Trace the Design

Trace the Design

Before Tracing the Design: A Note About Layer Direction

  • Before Tracing the design, take note that the Layer Direction of Bottom Up or Top Down controls how the mat layers are numbered in Trace.

Layer Direction: Top Down

  • The Top mat layer is always displayed at the top of the Layers list.  

  • Layer direction Top Down counts down from the top mat.

  • The Top Mat is labeled Layer 1, and the Next Layer down is labeled Layer 2, and in this example, the Bottom Mat is labeled as Layer 3.

  • 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.

Layer Direction: Bottom Up

  • The Top mat layer is always displayed at the top of the Layers list.  

  • Layer direction Bottom Up counts up from the bottom mat. 

  • The Bottom Mat is labeled Layer 1, and the Next Layer up is labeled Layer 2, and in this example, the Top Mat is labeled Layer 3.

  • 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.

Tracing the Design

  • These directions will walk you through Tracing the design.

Adding Layers

Add Layers as Necessary
  • The Top layer is always displayed at the top of the Layers list. 

  • Select the top layer by clicking on it.

Top Layer is Top of the List

Trace the Top Layer

  • Click on the Outside opening layer to be Traced.

Click Desired Object
Select Bevel Type and Cartridge Type
  • Click the Set button next to the selected Bevel/Cartridge Type.

Click Set Button
  • The object will be Traced with the selected Bevel/Cartridge Type and turn the color of the Bevel/Cartridge Type selected.

Object Will Change Color

Trace the Next Layer

  • Select the next Layer from the layers section by clicking on it.

Select the Next Layer
  • Select the next opening Layer inward to be Traced by clicking on it.

Select the Next Object
  • Since we're going to use the same Bevel Type, we can just click the Set button again next to our selected Bevel/Cartridge Type

  • Optionally, you can select a different Bevel/Cartridge Type then click Set.

Set Button on Desired Bevel and Cartridge Type
  • Both Layers are now Traced.

Both Layers are Traced

Save the Design

Save the Design

Default Settings