Pattern

Overview

The Pattern Tool Window shows the properties of a pattern that is selected in the Project View. If multiple patterns are selected, you will see properties that are common/shared by all patterns in the selection. If a property is not common to all patterns, it will be blank. You can still change any property and it will be assigned to all the patterns in the selection.

When no patterns are selected, the Pattern Explorer will display a list of all patterns in the project. You can search for a pattern and there is also a full Right-click context menu available.

Name

Allows you to change the name of the pattern. You are not required to name each pattern.

Copy Constraints

Allow Pattern To Be Nested

If checked, the pattern will be able to be nested.

Rotation Constraints

Rotation allows a pattern’s nested copies to be rotated at an angle. The options are Any Angle, No Rotation, 45°, 90°, and 180° increments. These constraints apply when nesting manually and automatically

Initial Rotation is the rotation a pattern takes when it is initially place on the nest. The options are Zero (the angle you see the pattern in the editor), Current Rotation (the current angle you see in the project screen), and Custom (any angle you set).

Quotas

Quotas will set the number of copies to be nested. The Quota is always enforced when using automatic nesting. The Enforce Quota button only affects manual nesting.

Copies is the number of copies required to make one product or kit. Must be set to at least 1.

Multiplier is the number of products or kits you want to produce. Must be set to at least 1.

Copies Cut will keep track of how many copies of the pattern have been cut. This is especially useful for the HideShot leather cutting plugin.

Material

By checking the Enforce Material button, you will only be able to place copies of that pattern on that specified material. Make sure the material is added to the current project. 

Appearance

Fill Color

Patterns and copies can be filled with the color of your choice.

This makes it easy to color code patterns or copies by type, position, or size. Click on the Modify button to open the Fill Colors dialog.

The fill color can be changed for:

• Pattern (before the copy quota is met)

• Pattern (Quota Met) (when the copy quota is met)

• Copy

On the right, use the dropdown to choose how the color is set. For Pattern and Copy the options are None (Transparent), Grade, Group, and Custom Color. For Pattern (Quota Met) you have the additional choice of Current Material. You also have the option of adding slanted stripes to the fill.

To choose a custom color you can use the sliders and pick a color, enter a hex value, or enter Dec values. There is a collection of preset colors at the bottom. Click on the plus sign to add the current color to the presets. You can also reset the colors to the original settings.

Layout

Location

This is a pattern’s X and Y position in the project window.

Rotation

It is often helpful to rotate patterns in the Project View, for easy recognition. You can rotate a pattern to specific angles by using the Rotation buttons or enter a specific angle in the Rotation field.

Flip

You can flip patterns about a Horizontal or Vertical axis. Note that flipping a pattern is different from flipping a copy. When you flip a pattern, it will appear flipped in the editor and any copies you have added to a nest will be flipped. When you flip a copy, you are not affecting the pattern, only that specific copy. When you flip a copy that includes text, the text will be displayed backwards as an extra indication that the copy has been flipped.

Information

Shows all the specific information of the pattern(s) selected. The units listed will be the units specified in preferences. 

Placement Groups

Placement Groups are a way of grouping patterns together for pickup and sorting. Placement Groups can be created and assigned manually or by our Workflow software. PatternSmith uses them to track patterns from the order process through cutting and then to get each pattern placed into the right kit.

Grades

Grades allows a pattern to be placed in a specific Grade on a hide.

This feature is used only with HideShot.