Instruction Tools Explained
The PatternMaker Pro Academy teaches drafting with step-by-step written instructions. Each step has a number, and the same number appears in an illustration next to the point or line it talks about. The Academy explains the drafting method. This manual explains the tools.
I made the written instruction tools to build those illustrations, and I added them to PatternMaker Pro in case you want to make instructions of your own.
A pro number is a step number placed next to a point on the draft. It is red when it is new. In later illustrations it turns black and gets smaller, so the newest step stands out.
The Tools
There are eight tools. Find them on the Pro menu.
- Add Pro Number Layer makes a layer to hold your numbers.
- Add Number at Point places a pro number in the workspace.
- Highlight Items makes lines and curves thick and red.
- Export SVG Image saves the workspace as a picture.
- Change Number to Black makes the numbers on a pro number layer black and smaller, and removes all highlights.
- Toggle Number Color switches selected numbers between red and black.
- Remove Highlight removes highlights from all lines and curves, or only the ones you select.
- Delete Number deletes numbers you select.
How They Fit Together
- Add a pro number layer, and make sure it is the active layer. Numbers can only be added to this kind of layer.
- For each step, add its number at the right point.
- Highlight the lines and curves that belong to the step.
- When the illustration is finished, export it as an SVG image. An SVG can be made bigger or smaller without getting blurry, which a jpg or png cannot.
- To start the next illustration, use Change Number to Black. The numbers turn black and smaller, and the highlights are removed. Then add the numbers for the next step.
Toggle Number Color, Remove Highlight and Delete Number are for fixing things along the way.