Optitex CAD (PDS 2D) for Leather Goods Students

Efi Optitex is a leading provider of 3D Virtual Prototyping & 2D CAD/CAM software solutions for the apparel, automotive, aeronautics, industrial fabrics, and upholstery industries. The software is used in various universities and other academic institutions for teaching students to use the software. Optitex presents these industries with innovative, open and easy to use products that are designed to facilitate collaboration among the various partners throughout the manufacturing process. Optitex enables its customers to significantly lower costs, quicker time to market, and become more competitive. Famous fashion brand Roberto Cavalli, Italy used the software to create its collection.

History

Mr. Ran Machtinger founded OptiTex Ltd.(also known as OptiTex International Pty Ltd). in 1988 and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Machtinger served as General Manager of SGS since January 1999. He served as Vice President for Sales and Marketing of SGS from its incorporation in 1995 to January 1999. His extensive background in CAD/CAM began with his work for Polaris in the 1980s.

 Mr. Ran Machtinger founder of  OptiTex Ltd
Pic: Mr. Ran Machtinger founder of OptiTex Ltd

He serves as Director of OptiTex Ltd. It is developed by EFI which is leading the transformation from analog to digital imaging with scalable, digital, award-winning products. Based in Silicon Valley, California with offices around the world, EFI develops breakthrough technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, and personalized documents, with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and a comprehensive business and production workflow suite that transforms and streamlines the entire production process, increasing your competitiveness and boosting productivity.

Products

Optitex software solutions have been sold and supported around the world through certified distributors and OEMs. Optitex solutions are available in over 20 languages and integrate seamlessly into most operating

Classification:

Its products are based on three solutions, O/Dev, O/Pro, and O/Sel.

Optitex Development:

O/Dev includes 2D design and 3D visualization modules in a single platform to create, tailor and digitize patterns. It has the following modules.

Fig. 1

Pattern Design Software (PDS) 2D

A pattern making software that allows you to seamlessly create digital patterns and produce pattern sizing while eliminating hundreds of manual steps in the design-development process.

Pattern Design Software (PDS) 3D

A set of 3D tools that display virtual samples in an innovative 3D digital environment that allows you to fashion your garment and make quick alterations at the click of a button, powered by photorealistic rendering for a true-to-life visualization. It provides the user with the ability to visualize the draping of a garment according to the movement of a 3D model. Users can then create, correct and adjust designs before any fabric is cut – only in a digital environment. This 3D simulation considers all of the basic physical characteristics of the material.

3D Runway Designer – ‘Virtual becomes Real

’
• Is a ‘True-to-Life’ Fabric Simulation System
– Reduces product development time
– Reduces the cost of multiple iterations of sample garment production
– Enhances the quality of products due to the use of accurate modeling system
– Analyzes fabric behavior
– It also provides an excellent tool for sales and marketing, with the easy to use ‘virtual storyboard

Revu

A collaborative tool that allows you to showcase virtual samples in a 3D digital environment that is accessible for decision-makers who can comment and approve samples.

Optitex Pro:

O/Pro includes tools for product development such as marker making, cut plan, and automatic nesting.

Fig.2

Marker

A cutting layout tool that allows you to plan and optimize the use of textiles through automated nesting or manual placement of pieces on the marker table.

Image result for optitex marker
Fig 3, Marker

CutPlan

An automated order management tool that allows you to operate complex marker orders while supporting complex variation grading, colors, and fabric types.

Image result for optitex cut plan
Fig 4, Cut Plan

Optitex SEL:

O/Sel includes solutions for sales and marketing, such as using 3D images for viewing and buying collections. The current module is the Optitex Digital Collection, an online app to view full 3D collections.

Fig 5.

Digital Collection

A SaaS showroom that allows you to present entire 3D collections anytime, anywhere so you can sell and market your styles before cutting or sewing the first piece of fabric.

The default look of PDS 2D/3D after clicking the PDS icon on the desktop. See Fig 6

Fig 6. Default Look after opening the PDS software

Here at first more of the tools and icons are in disable stage, they will be enabled after you make the first piece by the following process

Fig, 7 How to create a piece/pattern

Icons and Tool Bars: Now after creating the first piece the icons and toolbar will be enabled, so let’s see different toolbars and their functions.

