by Gigi » October 21st, 2016, 12:37 am
I don't know if you are doing all of your designing in SCAL or a combination of programs. but there are videos here under Broadcast and You Tube that will help you understand Union and Merge and Weld better.
Never mind - I just looked at the file briefly. I am not sure why you are adding the green circle because it cuts through the top of your diamond shapes. I put it in outline mode so I could see the design better and I think it will cut fine the way it is (try it on lightweight card stock). I can try to do it in the morning if I have time.
Both look fine to me without that inner circle, but sometimes you just don't know until you cut it. Have you done a test cut of it? The diamond above the cross on the left hand design needs to be moved a little as you have cut lines crossing over each other so you wont get a clean cut of that diamond shape.
I like both of them. I would suggest deleting the circle from each because I don't think it will give you the results you want, and then group each of the remaining shapes separately - that is all you need to do. You will end up with two layers - one design on one layer and one on another. If you look at each of then without the circle, I think you will see that the inside pieces will be attached together and there wont be that many pieces left behind. The circle actually creates more - at least that is what I saw when I looked at it.
It looks like you will have fewer pieces without the circle. You do have some problematic areas where some of your lines are thinner than others and may cut apart - again a test cut would be a good idea so you can see what you have. I think you have done a good job so far. You are going to have pieces fall away because of the open work design. I just don't see how the circle benefits you with that - It will cut through your design and not give you the result you want - as I see it. No harm in trying it each way to see the difference - you may be surprised. That is the best way to learn.
Hope that helps and makes sense.
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Gigi