Project Window

The Project Window is your entry point to all PatternSmith functions. This is where you manage your patterns, and nest copies on the material for cutting. From here, you can also access the Pattern Editor for the creation or modification of patterns.

When you open PatternSmith, begin by clicking on the File Tab at the top left of the ribbon. There you can start a new project, navigate to a file, or open a recent project. A PatternSmith project holds all the patterns required, materials used, and all nested tables that are ready to cut.

The Project Window is split horizontally into the Project View and the Nesting View. Change the relative size of the two views by dragging the splitter bar between them up or down. When you open a file, you will see the patterns shown in the top portion, the Project View. You will be placing copies of the patterns you want to cut on the material shown in the bottom portion of the screen, the Nesting View.

1. Quick Access Toolbar: Shortcut to Undo (Ctrl + Z), Redo (Ctrl + Y), File Open, Save, and Print. You can add or remove items on the Quick Access Toolbar. Right-click on the toolbar to remove or move the toolbar. Right-click on any tool to add it to the toolbar.

2. Ribbon Interface: Gives access to PatternSmith’s functions found on File, Nesting, Patterns, Plugins, Plot/Cut, and View tabs.

3. Project View: All of the patterns included in a project are shown here. You can have multiple projects open. Each project will show at the top of the Project View with its file name.

4. Nest View: This is a “bird’s eye view” of your cutting machine. Here you can manually or automatically nest the copies of patterns to be cut. 

5. Tool Window: The Tool Window includes different windows for the Project and Nest Views. These windows include Toolbox, Tool Pass Priority, Pattern, and Nest.

6. Splitter Bar: Drag this bar to set the relative size of the Project and Nesting Views.

Video showing how to use the splitter bar

7. Status Bar: Provides pattern information, as well as the current size and efficiency of the table you are nesting. 

On This Page