Creating print templates

The main part of a print template are the rectangular pre-sized container frames that set where drawings — 1ups, layout 1ups and 3D drawings — will lie. The frames serve as placeholders in which the respective drawings fit while a print presentation is being created. Further, you can add other data features, such as data-extracting formulas, statistics about used rules, accompanying text, and checklists.

To define pre-sized container frames in a print template

  1. On the Tools menu, point to Design Frame, and then click New.

An empty drawing opens.

  1. Do any of the following:

A contextual edit bar appears above the graphical area.

  1. In 1up, select the type of drawing that the frame — 1up, layout or 3D — that will be placed into the rectangular area when the template is applied to a print drawing.
  1. In the graphical area, click where you want the frame's first vertex to be.
  2. Point to where you want the second vertex to be.
  3. (Optional) In Width and Height, enter, respectively, the width and height of the frame.
  1. Double-click the frame to set it up.

The Design Frame Part Properties dialog box appears.

Geometry Settings for the part's size and position
Part Sets the part type (1up, layout, 3D) to be inserted by default in the current rectangular area when you use the design frame to create a print drawing.
Position X Sets the position of the part along the x-axis.
Position Y Sets the position of the part along the y-axis.
Width Sets how wide the rectangular area will be.
Height Sets how tall the rectangular area will be.
Rotation Sets the angle at which the part will be rotated in the rectangular area.
Part side (1up and layout drawings only) Sets the side that will be displayed in the rectangular area. The options are: Current View Side, Front, Rear, Diecutting, Counterdiecutting.
Placement Sets if the part will be scaled to fit the area or will be placed in 1:1 ratio.
Fit to rectangle Makes the part fit into the positioning rectangle in the design frame. TIP: If you will use a scale group (see below), select this option.
Scale 1:1 Places the part without scaling.
Print part settings  
Show dimensions Makes visible, in the printed document, the dimensions set in the drawing.
The following settings apply to print parts holding drawings other than 3D.
Show annotation objects Makes visible, in the printed document, any notes added to the respective drawing and assigned to the Annotations layer.

IMPORTANT: Select this check box if you want to see arrow annotations (see below).
Hide flute symbol Does not display, in the printed document, the symbol that indicates the direction of the flute or grain.

Show arrow annotations Displays the arrow annotations.

IMPORTANT: The Show annotation objects check box (see above) must also be selected.
Show currently hidden layer objects Makes visible, in the printed document, layer objects that have been added to the 1up but were made invisible — for example, to unclutter the view.
Hide style symbols The print drawing will not display style symbols (if any have been added to the underlying drawing).
Show nicks Displays the nicks, if any have been placed into the 1up.
Hide nick symbols Settings for whether nick symbols will be displayed in the print drawing. The options are:
  • Always (nick symbols are never displayed)
  • Never (nick symbols are always displayed)
  • If all nicks share a width
Consider two cases:
  • If the nicks in the drawing are of the same width, the symbols will not be displayed.
  • If the nicks are of different widths, the program displays only the symbols of the nicks whose number is fewer than 75% of the total number of nicks. In other words, if there are same-width nicks whose number is equal to or greater than 75%, their symbols will not be displayed.
Scale Group If you want the print parts in your print drawing scaled to a set ratio, apply a scaling approach here. Make sure that in the the Name Mapping area you select the print part that you want scaled. Make sure also that you apply scaling for each print part that you want scaled. Learn more about scaling and how to apply it.
PDF export in real size Select this check box to export the print drawing in its actual size as a PDF file. "In actual size" means that the exported drawing will not be scaled down to fit a predefined media size such as A3, A4 or other. In other words, if your drawing's size is for example, 1500 mm x 2000 mm, the exported PDF drawing will keep these measurements, without scaling them down.

TIP: The functionality is linked to the use of the Scale Group functionality. If you choose not to use a scale group, only the uppermost drawing in the Name Mapping list will be exported in actual size, regardless of whether you set the real-size export also to the rest of the drawings. To export all the drawings in the project in their actual sizes, add them to a scale group. To learn how, see the Scale Group guidance above.

IMPORTANT: The PDF file format has a standard limitation of 200 inches x 200 inches (appr. 5 meters x 5 meters) for displaying a document. If the actual measurements of the exported drawing are larger than these values, the PDF document will cut the exported drawing to meet this limitation.
Show dimensions Makes visible, in the printed document, the dimensions set in the 3D model.
 
The following settings apply to print parts holding 3D drawings.
Image quality (DPI) (Available when the 3D drawing is selected in the table) Sets the graphic quality of the 3D image.
Transparent background Makes transparent the background of the 3D area. This allows the 3D area to appear in the color set as background for the graphical area. The functionality is especially useful for white-colored 3D models: Changing the color of the drawing area background makes white-colored 3D models stand out against it.
3D View Mode Sets how the 3D model will be displayed in the print drawing. The options are: Solid (untransparent panels), Transparent (see-through panels), Wireframe (grey outlines) and Solid B&W (white untransparent panels and black edges).
  1. In the dialog box, edit the settings to make them work for your case.
  2. (Optional) To insert more pre-sized areas, repeat Steps 1–8.
  3. To cancel the definition of frames, press ESC.
  4. Add any other types of data that you want the print drawing to display.
  5. When you have set up the design frame template, save it a .evf file.

NOTE: To be able to select and apply a template into a print drawing, it must reside a dedicated folder of your installation: C:\EngViewWork7\Settings\DESIGN FRAMES C:\ProgramData\EngView\Package Designer\SharedSettings\DESIGN FRAMES. TIP: Take some time to explore the DESIGNFRAMES directory in your instllation to get an idea of how to structure and store your own design frames.

IMPORTANT: If you choose to arrange your design frame in folders, make sure these are subfolders of the DESIGN FRAMES directory. This ensures that EngView will display them for you to choose the one you need.