Path Trace assistance please

[DawnStendin]

Hi,
I've been learning path trace in my spare time...Im working on a team logo and was able to easily trace it and send it to the cutter...but, in the cut screen it appears that each part of the design overlaps. Im wondering if I need to make the whole design larger to start with or trace and save each section then resize it in designer. Any thoughts for the novice path tracer?

 

[WizSteve]

Hi Dawn, I think the "overlapping" stuff is from the objects being to close together in the first place.

When it converts the vectors into the cutting format, it has to expand a bit to take into account the bevel width. You can shrink them back down by reducing the opening adjustment config for the bevel type you're cutting (but don't forget to check your overcuts and backups if you do that).

So remember too that you're drawing a line that's the inside of the bevel. On normal 4-ply your bevel width is about a 16th, so if your lines are an 1/8th inch apart or less then it will definitely overlap. Also, the overcuts and backups usually extend farther into the board on the back, so little "peninsulas" of mats tend to fall off if the connection point is too narrow.

You can always just try and cut it and see what happens - sometimes, depending on the scale, it'll look totally whacked-out but cuts like a charm.

 

[DawnStendin]

Thanks Steve,
I'll keep playing with it and tweaking here and there. I appreciate your help.

 

[Uncle Eli]

This brings up a path Trace Criticism I have. It would be really nice if there was some sort of scale gridding that could be in path trace, to alleviate problems like this. So you could know that your lines were 1/8th apart. Now I know that path trace changes the view based on the size image that you import into it, so the programming on this might be a little bit of an undertaking, but it sure would be nice. Especially for us rental customers, and those of us who don't like running through blades, and matboards trying to perfect a complex cut.

 

[DawnStendin]

Thanks for the help...got the logo done and moved on to the next big project...someones face! Wow! I feel so grown up now!

 

[Dave]

OK ...question out of ignorance.

Does Path Trace come with the Wizard software or is it a free download or do you have to shuck out some bucks for it?



My Wizard is coming in a few weeks.



Also ...do you who have the Wizard use the same computer for FrameReady or other POS software or do you keep it dedicated? If so, why?

 

[WizSteve]

Yeah, PathTrace comes with your Wizard. It'll run stand-alone, or you can even start a design in MatDesigner and then take it straight into PathTrace to tweak it.

And to answer your other question about the computer, do you really want to run your POS and the mat cutter on the same computer? Usually the Wizard's working out in the back and your POS is accessible on your front counter, and I would hazard a guess that 99.9% of shops with a POS and CMC do that.

If you're a one-person shop in a tiny space, then I could see you might get away with it. There's no real technical limitation, its just a matter of efficiency and convenience..

 

[WizSteve]

This brings up a path Trace Criticism I have. It would be really nice if there was some sort of scale gridding that could be in path trace, to alleviate problems like this. So you could know that your lines were 1/8th apart. Now I know that path trace changes the view based on the size image that you import into it, so the programming on this might be a little bit of an undertaking, but it sure would be nice. Especially for us rental customers, and those of us who don't like running through blades, and matboards trying to perfect a complex cut.

I agree, that would be nice to know, so I've added that as a feature request.. we bantered about with a few other ideas as well, such as a "flight check", but there's so many unknowns - like what kind of board you intend to cut it on for example.

Adding some kind of measuring feature in PathTrace - via a grid or ruler or tape measure like MatDesigner - though is on the list...

 

[DawnStendin]

Dave, I run my pos on my wizard computer... I have the wizard out front so people can see it and it sparks ideas. I like having all that in one place..but depends how your shop is set up. Congrats on your new wizard...you will love it.

 

[Uncle Eli]

I agree, that would be nice to know, so I've added that as a feature request.. we bantered about with a few other ideas as well, such as a "flight check", but there's so many unknowns - like what kind of board you intend to cut it on for example.

Adding some kind of measuring feature in PathTrace - via a grid or ruler or tape measure like MatDesigner - though is on the list...

Flight Check?

As far as the type of boards one intends to cut, couldn't there be a few standards put into the software? ie: all bainbridge suedes. . . All crecent suedes. . . All artique acid free paper. . .

 

[WizSteve]

Flight Check?

I actually stole that from the printing / graphic design industry. There's a program called Flight Check that designers / desktop publishers use (or used to use, this was a while ago) that will profile their files to make sure they will be readable by most service bureaus.. so a flight check for custom design work would make sure that the overcuts, radii, angles, etc. etc. are all in tolerance for the model of machine going to cut it. Something like that. But unfortunately it won't replace trial-and-error anytime soon.

As far as the type of boards one intends to cut, couldn't there be a few standards put into the software? ie: all bainbridge suedes. . . All crecent suedes. . . All artique acid free paper. . .

Sure, we're calling it Integrated Framer Suite - Retail Management. If the Wizard software on the CMC is connected to our new POS frameshop software it will "know" exactly what board you're cutting and all the benefits that go with it.

 

[Uncle Eli]

Sure, we're calling it Integrated Framer Suite - Retail Management. If the Wizard software on the CMC is connected to our new POS frameshop software it will "know" exactly what board you're cutting and all the benefits that go with it.

well, if you can write that into the program, then you can write an update for the current version of mat designer that will do the same thing. Right?