UserManual:Measurements

Standard measurements

Standard measurements tables contain sizing information which Valentina uses to calculate body measurements for standard-sized figures. Important to keep in mind that for the calculations to work, the body measurements must grow proportionately from size to size. However, different segments of the population (e.g. infants, children, misses, men, etc.) grow in different proportions. Therefore, you must provide a separate table for each segment of the population that you want to target.

Usually multi-size standard tables provide a lot statistical data that hard to describe and use just using with one column in individual measurement file. Instead, you provide measurements for a default standard figure and allow Valentina to calculate the rest. To designate the default standard figure, specify a base size and a base height for your standard measurements table. Two values, size and height, uniquely identify standard-sized figures.

By size we usually understand value of chest measurement. According to our internal system of names it is measurement G04 - Bust circumference (bustcirc). See page Measurements.

Height values grow in 6 cm and increments are limited to the values listed below.
Height (cm): 50, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80, 86, 92, 98, 104, 110, 116, 122, 128, 134, 140, 146, 152, 158, 164, 170, 176, 182, 188.

Size values grow in 2 cm and increments are limited to the values listed below.
Size (cm): 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56.

The format support values described in two units: centimeters and millimeters. Inches doesn't supported. Convert values described above to millimeters to get appropriate values if you use millimeters in your your table.

Usually process creating file with standard tables require specifying a base size and a base height and units. Then, specifying a base value for each measurement. In other words column for these size and height you selected as a base. To enable Valentina to generate measurements for other size-height combinations, you must provide a size_increase and a height_increase for each measurement. The size_increase is the amount Valentina will add/subtract to the measurement's base value for every step up/down in size. Likewise, the height_increase is the amount Valentina will add/subtract to the measurement's base value for every step up/down in height.

Let's take a look on some examples to understand how it will work.

Here is an example of how Valentina would calculate a measurement after a new size and height combination has been selected.

distance_between_consecutive_sizes = 20 mm 
distance_between_consecutive_heights = 60 mm

// Base values for a table:    
base_size = 500 mm    
base_height = 1760 mm

// waist girth:     
base_value = 780 mm 
size_increase = 40 mm
height_increase = 0 mm

// Change size and height:
new_size = 560 mm
new_height = 1880 mm

// Calculate the number of steps to go from the base size to the new size.
size_coefficient   = ( new_size - base_size ) / distance_between_consecutive_sizes
                   = ( 560 - 500 ) / 20 = 3

// Calculate the number of steps to go from the base height to the new height.
height_coefficient = ( new_height - base_height ) / distance_between_consecutive_heights
                   = ( 1880 - 1760 ) / 60 = 2

new_measurement_value = base_value + size_coefficient * size_increase + height_coefficient * height_increase

// Calculate new measurement value for waist girth:
new_waist_girth = 780 + 3 * 40 + 2 * 0 = 900 mm

Let's look at more simpler example

Here we see a table that have correlation between measurements in different heights. The next thing what we need to do to continue work with it is to designate base size and base height. In this example we will take size (chest measurement) 50 and height 80. All measurements from column height 80 are now our base values. The next thing is to calculate values size_increase and height_increase for each measurement separately. In this example the table provides changes only for heights. So, size_increase will be always equal to 0. The last thing to is to find values height_increase. We will provide you with several example for better understanding.

chest = 50, 52, 54 = 2. 50 + 2 = 52. 52 + 2 = 54.
waist = 47, 49, 51 = 2.
shoulder = 6.2, 6.6, 7 = 0.4.
body rise = 14.1, 14.9, 15.7 = 0.8.

Using measurements

To use measurements it should be linked to pattern file. By default each new pattern file doesn't connected to any measurements. To understand current state take a look at window title. It will have measurement file inside '[' ']' if one was connected to pattern. For example like this: pattern.val [measurements.vit]. Alternatively you can use menu Pattern piece -> Pattern properties.

To create measurement file use Tape app.

To link new measurements use menu Measurements -> Load Individual ... or Measurements -> Load Standard ... .

Individual measurements

Files containing individual measurements end with suffix .vit.

Standard measurements

Files containing standard measurements end with suffix .vst (Valentina standard table). These files must reside in a specific folder for Valentina to find them. Order show where Valentina will first look.

• For Unix(Linux):

1. [path to valentina binary]/tables/standard
2. /home/[user name]/.valentina/tables/standard
3. /usr/share/valentina/tables/standard

• OS X:

1. [path to valentina bundle]/Resources/tables/standard
2. [path to valentina bundle]/tables/standard
3. /home/[user name]/.valentina/tables/standard
4. /usr/share/valentina/tables/standard

• Windows:

1. [folder where valentina.exe resides]/tables/standard

Paths mentioned above can be rewrited by settings. See page UserManual:Configuring Valentina

If a pattern was connected to standard measurements to determine which standard figure is currently associated with your pattern, look at the values of size and height displayed on the bottom left of the main window. You may modify these values independently using the corresponding drop down lists.