Available from the File menu > Options or use Keyboard Shortcut F10.

Interface

Page Properties in Home Ribbon check box is by default turned off on the Home tab, as shown.

Machining Exports

Batches of files are generally prepared directly from ShapeMaster which includes nesting, applying tooling and preparing CNC files for the machine.

A collection of machining files will be created typically in DXF format (depending on the machining configuration) - the file extension of these file are by default .DXT (used to prepare your job for the CNC machine).

Machine Vector Font

This feature describes the font being used to engrave text on a part and outputs the font on a part as a single line for use on a CNC with a pen or engraving on and the final product.

Example

Most fonts will produce patterns that require a lot of tool activity to produce, as they have a width to each character.

 the checkbox is ticked by default, for ShapeMaster using a simplex "Hershey" font vectorising each character generates.

Example :

You will also need the Legacy setting for DXF Import Option, to correctly import DXF's.

To do this, ensure that the ATP Preferences in EzyNest is set correctly

 if the the checkbox is unticked, then...

• The text is sent straight to the DXF for the part as a text string.
  • This is much more compact, and is typically used when the text for each part is handled by a CNC labelling device.
  • In this case, there is no need to vectorise the individual text characters.

This feature can be used with any of the CabMaster Software™ products.

Printing

Minimum line width allows for a value to be entered to set the minimum # of pixels that any line will be drawn when printed from ShapeMaster. Applies to all lines being drawn on the printed page, irrespective of whether they are section outlines, dimensions etc. To make printed lines darker/thicker, increase the value until satisfied with your test print.

3D Graphics

• Lighting Options
  
  Reflect - Default is ON. You need to have this flag turned on to allow ShapeMaster to generate reflects for mirror/shiny surfaces.
  
  Specular - To generate "specular" reflections which are reflections like the spot of light you see glinting off a shiny apple, for example.
• Full quality while moving
  
  When you drag the mouse to zoom/pan/rotate, if the graphics card cannot keep up it can deliberately drop back to a simpler image during the rapid movement, then repaint the full image when you stop moving. "Full quality while moving" stops it doing that, and is the preferred setting provided the graphics card can keep up with movement. These days, most OpenGL capable cards can.
  
  When objects in a 3D image are rotated or moved, the renderer can drop back to wireframe or solid mode to maintain a reasonable frame rate. However, decent video cards (typically with 16Mb or more onboard) can handle rotating a fully textured image in real-time. If you have one of these cards, checking this box will cause the render mode to stay the same while the view changes.
• Custom shape side textures
  
  Sections can be built using custom shapes instead of simple faces. When displaying these in the 3D textured views, ShapeMaster will just use the average solid colour for the side faces for better performance.
  
  Enabling this option instead tries to map any textures applied to the section's side faces, displaying the texture wrapped onto the side faces of the custom shape. This will appear more realistic in cases where the side faces are fairly visible. It will only make a difference if the side faces of the section have been given textures in the middleware setup of the section.
• Custom shape shadows
  
  Default in ON. Custom Shapes in 3D with multiple reflective surfaces, will choose the top/machined face.
• Contrast and Brightness
  
  These work just like the controls on a monitor or TV, and can be adjusted regardless of whether Use 3D Accelerator is enabled.

3D Card Information

Click on this button to get information concerning your currently installed 3D Hardware Accelerator.