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Create a Fancy Corner Mat

  • This lesson shows how to combine a CutArt into the corners of a Template design to make fancy corners with a fancy V-Groove around it.

 CutArt Definition

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and resized and rotated. They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

 Template 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.

 V-Groove Definition

A Normal Bevel Closed V-Groove consists of two cuts - one in the Matboard and one in the Fallout, mirroring each other. They are cut Halfway through the matboard, revealing the Matboard Core.

The Normal Bevel is when the Angle of the blade cuts the Matboard/Fallout surface so it Slants Away from the surface of the Matboard/Fallout, and the Matboard Core is Seen from the front.

  • This also displays how to make an alternative design.

Design in FrameShop then Bring into Trace

 Template 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.

 Guide Definition

A Guide is a visual line marker which helps direct the motion or positioning of objects.

The sides and centers of Objects can snap to the Guide Lines.

  • On the Add Other Guide screen, click the checkboxes for Add at Top and Add at Left .

  • Enter 3/4" for each value.

  • Click the OK button.

  • The Guides are placed. 

 Guide Definition

A Guide is a visual line marker which helps direct the motion or positioning of objects.

The sides and centers of Objects can snap to the Guide Lines.

Add CutArt

 CutArt Definition

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and resized and rotated. They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

  • On the Browse Content screen, select the desired CutArt and click the Select button.

 CutArt Definition

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and resized and rotated. They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

  • Click on the Properties tab.

  • Change the CutArt size to 2x2" or to the desired Size.

  • Move the CutArt to the Upper Left Corner and Snap it to the two Guide Lines we placed earlier.

 CutArt Definition

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and resized and rotated. They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

 Guide Definition

A Guide is a visual line marker which helps direct the motion or positioning of objects.

The sides and centers of Objects can snap to the Guide Lines.

Bring Design into Trace

 CutArt Definition

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and resized and rotated. They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

Draw Reference Lines

  • We will create and use Reference Lines to Mirror our corner design.

  • Click on the Line button on the Trace and Draw tab.

  • Right-Click on the Center Point of the Top Outside Line.

  • Right-Click on the Center Point of the Bottom Outside Line. The Vertical Reference Line is drawn.

  • Right-Click on the Center Point of the Left Outside Line.

  • Right-Click on the Center Point of the Right Outside Line. The Horizontal Reference Line is drawn.

  • We could place Guide Lines again at the Center of the mat.

  • Drawing them manually allows you to select the Center of the Opening, which might not be at the same position of the Center of the Mat, especially if the Opening has been moved.

 Guide Definition

A Guide is a visual line marker which helps direct the motion or positioning of objects.

The sides and centers of Objects can snap to the Guide Lines.

Break all Intersections

 Break Definition

The Break tool is used to Bisect the selected segments at the points where they Intersect in the Trace software.

The Break All Intersections function bisect ALL segments in the design at the points where they intersect with another segment in the Trace software.

  • The Intersections are now broken where each element crossed over each other.

Join Segments

  • Click the Edit radio button.

  • Hold down the CTRL key and click on each segment making up the Upper Left-Hand Inner Quadrant, highlighted in Red. 

  • Zoom In if it makes it easier to select the Lines.

  • Click the Join button.

 Line Definition

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

The Line is defined by two points: the Initial Position and the Terminating Position (which are called “anchors”).

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

 Join Definition

The Join button will connect the selected segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join adjacent segments together in Trace.

  • The segments are Joined together to create a single object, highlighted in Red.

 Join Definition

The Join button will connect the selected segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join adjacent segments together in Trace.

  • Now we’ll do the Outside Quadrant.

  • Hold down the CTRL key and click on each segment making up the Upper Left-Hand Outer Quadrant, highlighted in Red.

  • Click the Join button.

 Join Definition

The Join button will connect the selected segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join adjacent segments together in Trace.

  • The segments are Joined together to create a single object, highlighted in Red.

 Join Definition

The Join button will connect the selected segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join adjacent segments together in Trace.

Delete Unwanted Lines

  • Hold down the CTRL key and click on each of the unwanted Lines in the Upper Left-Hand section, highlighted in Red.

  • Click the Delete button.

 Line Definition

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

The Line is defined by two points: the Initial Position and the Terminating Position (which are called “anchors”).

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

  • The unwanted Lines are deleted.

 Line Definition

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

The Line is defined by two points: the Initial Position and the Terminating Position (which are called “anchors”).

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

  • Zoom Out if necessary, and hold down the CTRL key and click each of the Lines that make up the original rectangle.

    • Take care not to select any of the Reference Lines.

  • Hit the Delete button.

 Line Definition

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

The Line is defined by two points: the Initial Position and the Terminating Position (which are called “anchors”).

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

  • The unwanted Lines are deleted.

 Lines Definition

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

The Line is defined by two points: the Initial Position and the Terminating Position (which are called “anchors”).

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

Mirror Corners

  • Hold down the CTRL key and click on the Interior and Exterior of our new Corner to select them.

  • Click on the Mirror button.

  • Now we will draw the line that we will Mirror the selected objects along. 

  • Right-click on the Top of the Vertical Line.

  • Move the cursor and Right-click on the Bottom of the Vertical Line. 

