Lesson Nine: Doily

Create a Doily Shape
This lesson shows how to create a simple Doily shape. See Trace Keyboard Shortcuts.
This also describes how to make an alternative design by adding Layers to it.

Design in FrameShop then Bring into Trace
First we need to make sure we are designing the layers in the correct order for these instructions. On the FrameShop Main Page, click Admin and stay on the Defaults tab. Under Layer Direction select Bottom Up if it is not already set to that. Click Save and return to the Main Page. You can change this back to the original setting later if desired. Layer Direction: Bottom Up is the preferred direction. When you Offset an object to create another layer, that new layer will be the Top layer. Layer Direction: Top Down is not recommended. When you Offset an object to create another layer, that new layer will be the Bottom layer, even though it is larger than the original object.
Place a one Layer 4 x 5" #506 Star Template on the FrameShop Design Editor. Templates Definition Templates are specialized parametric shape generators created by Wizard. Many of the templates have additional Properties that can be edited which can change the shape, curves and corners of the design as well as a wide assortment of Parameters. The Template Library displays the different templates that are available for use.
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. Parameters The Parameters are set of specified variable characteristics related to the selected object that can be modified through the accompanying fields in the Design Editor. In the Design Editor, the Template Parameter Map displays a diagram describing each parameter field for the current Template.
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 Design into Trace
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™ Definition CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard that can be added to designs.

Draw Alignment Lines
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. Line Tool Definition The Line tool will draw a Two-Point Line in Trace. Full Definition: Line Tool Definition
Right-Click on the center point of the opposite Line of the Polygon. The Line is placed.
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.

Mirror the Circle
Click on the Edit radio button. Hold down the CTRL key and click on the Circle. Click the Mirror button. Mirror The Mirror function will create a Mirror copy of the selected object along the selected axis in Trace, the Design Editor and mirror the image horizontally in Visualize. Full Description: Mirror Definition
Right-Click on the point where the Upper Left Line begins.
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.
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.
Repeat the process by selecting the next Circle, clicking the Mirror button, then snapping to each end of the Alignment Line.
The Circle has been Mirrored all the way around the design.

Break all Intersections
Now we want to Break All of the Intersections where all segments in the design intersect with other segments. Click Edit > Break all Intersections. Break All Intersections Definition The Break All Intersections function bisects all segments in the design where they intersect in Trace. Full Definition: Break All Intersections Definition
The Intersections are now Broken where the objects crossed over each other.

Join Segments
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. Join Tool Definition The Join button will connect the selected segments together as one object in Trace. Full Definition: Join Tool Definition
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.
Hold down the CTRL key and select the Arcs of the next Broken Circle. Click the Join button.
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 Arcs are now one connected entity.

Convert to Splines/Tangify

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.

Convert Arc to Splines

The Convert Arc to Splines process will convert the Arcs to Splines which are easier to Tangify and make cuts smoother.
- Full Definition: Convert Arc to Splines Definition

Tangify All Circuits Definition

The Tangify All Circuits function smooths the connection between All Arc Circuits containing any angles below the specified degree in the Tangent Threshold field, creating a seamless transition between arcs for smoother cuts.

Trace the Design

Click on the Set Bevels tab.
Click on the Doily opening.
Select the desired Bevel Type then click Set.
The outside of the Doily turns the color of the Bevel Type selected and is now traced.

Traced

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.

Save and Cut

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.

CutArt™ Definition

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

Optional Design

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.
Leave the Reveal value at .25".
Click the Left < Offset Circuit button.

The Doily is now offset to create the second Layer.

Offset Tool Definition

The Offset button creates a displacement copy of the selected object a parallel distance away as specified in the Offset Reveal field.
- Full Definition: Offset Tool Definition

Offset Rules

Offset Rules:

Enclosed Objects:

The Left < Offset directional button will offset an enclosed object to the outside.
The Right > Offset directional button will offset an enclosed object to the inside.
Arcs and Curves greater than 180 Degrees use the same rules as closed objects.

Unenclosed Objects:

For unenclosed objects the directional arrow buttons depend on the direction of travel of the vector segments, starting from the line’s start point.
- Left < Offset directional button offsets Clockwise
- Right > Offset directional button offsets Counter-Clockwise
If it doesn’t Offset in the expected direction, click Undo and click the other Offset directional button.
Full Definition: Offset Rules

Explode New Layer
The new Offset created an outside layer, but the arcs overlap in the corners. We will have to Explode this new layer to edit it. Click on the new layer to select it and click Explode. The new layer will be exploded into the individual arcs that created it. Explode Tool Definition The Explode button will break up the selected object into the individual segments that make up the object in Trace. Full Definition: Explode Tool Definition
Now click the Auto Join Segments button to join the segments that can be joined. Auto Join Segments Definition The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join all adjacent segments in the design together in Trace. Full Definition: Auto Join Segments Definition
If you move your cursor, you will see that the small arcs that make up the large arcs are now connected together, but the large arcs are not connected together because they cross each other.
Now we will select each of these Arcs and click Break to break them where they intersect.
If you move your cursor, you will see that each arc is now broken where they cross each other.

Join Outside Segments
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.

Tracing the Optional Design
Click on the Set Bevels tab. Click Add twice to add two new layers that we can trace the new layers onto.
Click on the Top Layer. Click on the outside doily opening. Select the desired Bevel Type then click Set. The outside of the doily turns the color of the Bevel Type selected.
Click on the Middle Layer. Click on the middle doily opening. Select the desired Bevel Type then click Set. The middle of the doily turns the color of the Bevel Type selected.
Click on the Bottom Layer. Click on the inside doily opening. Select the desired Bevel Type then click Set. The bottom of the doily turns the color of the Bevel Type selected. The design is now fully traced.

Save and Cut

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.

Comparison
You can see how much we changed the design when you compare it to what we started with. You can alter the design greatly by changing the number of sides of the Star template or even selecting a different template to mirror in each of the corners.
Set up as a one layer design:
Set up as a three layer design:

Related Links	Default Settings
Tangification Highlight Function	Layer Direction: Application Default Setting

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Lesson Nine: Doily

Create a Doily Shape

Design in FrameShop then Bring into Trace

Bring Design into Trace

Draw Alignment Lines

Mirror the Circle

Break all Intersections

Join Segments

Convert to Splines/Tangify

Trace the Design

Save and Cut

Optional Design

Offset Rules:

Explode New Layer

Join Outside Segments

Tracing the Optional Design

Save and Cut

Comparison

Related Links

Default Settings