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.

Place an 8.75 x 11.75 #102 Oval Template with two layers on the FrameShop Design Editor. 

Bring in two small ovals that are 3x5.

Edit the small ovals and make them four layers.

• Width of the inner reveal is how much of the inner mat shows (i.e., .25).

• Width of the middle reveal is the width of the bridge between the two objects (i.e., .5).

• Outer reveal is the inner mat of the bridge on the large object side (i.e., .25).

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 each of the openings before selecting Convert to CutArt. 

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.

The design has been exploded and consists of many tiny arcs. Zoom in/out as needed to select the smaller arcs.

Holding down the CTRL key, click on each segment that is forming the inner layer of the lower oval in the order they are sitting.

When the oval is completely selected, click Join.

The oval is now a connected singular object.

Connect the arcs making up the next 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 next 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 next layer of the large oval in the same manner.

The ovals are now 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. The leftover arcs are deleted here for illustration purposes.

Click Edit > Tangify all Circuits.

Click Edit > Convert Arcs to Splines.

Go to the Set Bevels Tab.

Select and delete two of the layers by clicking Remove.

The two layers we will trace this design on will remain.

Trace, save and cut the design.

You can see how much we changed the design when you compare it to the original version.