Chapter 6: MTM Frames

MTM Frames are specification lines (like front and back neck width, shoulder width, back width, chest circumference, hem, hip...) and segments (neckline, sleeve cap curves, armholes curves...) for user to defined the measures of the pattern pieces; Enter measure items in the Frames sidebar window. User can link the frame segments and the measurement items through the specific formula; if a frame segment line or a measurement item is changed, then associated frame segment or measurement item will also be changed.

Users can also export frames.txt file for applying in other applications. Moreover, user can save the measures of all sizes into a frame.txt file, then import the file into the corresponding pattern file to finish grading at once.

備註

MTM is abbreviation of Make To Measure.

Preparation for Setting Frames & Frames Interface Switch

Before setting frames

Before setting frames, user needs to draw the pattern piece and set clone pieces. When user sets frames on the plan pieces, the frames also appear on the corresponding clone pieces.

Frames Interface Switch

To make frames, user needs to open the frames interface first.

How to open the frame interface:

Click Menu [View] - [Frame View], the pattern drawing interface is switched to frame interface:

備註

Go back to the menu, you can see a tick appear before the item .

Click Menu [View]-[Show Widget]-[Frames] to open the Frames floating window to the sidebar of the application window:

How to go back to the pattern drawing interface from frame interface:

Click Menu [View]-[Frame View], it goes back to the pattern drawing interface:

備註

Now go back to the menu, the tick disappears before the item.

Introduction of the Frames floating window

The way how to open the frames flaoating window to the sidebar was mentioned previously: click Menu [View]-[Show Widget]-[Frame View], appears before the item, that means the floating window is opened; if click the item again, disappears, that means the floating window is closed.

Introduction of the buttons in the frames floating window

:

Delete: Delete all the undefined items

:

Link Frames: link the selected frame segments into one measurement item, and the item is found in [Link] in the Frame floating window.

For example, select Front Chest, Side Chest, Back Chest, click Link button to link the selected segments into Chest measurement item.

Steps:

1. Select frame segments Front Chest, Side Chest and Back Chest;

2. Click Link button, enter Chest in the dialog box, and select the desired option, click [OK];

3. Front Chest, Side Chest and Back Chest frame segments turns from red to green, and the new Link item is found in Link in the frame floating window:

   

   

4. If you want to delete this linked item, select Chest item, press Backspace on your keyboard to remove it.

And the frame turns blue from green. Now there’s no any link item in Chest so it becomes an undefined item, you can select it and click button in the frame floating window to remove it.

Link Dialog Box Introduction:

:

Cancle: when user changes the measurement of some frame segment in the floating window, click the button to revert the former values.

：

Apply: when user changes the measurement of some frame(s) in the floating window, click this button to apply the new value on the frame segment(s). The pattern piece is also changed, moreover, the relevant links also get changed.

Introduction of the drop-down menu in Frame floating window

New Set...

Set/Add new frame set. Then set frame for the pattern piece(s).

New Spec...

Set desired measurement items, and they will be found in [Spec] in the frame floating window. The measurement items can be calculated from other frame segments/size list by using specific formula(s), or user can enter desired measurement values. It assembles combined Frame results to create garment specification sheets for quality control purposes; Also, it applies on the formulas of the corresponding item(Centers; Links; Segments). When user changes the specification measures, the corresponding item is changed, too.

New Measurement Chart...

Set desired measurement items, and they are found in [Mearsurement Chart] in the floating window. That is to say, user can put the existing measurement chart to [Measurement Chart] item, and it can be applied to the formula of corresponding items(Centers; Links; Segments; Specific items). When user changes the measures in the measurement chart, the corresponding item is changed, too.

Open Sets...

Open the existing frame sets (to open the frame set. frl file saved before) to apply and use them on a similar pattern.

How to do:

1. Open the .frl file;

2. Select the desired frame (name) in the floating window, click / tool, (follow the steps of tool setting) click the desired segment or point of the corresponding pattern piece, it will be applied on the pattern piece.

