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Drawing a Curve

  • Click the Curve button.

  • Click to place the four points of the Curve:

    • Start Point

    • Middle Point 1

    • Middle Point 2

    • End Point

 How to Snap to Control Points When Drawing

Left-Click sets the Point under the Cursor.

Right-Click Snaps to the nearest Point.

 Curve Tool Definition

The Curve function allows you to draw a four-point mathematically defined Bezier/Spline Curve in the Trace software.

The Bezier/Spline Curve is defined by four points: Initial Position (called an Anchor), Two Separate Middle Points (called Handles) which can be moved to alter the shape, and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor)

The Convert Arc to Splines process will convert any Arcs to Splines/Curves which are easier to tangify to make cuts smoother.

See: Arc Definition

See: Arcs Tool Function

See: Splines Definition

See: Splines Tool Function

See: Convert Arc to Splines Function

Continuous Drawing

 How to Draw Continuously

Toggle on Continuous Drawing under Options to continue drawing until you select another tool or hit the Esc key.

Auto Align Circuits

 Using the Auto Align Circuits Function

Auto Align Circuits can be selected under Options.

This will display Blue Highlights (lines or circles) when the cursor is aligned with another Control Point, Center Point or End Point of another object on the design as you are drawing or moving objects. 

This can aid when drawing/moving if you need it to be aligned with other objects in the design.

If it is too distracting, this can toggled off under Options.

 Auto Alignment Definition

The Auto Alignment function displays blue alignment lines as you move an object and it lines up to another object in Designer, Trace and Nesting, making aligning openings easier.

This can be toggled on/off in the Options menu for Designer and Trace.

See: Options Menu in Designer

See: Options Menu in Trace

Converting Arcs to Splines

 How to 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.

 Arc Definition

The Arc tool allows you to draw a three-point mathematically defined arc in the Trace software.

The Arc has three points: Initial Position (called an Anchor), Middle Point (called a Handle) which can be moved to change the shape of the Arc, and Terminating Position (called an Anchor).

The Convert Arc to Splines process will convert the Arcs to Splines which are easier to tangify to make cuts smoother.

See: Arc Tool in Trace

See: Arc Tool Definition 

See: Splines Definition

See: Convert Arc to Splines Function

 Splines Definition

The Curve function allows you to draw a four-point mathematically defined Bezier/Spline Curve in the Trace software.

The Bezier/Spline Curve is defined by four points: Initial Position (called an Anchor), Two Separate Middle Points (called Handles) which can be moved to alter the shape, and the Terminating Position (called an Anchor)

The Convert Arc to Splines process will convert any Arcs to Splines/Curves which are easier to tangify to make cuts smoother.

See: Arc Definition

See: Arcs Tool Function

See: Splines Definition

See: Splines Tool Function

See: Convert Arc to Splines Function

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