Layout Mode

Overview: What's a Layout Image? =

A Layout Image contains the final version of your selected pattern pieces as they appear in Details Mode. It does not include internal hatch marks, points, or point labels.
The 'paper size' of the Layout Image is NOT the paper size in your printer's paper tray.
The 'paper size' is whatever paper has a width larger than your largest pattern piece, and where width x length can hold all your pattern pieces.
The 'paper size' creates the solid background of the Layout Image, and your pattern pieces will be placed within it's borders.

You can create a Layout Image on a single large background and print as a Tiled PDF on multiple sheets of smaller paper.
You can create a Layout Image on a single large background and print to large scale printer/plotters on roll paper.
You can create a Layout Image across multiple sheets of paper and print to desktop and large scale printer/plotters on sheet paper.

A Layout Image can be printed:

directly from Valentina
to a single sheet of paper if the paper is large enough to hold the Layout image
across multiple sheets of paper with two methods:
- The Layout image is created as multiple sheets of paper using Layout options.
- The Layout image is created an a single sheet of paper which is larger than your printer's paper. File/Layout/Print as Tiled PDF will print the Layout Image across multiple paper sheets.

Create a Layout Image

Select the Layout Image background size

The first step in creating a layout is to select the size of the background which can hold all of your pattern pieces.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE you select the Layout Image's background from pre-defined sheet paper sizes, roll paper sizes. You can also define your own custom size. The Layout Image's background can be bigger than the size of the paper in your printer. The Layout Image's width must be wide enough to hold your biggest pattern piece (plus your printer's right and left margins). If you select from the sheet paper sizes, you should select the checkbox to combine paper sheets. Combining paper sheets isn't necessary if you select roll paper sizes, or create a custom size which holds all your pattern pieces.

Print a Layout Image

To Print as Tiled PDF

Choose or create a paper size wide enough to hold your biggest pattern piece, and long enough to hold all your pattern pieces (NOT the paper size in your printer tray), and generate the Layout Image.
Select File/Layout/Print as Tiled PDF

For all other printing

Select a Layout Image background size from the paper sizes or create your own paper size.
The background paper size is *NOT USUALLY* the paper size you will print on.
The background paper size is whatever paper has the width larger than your largest pattern piece, and width x length can hold all your pattern pieces. If you select a sheet paper size:

  # If all pattern pieces can't fit on the sheet you've selected, then multiple sheets will be used - this is a good option if you will print your Layout image on this size paper.
  # You can select to unite multiple sheets - this is a good option if you print your Layout image as tiled PDFs onto smaller sheets of paper.

If you select a roll paper size:

  # The width will be the roll paper size
  # The length will adjust as needed

If you create a custom paper size:

  #  Use trial-and-error to find a width and length which will hold your pattern. 
  #  Begin with width and length larger than you need and reduce.

Save a Layout Image

Save as Tiled PDF

Use File/Layout/Save as Tiled PDF to save your Layout Image as a tiled PDF. When you read or print this tiled PDF, your application must import the PDF at 96ppi and the 'Scale to Fit' print option should be de-selected.

For all other saving and exporting

Use File/Layout/Export to save and export the Layout Image to a raster (.png, .jpeg) or vector (.pdf, .hpgl, .eps, .ps, .svg, .dxf) file format.