Fig 8, Insert toolbar


Insert toolbar is mainly used for internal drawing, there are different types of a shortcut which will be used by professional for designing

Point On Contour (Shortcut Key 0)

Use the Point On tool to add a point onto the perimeter of a piece. You can also decide on a point type when adding the new point.

Process

Select the POINT ON contour > add a point along a line or segment [ Click the mouse button ] > point attribute window will open[ it allows the user to specify a distance from the previous or next point ]> enter a value, then ok> the repeat the steps from adding a point

Notch

Use the Notch tool to add a notch to a piece’s perimeter. This tool provides an easy way to add or edit notches once the digitizing process is finished. A notch is a marking point positioned on the boundary of a piece.

To Add a Notch:

  • Select Add a Notch > Add a Notch to a segment [with shift select existing notch, with +ctrl add a point only]
  • Note for a notch on the partculer point, create the point first. another wise notch will be created on the mid-point of the perimeter.
  • Note 2: To change the shape of the notch, click the preference [\ key]>notch. Notch type, click here and change the shape> apply> ok

Seam

Use the Seam tool to add a seam allowance to piece.

To Add Seam Allowance:

  • Select the Seam Allowance tool.
  • Either select a point on a piece indicating that seam allowance is to be added to the entire piece, or select the segment on the piece on which to apply for a seam allowance.
  • To select a single point for adding a constant seam allowance to the entire piece, point the Seam Allowance tool at a point on the piece and click the mouse twice.
  • To select a segment or multiple segments, point the Seam Allowance tool at the first point and click the mouse, then drag the Seam Allowance tool to the last point of the segment and click the mouse.
  • When the Point Attributes dialog box displays, enter the amount of the allowance in the Seam Width box at the lower left of the dialog box. If the seam allowance is added to the entire piece, select the appropriate corner type by clicking on the corresponding corner icon. If the seam allowance is added to a segment of the piece, choose the type of corner to apply to the start of the seam and to the end of the seam from the Start Seam/ End Seam boxes. The icons illustrate available corner types. To leave the corner types as standard corners, it is not necessary to make a corner selection.
  • Click OK after appropriate information is added.

Dart

Darts are based on four points. If the dart is digitized, the Start, Middle ( the overlap extension) and Endpoints are on the piece’s boundary. The fourth point is the apex of the dart and is digitized while defining the dart. Just below the apex, the drill hole should also be indicated.

The first point of the dart is placed on the pattern contour by pressing the letter ‘D’ on the 16-button digitizer. The second point is placed internally at the apex of the dart. The other two points are automatically inserted.

!Note: See the File Chapter for details on digitizing a dart.

!Tip: If a dart is not digitized during the digitizing process, it can easily be added to piece on the screen using the Dart tool.

To Create a New Dart:

  • Select the Dart tool.
  • Click the left mouse button on the first point of the dart (See the diagram below).

!Note: There must be existing points on the first and last dart points on the piece’s boundary. If points do not exist where the dart is to be placed, use the Add Relative command in the Edit menu. (See the Edit chapter).

  • Click the left mouse button again on the last point of the dart. The cursor automatically becomes the center point (apex) of the line created between the two selected points.
  • Drag the cursor internally to create the dart depth and click the mouse button a third time. After clicking the mouse button a third time the Dart Attributes dialog box will appear.

!Note: The dart is always created symmetrically.

  • When the Dart Attributes dialog box displays, select the desired options.

Click OK.

Direction

Select the direction to fold the dart, clockwise, or counterclockwise. The Overlap box below must be checked in order to select a direction.

Overlap

Check the Overlap box to establish that the dart is to be folded in a specific direction. Checking this box activates the Direction options above.

Depth

Use the Depth field to view the current depth of the dart or enter a specific depth for the dart.

Pleat

The Pleat tool is used to create pleats. Both Box pleats and Knife pleats may be added using the Pleat tool. The Pleat tool allows for even and variable (uneven) pleating. Pleat depth and the amount of spacing between each pleat may also be specified in the Pleat dialog box.

!Note: Error messages appear if a pleat is placed over a sharp curve or corner. Error messages also appear if the number, depth, and distance between each pleat exceed the existing piece’s dimensions. Error messages indicate that the values entered into the Pleat dialog box are incorrect.