   

   

   

Save Sets...

It saves a Frame Set as .frl file for reuse on similar pattern pieces.

Select Spec...

There are four categories (Body, Sleeve, Collar and Bottom) in the dialog box of Select Spec, user can pre-set the frequently-used item names to each category, the pre-set names can be used in:

1. [Specs];
2. [Mearsurement Charts]

How to use them:

1. Open the [Select Spec] Dialog Box;

2. Select the desired name;

3. Select spec or measurement charts item;

4. Click [OK], the name(s) will be shown in the item;

   for example, the name is in the [Specs] item:

   

Center Segment List

Pre-set the frequently-used names in the list. Use them directly when set the Centers(Center Segment):

Frame Name List

Pre-set the frequently-used names in the list. Use them directly when set Frame:

Frame Segment List

Pre-set the frequently-used names in the list. Use them directly when set the frame segments:

Delete Undefined Objects

Delete all the undefined objects (the items in Centers,Links,Segments do not link to the pattern pieces or formulas are considered as undefined objects).

Introduction of Options in Frames Floating Window

Right-click on the title bar or the space in the window, to determine the size details appears in the window.

Frame Tools Introduction

There are 6 tools to set/view frames in Frame View: .

Pointer

To activate or select elements. (It is the same as the Pointer tool in drawing interface. Please refer to Chapter 3 for more information about Pointer tool.)

Zoom In/Out

To enlarge or reduce the general working area view. (It is the same as the Zoom In/Out tool in drawing interface. Please refer to Chapter 3 for more information about Zoom In/Out tool.)

Ruler

To measure the length of the segment. (It is the same as the Ruler tool in drawing interface. Please refer to Chapter 3 for more information about Ruler tool.)

Text

To write notes anywhere on the working area/piece. (It is the same as the Text tool in drawing interface. Please refer to Chapter 3 for more information about Text tool.)

Create Frame

To create the Frame centers, frame points on centers, frame segments or internal frame segments.

Center Segment Dialog Box Introduction

• Name: Name the Frame center. Enter new name or select pre-set one in the drop-down list.
• Set: If you create more than one set in the file, you need to select corresponding one for the centers.
• Characteristics:
  • Folded: For a piece that is folded. It will be unfolded according to a symmetrical line in manufacturing;
  • Opened: For a piece that is opened, like sleeves (one for left sleeve and one for right sleeve);
  • Half: For an opened piece required twice on the final garment, like the side piece of suit (like chest, required two pieces)

Frame Dialog Box Introduction

According to different center characteristics, there are two types of Frame Dialog Box:

Frames are generated when create center

The frame are generated when create center by using this tool, and named 1, 2, 3, 4,...in order according to the direction from the first reference point to the second reference point (as shown in the following picture).

備註

The frame segments are generated on the regular points only, not on the mark point or control point. So you can change characteristics of points on which you don’t want the frame segments appear. Or, without changing the point characteristics, you can select the undesired frame segments and press [Backspace] to delete them.

The first frame segment created from the first reference point is the Level Zero, which appears thicker than other frame segments, if you want to change the Level Zero frame segment for a piece, please refer to following content about how to change Level Zero.

For example:

1. Activate the desired piece;

2. Select tool;

3. Click the first reference point and then the second one, create the center;

4. Enter name or select one from the pre-set list, and check the desired option;

5. Click [OK], the finished center is in pink, and the blue frame segments are generated automatically;

6. Delete the undesired frame segments; double-click the default name 1;2;3;4;... in the Frames floating window to open the dialog box to change the frame segment name (as following picture First Method of Changing Frame Name shown); or right-click the corresponding frame segment, select the [Item Info] in the drop-down menu, the dialog box appears for you to change name (as following picture Second Method of Changing Frame Name shown)

   

   

   

   

How to re-define Level Zero for a Piece

How to re-define level zero frame for a piece if the default one is not desired?

