Lesson Eight: Fancy Corners

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. See Trace Keyboard Shortcuts.
This also displays how to make an alternative design.

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 8 x 10" #101 Rectangle Template on the FrameShop Design Editor. Right-Click on the opening and select New Guide from Other. Templates Definition Templates are specialized parametric shape generators created by Wizard that can be cut or applied with the non-blade cartridges. Full Definition: Templates Definition Guide A Guide is a Red Line marker which is used as a reference to align and position objects on the design. Full Definition: Guide Definition
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.

Add CutArt
On the Openings tab, click the Add CutArt button. CutArt™ Definition CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard that can be added to any of your designs. Full Definition: CutArt™ Definition
On the Browse Content screen, select the desired CutArt and click the Select button.
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.

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 the Opening and the CutArt before selecting Convert to CutArt.

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.

Line Tool Definition

The Line tool will draw a Two-Point Line in Trace.
- Full Definition: Line Tool Definition

Break all Intersections
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 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. Join Tool Definition The Join button will connect the selected segments together as one object in Trace. Full Definition: Join Tool Definition
The segments are Joined together to create a single object, highlighted in Red.
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.
The segments are Joined together to create a single object, highlighted in Red.

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.
The unwanted Lines are deleted.
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.
The unwanted Lines are deleted.

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 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
Click the Dynamic Outsides button if you don't see all of the design. 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. Full Definition: Dynamic Outsides Definition
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.
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.
The Reference Lines are deleted.

Auto Join Segments
We want to Join the segments in the design so that we can Trace it. Click Edit > Auto Join Segments. The segments are now connected as Joined objects. 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

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.

Click on the Set Bevels tab.
Click on the Top Layer which is displayed topmost of the Layer List.
Click on the outer shape to select it.
Click on the 45° V-Groove Set button.

The Outer object is Traced as a V-Groove.

45 Degree Front Normal Bevel Closed V-Groove

A 45° Front Normal Bevel Closed V-Groove involves two symmetrical cuts: one in the matboard and a corresponding cut in the fallout, both forming a mirrored arrangement.
The matboard is cut halfway through its thickness, revealing the core from the front.

Full Definition: 45 Degree Front Normal Bevel Closed V-Groove Definition

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

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.

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 Fancy Corners design is completed with a ornamental opening and a decorative V-Groove around it.

CutArt™ Definition

CutArt™ are simple shapes and design elements created by Wizard that can be added to any of your designs.
- Full Definition: CutArt™ Definition

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 Fancy Corners 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.

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:

Default Settings
Layer Direction: Application Default Setting

Search

Click here to check out our new How To section">Click here to check out our new How To section

Lesson Eight: Fancy Corners

Create a Fancy Corner Mat

Design in FrameShop then Bring into Trace

Add CutArt

Bring Design into Trace

Draw Reference Lines

Break all Intersections

Join Segments

Delete Unwanted Lines

Mirror Corners

Delete the Reference Lines

Auto Join Segments

Trace the Design

Delete Unused Layer

Save, Cut

Optional Design

Comparison

Default Settings