To Make a Pleat:

  • Select the Pleat tool.
  • Click the mouse on the piece at the point where the pleat is to start.
  • When the Move Point dialog box displays, either confirm the values in the Move Point dialog box by pressing Enter, or enter the desired values and click OK.
  • Click the mouse on the piece at the point where the pleat is to end. Repeat step 3.
  • When the Define Pleat Characteristics dialog box displays, enter the desired pleat information. (See the Pleat Characteristics Dialog Box section below).
  • Click OK.

Circle (Shortcut key CTRL +ALT +C)

Use the Circle tool to create a circular line on a piece. Circles may be created with a specific radius, and they may also be duplicated.

Process:

  • Select the Circle tool.> select the location for the circle center> move the mouse pointer to define the radius[ for the approximate size of the desired circular line ]> repeat the process for a new circle
  • Note: If you want to change the radius, Double click on the circle> circle properties windows open at the left side> Enter the new radius whatever you want> enter.

Button (Short cut key CTRL +ALT+B)

Use the Button tool to create drill holes. Buttons are also used to mark a match point.

The process to Create a Button (drill hole):

  • Select the Button tool > insert a button (click by mouse)>add button relative to the selective point window open> enter a value if you want to move the point> ok
  • Note: If you want to change the radius, Double click on the button> button properties windows open at the left side> Enter the new radius whatever you want> enter.
  • Note 2, If you want to drill it, Double click on the button>button properties windows open at the left side> click command in plotting and cutting attribute> choose drill> enter.

Text (Short cut Key ‘T’)

Use the Text tool to add text. This tool is commonly used to add instructions or other information to a piece to aid the cutting process.

The process to Place Text:

  • Click the Text tool> add text to a piece> Click at a position where you want to add text> text window open, enter the text> click ok Then repeat the process for adding a new text.
  • Note: If you want to change the size, double click on the text you enter, text properties window open> change the size and ok.
  • Note 2, If you want to change text default font, click the preference [\ key]>Font> Internal text. change the font whatever you want> apply> ok

Editing Tools

Fig 9. Different editing tools

Move Point (Short cut key M)

Select the Move Point Tool to move a single point.

The process to Move a Single Point:

  • Select the Move Point tool > Select point for the move (Ctrl – not add a new point, shift -add curve point)> click on the outline and drag it to move the point to the desired position, release the left click > move point window open, enter the value and ok
  • Note: For a curve area, after clicking the move point tool, press shift and continue the point making the process.
  • Note 2: If you don’t want a new point then click CTRL key after clicking move tool and continue the point making process.

Draft

Use the Draft tool to draft multi-point internal lines.

To Draft a Line:

  • Select the Draft tool.
  • Click the mouse anywhere on the selected piece.
  • When the Add A Contour Relative To Current Point dialog box displays, enter specific values for exact placement of the point

or select OK to bypass this dialog.

  • Repeat Steps #2 and #3 until the desired line is constructed.
  • To finish drafting the line, click the right mouse button and select Finish Draft from the pop-up menu.

!Tip: To create a curved cut line, hold the Shift key down when clicking the mouse to select a point.

Flip Horizontal

This command flips the current pattern piece 180ø along the Y-axis (Back and Forth).

Flip Vertical

This command flips the current pattern 180ø along the X-axis (Up and Down).

Move Internal

The Move Internal tool is used to move any internal element, lines, buttons, circles and texts on a pattern piece.

To Move an Internal Element on a Pattern Piece:

  • Select the Move Internal command.
  • Click on the internal element to be moved. The internal element is now attached to the mouse and can be moved in any direction.
  • Move the internal element to the desired location.
  • Click the mouse button a second time to anchor the piece at the new location.

!Note: You can also copy internal elements to any location on the pattern by using the Shift + move Internal tool.

New Base Line

This command is used to edit baselines that run off a piece. Sometimes baselines move to the outside of the piece while working with the Cut tool or using the Create Parallel to Segment command.

This command is useful if the baseline was not digitized, or if two pieces were joined resulting in an odd shaped piece. This command places the current baseline inside the piece close to the center.

!Note: The length of the baseline may change during this process.

To Make a New Baseline:

  • From the PIECE menu choose to MAKE NEW BASELINE.
  • The Baseline is placed closer to the center of the pattern piece.