As following picture shown, the [Front Collar] is level zero frame, now we want to set the [Front Chest] as the level zero frame:

How to do:

1. Click the value that you want to change into level zero in the floating window, cursor appears;
2. Enter value 0;
3. Press Enter key, or left-click anywhere and then click Apply button ;

Make the frame points on the center

As the picture shown, to create the frame points from the neck drop point:

How to do:

1. Activate the piece;

2. Select tool;

3. Left-click the desired frame segment point;

4. Dialog box appears, enter name or select one in the pre-set list, and then click [OK] button.

   

   

Make frame segments

Previously we’ve introduced the frame segment generated automatically from center.

If:

1. you want to add the frame segment (deleted before) back again;
2. you need to add the frame segment that are not generated automatically. [It doesn’t generate the frame segments on the mark/control point, or the points are added after setting centers.]

For the situation above, you need to use to make frame segments.

How to do:

1. Activate the piece;
2. Select tool;
3. Click the desired point, then click the frame central line;
4. Dialog box appears, enter name or select one in the pre-set list, and then click [OK] button.

Create internal frame

Allow user to add internal frame segments for the internal point/segment of a piece.

For example, to make internal frame segments for the pocket:

1. Activate the piece;
2. Select tool;
3. Click the reference point of the pocket, and then click the central line (pink) of the front piece;
4. Dialog box appears, enter name or select one in the pre-set list, and then click [OK] button.

Make Frame Segment

To make a frame segment.

Introduction of Segment Dialog Box

How to make frame segment

Steps:

1. Activate the piece;
2. Select tool;
3. Click the starting point and the ending point of the segment (the first&second reference points);
4. Dialog box appears, enter name or select one in the pre-set list, and then click [OK] button..

As is shown in picture above, on the finished frame segment, the hollow arrow appears on the point clicked first (the first reference point) and the solid arrow appears on the point clicked later (the second reference point). If modify the segment measurement, it will modify from the ending poiint of the segment by default.

How to change the frame segment direction(change the first reference point into the second reference point, and the second reference point becomes the first reference point):

1. Select the desired frame segment;
2. Right-click the selected segment;
3. Select [Reverse Segment Orientation] in the drop-down menu;

Using Formulas

Link the relevant frame segments by using formulas, facilitate modifying the pattern piece or the measurements. If the measurement of one frame segment is changing, the linked ones are also changing.

As picture shown, a formula icon appears under each frame item (items in [Centers], [Links], [Segments], [Specs]). Open the formula dialog box to set formula to link the frame segments.

Example 1 & 2 whow how to set formula:

Example 1:

How to do:

1. Click formula button , Specify Caculation Dialog Box appears (for setting formula);
2. Click button in the dialog box, the desired formula will be in the rectangle, cursor appears within the brackets;
3. Select the desired frame segment on which the formula is applying: segment Armhold Back, double-click Armhole Back, then the selected segment will be shown in the formula;
4. Click [OK] button.

Example 2:

Set the formula shown as picture:

Create Specs

Specs are created from other frame segments/measurement charts by using formulas, and also come from entering specific measurement. The measurement items are for garment quality control purposes; they also can be applied on the corresponding items (Centers; Links; Segments). When user change one of the measurement, the corresponding item will change, too.

As is shown in picture above, take Hem as example to show how to create specs:

1. Set Hem item listed under the [Specs] category;

   

   備註

   select [New Spec...] item from the drop-down menu in Frame window, open the dialog box and enter Hem, click [OK] button.

2. This spec item is created by the corresponding formula:

   

3. Change the relevant frame segment, the spec measurement also gets changed:

   

Create a new measurement chart

Allow user to add existing measurement chart on it accordingly, for applying on the corresponding item (Centers; Links; Segments; Specify). Once the value of item in Measurement Charts is modified or changed, all corresponding items will be automatically updated.

