MatDesigner: MatDesigner Nesting User Guide

Nesting allows the user to fully utilize matboard by nesting smaller mats within larger mats when cutting. The user has full control on placement and orientation of the openings to be cut.

Nesting can be accessed through the Cut Preview Screen of the MatDesigner software. You will be prompted to save the current mat before the software brings it into the Nesting application.

File

New Layout

Click to start a new layout from scratch. If you currently have a design on the screen, you will be prompted to save it if it is not currently saved.

Add Mat

Click to add a saved mat to the current design.

Save Cut File

Click to save the cut file. Note that this saves the design as a Path. If you wish to be able to edit the layout, save it as a layout.

Save Layout

Click to save the layout. This layout can be loaded, edited and cut at a future time.

Open Layout

Click to open a previously saved layout to edit or cut.

Exit

Click to exit the application.

Edit

Select All

Click to select all of the entities on the Editor.

Select None

Click to unselect all of the entities on the Editor.

Copy

Click to copy the current selection.

Paste

Click to paste the currently copied selection.

Delete

Click to delete the current selection.

Rotate Selection

Click to rotate the current selection 90° Clockwise.

Each Sheet # Tab represents a layer of matboard. Loading a two layer design will put the top layer on Sheet 1, the next layer on Sheet 2, etc. You can edit the layout individually on each Sheet.

Click this button to add a new sheet to the layout on which you can add other openings, other layers, or cut as a new color of matboard.

Enter the width and height of the overall sheet of matboard you will be using. Click Sizes to select from Recent or Standard Sizes. Swap switches numbers between width and height. If you change the size of the matboard, it will be changed globally between all of the Sheets.

Cut the Outside

Click to cut the outside.

Cut from Front

Click to cut the sheet from the front. If you select to Cut from Front, it will be selected globally between all of the Sheets.

Use 90° Outsides

Click to cut the Outside with the 90° Cartridge. If you do not have this option, this feature may be grayed out/hidden.

Left

Distance from the left side of the mat. This is the literal left side of the screen, and is not dependent upon whether cutting from the back or the front.

Bottom

Distance from the bottom side of the mat.

Snap Grid

Enter the numerical distance you wish to move entities when using the arrow keys. The arrow key will round to the nearest n then move in the numerical increments specified.

Click to bring the current layout to the Cut Preview Screen to cut.

Click to add a saved mat to the current layout. In the Load Saved Mat screen, the Status Bar will report size information about the currently selected mat. There is a drop-down Layer button that allows you to select only a specific layer of a mat, or all layers. Click OK to load the mat.

Click to rotate the current selection 90° Clockwise.

Click to delete the current selection.

Click on the individual mats on the Sheet Editor to select it.

The filename and current layer number (if applicable) will be displayed on the Status Bar.

If you decide you want to cut the currently selected mat on a different sheet, simply Click and drag it to the desired Sheet Tab, then position as desired.