Mirror

This command creates a new piece exactly the same as the selected piece except the new piece has two symmetrical halves made from the original piece. Note that this command creates an exact symmetric duplicate, which is the same on both sides.

To Mirror a Pattern Piece:

  • Select two consecutive points by clicking on the first point, then dragging (clockwise) to the next point.
  • From the PIECE menu choose MIRROR.

A new piece is created which is symmetrically placed according to the selected points. The new piece displays in the furthermost right-hand box in the Piece Display Bar. See the diagram below.

Create a Parallel

Create Parallel is used to create a parallel segment from a selected section along a piece’s perimeter. Create Parallel allows the user to define the width or length of the segment as well as decide if the segment should extend to the piece’s perimeter. When the endpoints touch the perimeter, the Internal Cut tool may be used to split the piece along the new parallel line.

To Create a Parallel Segment from an Existing Section:

  • Click and drag the arrow in a clockwise direction to select the desired endpoints on the segment to Parallel.
  • From the DESIGN menu choose to CREATE PARALLEL.
  • Enter the values for the width or length of the parallel segment in the Create Parallel To Segment dialog box. The system allows the user to extend the first and last point of a new line by checking this option.
Fig 10, Some windows command

Set Half

Use the Set Half tool to create a symmetrical image of a piece. This is a very powerful tool, which is used on almost every PDS file. When a piece is halved, all actions performed on the original half are applied to the other half. Unlike the Set Mirror Line Tool, you can work only on the ‘real’ half â€“ and not on the ‘reflected’ half, which is represented as a grid of lines. Using Set Half is almost always preferable to using Mirror Half, mainly because Optitex 3D recognizes the halved pieces, and saves considerable time by allowing you to stitch only half of the stitches. Although we recommend keeping it in view, you can hide the reflected half through the View & Selection option.

Icon & Location

  • Menu: Piece > Modify > Set Half
  • Toolbar: Edit
  • Toolbox: Half Symmetry

To use the Set Half tool:

  1. Select the Set Half tool.
  2. Click on the first point on the piece:
  3. With your mouse, move to the last point and click with your mouse.

    The piece is halved.

    The symmetric half is shown as a grid.

    When changing the geometry, by moving a segment of the contour of the ‘real’ half. The geometry of the reflected half is changed as well.


Internal Objects Inside Half Piece

When adding an internal object (an internal contour, button, circle, etc.), it also appears on the reflected half, unless the Reflection field is disabled in the Internal Object Properties.

Creating a Curved Angle on The Symmetry Line

When setting a piece to half, you need to use the Arc Tool

General windows shortcut are also working here, LIke:

  • Ctrl+C = Copy
  • Ctrl+X= Cut
  • Ctrl +A= Select All
  • Ctrl+Z= Undo
  • Ctrl+Y=Redo
  • Ctrl+S=Save
  • Del= delete piece from workspace
  • Shift +Del= Delete from file
  • Ctrl+N=New
  • Ctrl+O=Open
  • Ctrl+P=Print
Fig 11, Piece tool

Tools are small icons or pictures that represent different features within the software. Tools are displayed across the top of the screen in bars(rows)
located below the pull-down menus and above the piece bar. There are five
different Toolbars in the PDS software:

Fig 12, Contour tool

Digitizer and Digitizing:

The digitizer is required to digitize the lines of the model pattern or those of the pieces and it works only if used on the tablet. For all the other operations the mouse can also be used.

There are mainly 4 buttons and 16 buttons digitizer’s heads are used for digitizing purposes. Previously digitizer is connected with PCs through the serial port. Now USB ported digitizers are also available in the market.

digitizes head
Fig 13.

.

  • Key 0     Selection Key     Equivalent with mouse left key
  • button 1     Menu Key           Equivalent with mouse right key
  • Key 2     Special Key         Equivalent with mouse scroll key

Digitizer Settings (Calcom Drawing Board VI)

  • Open Optitex PDS and go to File > Digitizer > Digitizer Settings.
  • The Digitizer Settings window will appear:
Fig 14, Digitizer setup

To Set Up Digitizer:

The Digitizer dialog is divided into three sections.

  • The left-hand section contains digitizer commands used with a four-button digitizer.
  • The right-hand section is a scaled down view of the digitizing tablet.
  • The lower section assigns a number to each button on the digitizer cursor.