 Mirror Definition

The Mirror function will create a mirror copy of the selected object along a selected axis in Trace and Visualize.

 Line Definition

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

The Line is defined by two points: the Initial Position and the Terminating Position (which are called “anchors”).

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

  • The corner will be Mirrored Horizontally. 

 Dynamic Outsides

The Dynamic Outsides feature adds the Border Size to the Bounding Rectangle of the current Group of Openings, adjusting the Outside Size as necessary in Designer and Visualize.

 Mirror Definition

The Mirror function will create a mirror copy of the selected object along a selected axis in Trace and Visualize.

  • Now we’ll Mirror it Vertically.

  • Hold down the CTRL key and click on the Interior and Exterior of both of the Upper Corners to select them.

  • Click on the Mirror button.

  • Now we will draw the Line that we will Mirror the selected objects along.

  • Right-click on the Left of the Horizontal Line.

  • Move the cursor and Right-Click on the Right of the Horizontal Line. 

 Mirror Definition

The Mirror function will create a mirror copy of the selected object along a selected axis in Trace and Visualize.

  • The corners will be Mirrored Vertically. 

Delete the Reference Lines

  • Hold down the CTRL key and click on each of the Reference Lines to select them.

    • You may need to Zoom In to select the small Lines between the layers.

  • Click on the Delete button.

 Lines Definition

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

The Line is defined by two points: the Initial Position and the Terminating Position (which are called “anchors”).

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

  • The Reference Lines are deleted.

Auto Join Segments

  • We want to Join the segments in the design so that we can Trace it.

 Join Definition

The Join button will connect the selected segments together as one object in Trace. 

The Auto Join Segments button will automatically join adjacent segments together in Trace.

 Trace Definition

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

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

Trace the Design

  • We didn't make any changes to the CutArt itself that would require us to retangify the Arcs (such as moving a point), so there is no need to Tangify it or Convert Arcs to Splines.

  • The Outer object is Traced as a V-Groove.

 Bevel Type Definition

The Bevel Type is the Angle that the blade cuts on the Matboard/Fallout surface when it is not cut at a 90° Right Angle.

 Tangify Definition

The Tangify function will smooth the connection between the Selected Arc Circuits that are below the specified Angle in the Tangify field to provide a smoother cutting transition between the arcs. 

The Tangify All Circuits will smooth the connection between All of the Arc Circuits that are below the specified Angle in the Tangify field to provide a smoother cutting transition between the arcs. 

 Convert Arcs to Splines

Click Edit > Convert Arc to Splines to convert the Arcs into Bezier Splines. Splines can be Tangified with less distortion, which will give a smoother cutting path for the design in Trace. 

Splines are easier to handle in the software than Arcs for tangification and the conversion process when going to the Cut Preview.

Arcs are still provided in the software for those that prefer to draw with them, but the Convert Arc to Splines process will convert them to Splines for software simplification purposes.

 Trace Definition

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

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

  • Stay on the Top Layer. 

  • Click on the Inner Object to select it.

  • Click on the 45° Bevel Set button. 

  • The inner object is Traced as a 45° Opening.

 Traced Definition

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

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

 Bevel Type Definition

The Bevel Type is the Angle that the blade cuts on the Matboard/Fallout surface when it is not cut at a 90° Right Angle.

Delete Unused Layer

  • Click on the unused Layer to select it.

  • Click the Remove button.

  • The unused Layer is removed.

Save, Cut

  • Save the CutArt. You may get a message stating that this design contains objects that do not have an assigned bevel type. This refers to any leftover arcs and lines 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 Stained Glass design is completed with a fancy opening and a fancy V-Groove around it.

 Traced Definition

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

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

 CutArt Definition

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and resized and rotated. They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

 V-Groove Definition

A Normal Bevel Closed V-Groove consists of two cuts - one in the Matboard and one in the Fallout, mirroring each other. They are cut Halfway through the matboard, revealing the Matboard Core.

The Normal Bevel is when the Angle of the blade cuts the Matboard/Fallout surface so it Slants Away from the surface of the Matboard/Fallout, and the Matboard Core is Seen from the front.

Optional Design

  • You can achieve a completely different look by Tracing the same design differently.

  • Add a layer in the Layers section for each layer of matboard you want to trace. 

  • Trace the V-Groove layer as the Top Layer opening.

  • Trace the original opening layer as the Bottom Layer.

  • Now the optional Stained Glass design is completed as a two layer mat with fancy corners.

  • Save the CutArt.

  • Load the CutArt.

  • Cut the CutArt.

  • Optionally, you can also bring the CutArt straight to the Cut Preview from Trace.

 V-Groove Definition

A Normal Bevel Closed V-Groove consists of two cuts - one in the Matboard and one in the Fallout, mirroring each other. They are cut Halfway through the matboard, revealing the Matboard Core.

The Normal Bevel is when the Angle of the blade cuts the Matboard/Fallout surface so it Slants Away from the surface of the Matboard/Fallout, and the Matboard Core is Seen from the front.

 CutArt Definition

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard.

CutArts can be applied to your current design and resized and rotated. They can be Cut, Debossed, Penned or cut on Vinyl.

 Trace Definition

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

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

Comparison

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

Traced as a top layer V-Groove:

Traced as a two layer mat:

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