Lesson Eleven: Starburst

Create a Starburst Design with CutArt
This lesson shows how to Mirror a CutArt to create a Scrolled Starburst design. See Trace Keyboard Shortcuts.

Design Template in FrameShop
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 2.85". 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 CutArt in the Editor
Click on the Openings tab. Click the Add CutArt button.
Select the desired CutArt by either searching for it in the search field or by navigating through the directories. This example uses ScrollAN for the CutArt. Click the Edit button.
The CutArt is placed on the Editor.
Move the CutArt so that it is aligned with the Top of the Star Template. If you accidentally click off of the CutArt and it moves behind the Star, hit the PgUp/PgDn key to cycle through the Openings.

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.

Draw Alignment Lines
We will add some Alignment Lines that we will use to Mirror the CutArt. You can Mirror the CutArt 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.

Mirror the CutArt
Click on the Edit radio button. Hold down the CTRL key and click on both the Inner and the Outside of the CutArt. 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 CutArt has been Mirrored using the Line we drew as the axis.
Hold down the CTRL key and select the elements of the next CutArt. Click the Mirror button. Right-Click at each end of the Alignment Line.
The CutArt as been Mirrored using the Line we drew as the axis.
Repeat the process. Select all of the Objects of the next CutArt, click the Mirror button, then Snap to each end of the Alignment Line.
The CutArt has been Mirrored all the way around the design.

Break all Intersections
Now we want to Break All of the Intersections where the Lines and Arcs pass over the other Lines/Arcs. 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 outside of the design. Hold down the CTRL key and click on the Left Side of the Top CutArt. Click on the Arcs just outside of the Polygon. Click on the Right Side of the Top CutArt.
Continue in this manner until you have selected all of the Elements that make up the outside of the design. Click the Join button. The segments are now Joined together as one object. Join Tool Definition The Join button will connect the selected segments together as one object in Trace. Full Definition: Join Tool Definition
Zoom in to the Center of the design. If you click on one of the Inner Openings, you will see that it is not a complete enclosed object since we Broke the Intersections where the Arcs crossed one another. Click on one of the Inner Openings and click the Close button. The Inner Openings is now an enclosed entity. Close Tool Definition The Close tool will connect the remaining open Segment of an object to complete the Circuit in Trace. Full Definition: Close Tool Definition
Do the same with the other Inner Openings to enclose them one at a time (highlighted here).
Hold down the CTRL key and click on each inner Arc of the combined CutArts. Click the Join button.
The Arcs are now Joined together as one object.

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 of the design containing any angles below the specified degree in the Tangent Threshold field.
- Full Definition: Tangify All Circuits Definition

Trace the Design

Click the Set Bevels tab.
Hold down the CTRL key and click on each segment that makes up the CutArt.
From the Deboss dropdown control, select the desired Deboss Cartridge.
Click on the Deboss Set button.

The CutArt is traced as a Deboss.

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.

Deboss Cartridge

The Deboss cartridge stylus presses onto the surface of the matboard to create a subtle design.
There are three Deboss stylus sizes: Wide, Medium, Thin.
In addition to Template Shapes, you can also Deboss CutArts, LetterMats and TTFs.

Rotate the CutArt

Now we want to Rotate the CutArt to be more symmetrically balanced.
Select one of the two choices below to continue this lesson:

Rotation of Objects in Trace

The Rotate function rotates the selected object(s) around an axis or center by the specified number of degrees in Trace.
- Full Definition: Rotation of Objects in Trace Definition

Rotation of Objects in the Design Editor

The Rotation function in the Design Editor is the action of rotating the selected object(s) around an axis or center by the specified number of degrees.

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

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Lesson Eleven: Starburst

Create a Starburst Design with CutArt

Design Template in FrameShop

Place a CutArt in the Editor

Bring Design into Trace

Draw Alignment Lines

Mirror the CutArt

Break all Intersections

Join Segments

Convert to Splines/Tangify

Trace the Design

Rotate the CutArt

Related Links

Default Settings