splines for software simplification purposes.

Arcs are provided for those that prefer to draw with them.

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See: Arc Tool in Trace

See: Arc Tool Definition 

See: Splines Definition

See: Convert Arc to Splines Function

The Join button will connect the Selected Segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join All Adjacent Segments together in Trace.

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See: Join Tool Function

See: Auto Join Segments Function

• The Arcs are now one connected entity.

• Click Edit > Convert Arcs to Splines. 

  • The splines can be tangified with less distortion, which will give a smoother cutting path for the design.

• Click on Edit > Tangify all Circuits.

  • This makes each arc tangent to each other for smoother cutting.

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

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See: Arcs Definition

See: Arcs Tool Function

See: Splines Definition

See: Splines Tool Function

See: Convert Arc to Splines Function

• Trace the CutArt.

• 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 Doily design is completed.

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.

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See: Tracing the Design

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.

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CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard that can be added to designs.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and edited, such as resizing and rotating.

They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

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See: Add CutArt Function

• 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 now offset to create the second Layer.

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 Counter-Clockwise. 

In a two-layer design, the Reveal is the amount of the bottom matboard showing under the top mat in Designer and Visualize.

The standard Reveal between the top and bottom mat is 1/4".

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See: Designer Reveal Function

• 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.

• Hold down the CTRL key and select all of the newly created Arcs. 

• Click the Break button to Break the objects where they intersect with each other.

• The Arcs will break where they Intersect and appear Gray.

The Break Tool tool is used to Bisect the Selected Segments at the point where they Intersect in the Trace software.

The Break All Intersections function bisects ALL Segments in the design where they intersect in the Trace software.

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See: Break All Intersections Function

• 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 Join button will connect the Selected Segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join All Adjacent Segments together in Trace.

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See: Join Tool Function

See: Auto Join Segments Function

• The segments of the outside Layer are now Joined to create one object.

The Join button will connect the Selected Segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join All Adjacent Segments together in Trace.

Image Removed

See: Join Tool Function

See: Auto Join Segments Function

The Break Tool tool is used to Bisect the Selected Segments at the point where they Intersect in the Trace software.

The Break All Intersections function bisects ALL Segments in the design where they intersect in the Trace software.

Image Removed

See: Break All Intersections Function

The Join button will connect the Selected Segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join All Adjacent Segments together in Trace.

Image Removed

See: Join Tool Function

See: Auto Join Segments Function

The Parameters are set of specified variable characteristics related to the selected object that can be modified through the accompanying fields in Designer.

For example, the Chamfer is the symmetrical angled surface at the corner of the Template.

In Designer, the Template Parameter Map displays a diagram describing each parameter field for the current Template.

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• 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.

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.

Image Removed

See: Tracing the Design

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.

Image Removed

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard that can be added to designs.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and edited, such as resizing and rotating.

They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

Image Removed

See: Add CutArt Function