Jewels

Sometimes picture framers work too hard at things - mat decoration cut with the Wizard, for example. What attributes of cut decoration do we regard as important? Intricacy, accents of color, the look of complexity, the illusion of depth… to name a handful. Often, framers turn to Trace to invent unique shapes with these attributes for their designs.

However, we should not overlook a less complicated way to include decoration. The Template Library is full of shapes. Their size, placement, rotation, and number of layers can all be easily manipulated in the design screen without resorting to Trace.

One traditional idea for arranging decorative elements is to place them symmetrically at the sides of an opening. The spacing with the opening will be the same, but the vertical position of the elements allows more placement choices. Tradition suggests that the elements could be positioned somewhere between the bottom corners and the middle of the opening. Placing a Jewel along the bottom is also a subtle way to include a spot of color and interest when cut with an opening.

These designs are meant to be used as the beginnings for projects.

The Jewels contain two layers. When they are merged with the opening, this generates even more cutting intricacy, adding a thin sliver of an elongated shape as part of the second layer.

Open the design you would like to use.

Select the Opening and click the Ungroup Selection button under Tools at the upper right. This separates the merging of the Jewel from the opening.