The Digitize Window is divided into sections to separate its functions and contains buttons for additional functions.

Fig 15, Digitizing

Functions of the following buttons given in picture are given below:

  • Point →          Creates a graded, non-curve point along a contour
  • Grade → Marks the nested locations of a grade point
  • Notch → Creates a notch on an external contour
  • Dir. Notch =   Creates a directional notch on an external contour
  • Button →       Creates a button or drill holes on the inside of a closed piece
  • Line →            Creates a two-point internal line segment
  • Circle →         Creates a circle using center location and radius
  • Grd/Crv →     Creates a graded curve point
  • nGrd/nCrv → Creates a non-graded, non-curve point
  • Dart →           Marks the first leg, second leg, and tip of a dart
  • Contour →    Begins a complex internal contour within a closed piece
  • Baseline →    Marks the baseline of a piece 
  • The Digitizer Status Button opens a window that will display the current staus of the digitizer, as well as the default modes for types of internals.
  • The Internal Commands Button opens a window where you can set the default settings for internals that are created using the digitizer.
  • The Piece Information Button allows you to modify the piece information for the current piece you are working on. You can change the piece information one by one as you digitize, or more easily – fix them from within the PDS workspace.

Calibrate Digitizer 

  • Take an A4 sheet of paper and tape it to your digitizer board.
  • Digitize around the perimeter of the piece using only four gradings, non-curve points total(You can use the crosshairs on the digitizer puck to be as accurate as possible while digitizing).
  • Click ‘”Done”‘ to send the piece to the workspace.
  • Find the Piece, and bring it to the workspace.
  • Press F8 to see the length of each contour between grading points.

Plotter/Cutter Setup

You can use the Plotter/Cutter Setup option when you want to control the plotting/cutting settings. The Plotter/Cutter Setup dialog is dynamic according to the driver format you select. For more information, see the pictures below.

Fig 16, Plotter setup
Fig 17, Plotter setup

To configure the JingWei plotter via the OCC:

1.      In the PDS, go to File > Plot.

Fig 18, Jingwei Plotter setup

Note: Toolbars may vary in appearance and number of available tools on each Toolbar based on software modules that were purchased. For example, the Advanced Toolbar may have fewer icons if the Custom Fits of the software module were not purchased. This section covers all tools on all Toolbar

Toolbars may be viewed on the screen, or they may be hidden from view. When all Toolbars are displayed, the size of the working area is reduced. To control the display of Toolbars on the screen, use the Toolbars command in the View menu. To display a particular Toolbar on the screen, place a checkmark next to the name of the Toolbar. To hide a particular Toolbar, uncheck the name of the Toolbar. To check or uncheck a selection, click on the name of the Toolbar in the Toolbar menu. Toolbars toggle from on to off each time the mouse clicks on the name of the Toolbar.

To Reset a Toolbar:

Resetting a toolbar replaces any buttons that were taken out of a default toolbar.

  • From the View menu, select Tool Bars.
  • Highlight the desired toolbar.
  • Click Reset.
  • Click Close.

General Toolbar

Fig 19, General toolbar

The System Toolbar consists of many standard Windows type tools as well as several PDS specific tools.

  • For New Piece: Right-click > new piece> Create rectangular piece
  • To send a command, right-click > select tool
Fig 20, Optitex Shortcut 1
  • F8= Show distance of boundary line
  • Shift +F8 =Show distance of internal Line
  • Sew Line: Select an internal line, double click>  command > change draw to sew
Fig 21, Optitex pds shortcut 2
Fig 22, Optitex pds shortcut 3
Fig 23, Optitex pds shortcut 4
Fig 24, Optitex pds shortcut 5
Fig 25, Optitex pds shortcut 6

References:

  • Study material from Optitex Help Center.
  • Official site of optitex.
  • Official Efi site

For knowing adobe photoshop click here, Please share your feedback and suggestions. In case if you have any queries about any topic of Footwear and Leather Goods, post it in the comment section. And if you like this topic you may share it on facebook, twitter or any social site. Thank you.

1 thought on “Optitex CAD (PDS 2D) for Leather Goods Students”

  1. Pingback: canadianpharmaceuticalsonline.home.blog

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Select Language
error: Content is protected !!