VMP
Curve Fundamentals
To obtain the best results when using curves in VinylMaster Pro you must have an understanding of how VMP Curves function in the program. These curves are made up of vectors i.e. a starting point with a direction (i.e. an arrow) that when combined together with a mathematical equation create a curve, these curves are then further combined together to create a shape, text or logo
etc.
Curve Order (Direction)
Curves must travel in a certain direction from their starting point. This being either clockwise or anticlockwise. When a curve has been closed i.e. forms a solid shape, like a circle or square without any openings, this direction specifies whether the curve (shape) is a hole or a solid i.e. as in the letter
'O' the outside curve (shape) is solid and is a curve traveling in a clockwise direction, however the inside curve (shape) is a hole and is a curve traveling in an anticlockwise direction.
The direction of a curve is not normally displayed as it would become to confusing for day to day applications. However to view a curve’s direction, it can be loaded into the Welding Module where the curves can be viewed by direction.
1. Clockwise Curves - Curves that run in a clockwise direction and are colored Blue.
2. Anticlockwise Curves - Curves that run in an anticlockwise direction and are colored Red.
With Blue representing a solid curve (shape) and Red representing a hole or empty curve (shape), as shown below.
The direction of curves that form shapes is important to know especially when attempting to weld these to other shapes; as the results can be quite unexpected if the original direction is unknown, this subject is discussed in more detail in the Welding module
section of the VMP manual.
If a curve does happen to be traveling in an undesired direction, this can be changed by clicking on the
'Reverse Order' button when a curve
shape is selected in VMP, which automatically turns a solid into a hole, or a hole into a solid. This can also be done for combined curves by clicking on the
'Auto Correct' button also when a curve
shape is selected in VMP. Note, this tool affects all selected curves and corrects the object as a whole.
Breaking Curves Apart
Shapes that are already made up of curves are quite often combined. What this means is that the program recognizes a group of curves as one curve, like in the example of the
'O', the outside and inside curves are combined so that when resizing, welding or changing color etc. the
'O' remains as one curve object rather than two, this is done so that the holes remain transparent (see through).
This is usually desired by the operator, however when creating or modifying a logo or shape etc. you may wish to have the individual curves available for node editing etc. This can be done by clicking on the
'Break Apart' button when a curve shape
is selected in VMP.
Curves can also be combined together by selecting them in
'Object Mode', then going up and clicking on the VinylMaster Pro
'Curve Edit' menu, and going down and clicking on
'Combine Curves', which will automatically combine the selected curves together.
When
I bring in clipart from another program
it comes in all wrong?
Either check 'Auto Fix Holes' in the
Import Module of VMP or select the
artwork and click on the 'Auto-Fix'
button along the top row of tools in
VMP. This can also be done in the
Welding Module.
I
click on Auto-Fix and it's still not
right?
Check that there aren't exact copies of
the same curves on top of themselves and
that the curves are closed (solid) not
open lines. Also try working in
wireframe mode (F9 on your keyboard).
Move Curves off each other to view all
the curves in the job - you can also
select individual curves by color by
clicking on 'Select By Color' along the
top row of tools in VMP when nothing is
selected.
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