For example:

1. Set Chest item listed under the [Measurement Charts] category:

   

   備註

   select [New Measurement Chart...] item from the drop-down menu in Frame window, open the dialog box and enter Chest, click [OK] button.

2. Enter a value for Chest, applying on the formula of corresponding item:

   

3. Change Chest measurement, its relevant items are also changing:

   

   

Save the frame when split/join piece

Save the frame when split piece

In V5.0, all the frame segments are deleted after spliting the piece. V6.0 optimizes the function. The frame segments will be saved even though the piece is split.

Save the frame when join pieces

In V5.0, some of the frame segments are deleted after sjoining the pieces. V6.0 optimizes the function. The frame segments will be saved even though the pieces are combined together.

Arrange the frame items in the window freely

Allow user to re-arrange the items under the categories (Centers; Links; Segments; Specs; Mearsurement Charts) by dragging up or down.

How to do:

1. Click the desired item without releasing the mouse button;
2. Drag it to desired position and release.

How to delete each frame segment

Deleting the frame segments must follow the order rule: delete the linked frame segment first (green line), and then you can delete the frame (blue line) or frame segment/points on the central line, then delete the central line (pink line). However, when you want to delete the frame (blue lines), you need to delete the other frame segments first (thin blue lines), and then delete the level zero frame line (thick blue line).

1. Select the frame segment wished to delete;
2. Press [Backspace] on the keyboard to finish deleting.

Export/Import Frame

Export specification

How to export specification:

The exported file .txt can be open in any word processing application (Notepad, Tablet ,Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office Word and so on), like open it in Tablet:

備註

If open the file in Microsoft Office Excel or Microsoft Office Word, you need to create and open a empty Excel/Word file, then click the [Open] button, select the desired .txt file in the dialog box to open:

Export/Import Mearsurement Charts

How to export measurement chart

Steps to export measurement chart:

The exported file .txt can be open in any word processing application, like open it in Tablet:

備註

If open the file in Microsoft Office Excel or Microsoft Office Word, you need to follow the way of exporting specification shown above.

How to import measurement chart

The exported measurement chart is modified and need to be imported into the pattern file; or the measurement chart is created in right format in the word processing application and need to be imported into the pattern file.

So how to import the measurement chart into the pattern file:

New way to import measurement chart into the pattern file in V7.0:

Export/Import Frames

After setting the frame in the pattern file, user can export it as .txt file. It can be open in Excel for manufacturing; or user can change some values in the Excel, and import the file back to the pattern file for modifying the pattern pieces. (User also can create a chart according to the right format, enter all the desired measurements in the chart and import this file to the pattern file, the pattern pieces will be graded according to the measurement values at once.)

How to Export Frames

How to export Frames:

Open and check it in Excel (for knowing the steps, please refer to the relevant information about exporting specs shown above):

How to import Frames

If user open the Frame.txt file and change the measurement for some part in Excel, then import the file again, the corresponding part of the piece will be changed according to the new Frame.txt file:

Method to import in V6.0:

New method to import in V7.0:

New in V7.0: Optimiztion of importing Frame files

1. Automatically recognize and convert unit. (only for V7.0 Import and V7.0 Import)

   E.g.: Pattern staff A made pattern piece and frame in cm, then he exported the frame file and sent it to pattern staff B who applied it on another pattern piece in unit M. In V6.0, the frame file can’t be used in the files in different unit. Now, in V7.0, the system will automatically recognize the unit and execute contertion.

2. While importing Frame flie, it automatically recognizes Unicode encoding.

   If the encoding of exported file is different from that of the present file, the dialog box Choosing Encoding will appear. Normally the default encoding is the encoding of recent system. If it shows messy codes in the dialog box, click the drop-down menu and selcet the right encoding.

   

備註

If you don’t know which one is correct, check them one by one till the messy codes disappear.