UserManual:Creating Layouts

Before you will be able to export or print pattern you should create a layout. Valentina supports the automatic creation of layouts. The most common mistake users do is to think that a layout creation has something to do with printing. No, printing (and export) is separate steps that proceed after you create a layout.

Valentina's Layout generator was not designed to create a fabric layout. It doesn't obey grainline. Right now you can use it only for preparing workpieces for export or printing.

To create a layout you must pass at least one workpiece to Layout generator. If you have at least one workpiece, but still can't start creating because Valentina doesn't see any please check if at least one is selected in section Group. This section control which workpieces will be passed to Layout generator the next time. To begin creating switch to the Layout mode. If there is no previously rendered layout then Valentina will automatically show you a dialog with options.

Layout options

Paper format

This is a dropdown box from which you can choose the format of the paper size used by the Layout generator. As was mentioned previously this has nothing to do with your printer or plotter capabilities. The Layout generator will fail to create a layout if at least one workpiece can't be arranged.

The common recommendation in this case is to select a paper size big enough to arrange the biggest workpiece in pattern.

Some words about predefined options you can find in the dropdown list. Valentina exports data with resolution 96 dpi. You should take into account this value if want to export a pattern image and continue work with it. If you cannot find needed size from the list of predefined switch to Custom and edit size manually. Note. First time you will switch to Custom size Valentina will not change previous size values and you will not see difference from previous option. Fields Width and Height help you edit your custom size. Also you can choose between portrait or landscape sizes.

Then there is the section of the printer:

Printer is your printer.

File:Schermafbeelding 2017-04-07 om 14.49.00.png

Fields: They give the border in which the drawing is printed; In a Tiled file are these the places where the lines of the paper cuts or overlap area appear.

You have to choose them wisely; they make the working area of the drawing smaller and that means that the greater thy are, the more paper (space) is needed and the pattern-pieces can get a different lay-out.

For instance this is the result for 0,4230. And this for 0,0000; It looks better but for a tiled file you don't get the overlap and cut area's.

File:Schermafbeelding 2017-04-07 om 14.59.10.png

File:Schermafbeelding 2017-04-07 om 14.59.46.png

Some options need more detailed explanation.

• Rotate workpiece. Help avoid situations with workpieces that have convex shape. Those shapes can't be handled by basic algorithm. Rotation value sets angle value for single workpiece rotation around vertex point. For example: 180 means two rotations by 180 degree each. Numbers of rotations can be calculated from the expression 360/angle_value. Warning. Increasing rotation number will increase time for searching best position for workpiece.
• Layout width. Width of space around workpiece, ie, layout allowance. To calculate width between two workpieces multiply current value by 2.
• Shift length. Shift length value helps create additional points on workpieces edge. If length of edge is less than shift program then the left edge is untouched. These additional points Valentina uses for moving workpiece along contour edge. The more points on an edge the more chance to find best position. Warning. Sub-optimal length (too small) will increase time for searching best position for workpiece.

All calculation program do in pixels.

1. Create or open file that already have workpieces.
2. Click on button Create Layout  or select File->Export pattern (layout).
3. Click on button  and set creation options.
4. Click OK for start generation.
5. Wait until generation finished.