Kmat V.9 -- Tutorial








First 5 fields are necessary to draw or calculate a basic matboard project.

First two fields are the matboard's dimensions.
Width is the shorter dimension and length the longer.
Length field has to be equal or grater than the width field.

When one buys a ready made frame they are usually well marked as (## x ##).
Example's: 20x24, 16x20, 18x26, 24x36.
These are the inside dimensions, same as mat to be cut.
If frames are marked with imperial inch sizing, you have the mat size to use.

If unsure measure frame where the mat lays inside the frame lip.

Measurements can be in inch(decimal) or metric(mm).
I force "mm" instead of "cm" so that the fields are compatible with both Imperial inch and metric users.
If a value is <= 60 it is calculated as inches and > 60 as metric(mm).
Because of this you can use a mix of inch and metric for entry between the mat and art/photo fields.
Use inch(d), metric(mm), or mixed, either direction.
Even between width and length fields, don't know why one would need that.
I used 60 as the number because that is the largest mat length that I have found avaliable.

Measure with a high quality meter/yard stick with cork, felt, or soft backing is recommended (Art Store).
The auto In/mm feature becomes handy because most of the time the mat dimensions are known in inch.
Direct measurement of print size in (mm's) does not require conversion.

If measuring using a imperial inch yard or 15" ruler, the (in 2 mm calculator) in Kmat
can be used to convert fractional numbers to mm.

The print size rules follow the same length >= width and print sizes need to be smaller than mat dimensions.
Measure the width and length of the art_photo area not
the print dimensions including white space and/or border.
Many prints when ordered are smaller than the ordered size, because size includes the borders.
An 11x14 print usually does not have a photo area of 11x14. Be sure and check.

One can use the calculate button after entering data in first 4 fields.
I force calculation automatically after the 5th field is exited.
You can hit enter or tab an extra time and program will advance past 5th field
leaving it blank, blank = 0 value.

Any error in the first 4 fields will show the error graphic.

If no error with input fields.
It should calculate basic mat cuts and show the project with a default picture,
using the mat and art dimensions you entered.
This is your first view of the project.

1-4 additional entry fields need to be looked at or used depending on what you want as an end result. Fields 5 // (Mat-1 Overlap) (mm's only) Should have a positive small number which is
the amount of overlap the mat will cover your art/photo from each side.
Normal range is 3-6, with 4 or 5 as standard.

.or.

A little larger negative number for the mat to show some of the photo border
for a series or signature to be shown.
Average negative is 10-25mm.
To see size of setback with photo real size, use mat1 to mat2 to test setback size.
Uses +#'s, while real field you enter uses a neg#.
When amount is found remove mat1-mat2 number and enter negative overlap for mat1, field 5.
Photo size will grow on project view to the new mat cut's, however for the report
the project photo does not grow.
It is the same as you entered in fields 3 and 4.
The setback is needed to calculate the mat cut's, the enlarged picture is just me not wanting to make changes in the project view portion of the program.

Next decision is if you want a second or third mat, fields 6 and 7.
Positive numbers only in mm's.
Tradition has mat 2 as narrow and 3rd mat as ~1.6x 2nd as a recommended size. [ 10,16 8,13 ]
As with all art, just a guide, you are free to do what ever you want. The majority use a single mat.
This visually lets you have a little larger picture in the mat space, and less cost on mat's.
Some like to use two or 3 mats.
This program does not force auto sizing for mat offset's like many other mat cutting programs.
You can offset any number you want for all 3 mat's.

Next you have the option to leave your art centered or bottom weighed.
AKA: Optically Centering a photo or art object.
By default I load a project as landscape orientation and centered.

I calculate using a well recognized formula for optical centering and display both the
recommended landscape and portrait orientation numbers.
Each is displayed just to the right of entry fields 8,9.
Any number in one of the fields will offset the art/photo in the mat and auto rotate the project view with the selected orientation.

Any value in field 9 will rotate to a portrait view. (Unless manual orientation button has been used)
If wanting to view a project in portrait orientation and have art/photo centered you have two options.
Force orientation to manual with orientation button top center of program
or enter a very small offset that rounds to zero.
Entering 0.1 in field 9 will rotate view but not change mat cuts.
I show recommended value but again leave you with the power to override as you wish.

* Note : Fields will take negative numbers and for special projects both offsets can be set at the same time. *

Last field to enter info in for a project would be the Art/Photo name field.
Field 16, Label "Art (25)"
This is optional and not required.
Just a field to put a name, id,or customer # on the report if making many reports to keep projects organized.
If this is a single project and not an assembly line process for your use, you can leave blank.

At this point if you want to view your project with your own photo, you can load a small to medium size (*.jpg) version of your photo with the "Load Picture" button.
* Note any change or re-calc will default the view back to normal default photo. *

Re-Check all 10 entry fields before printing report or screen capture.

Program provides 3 ways to report the project input and calculated cuts.
Pdf report, txt file report or a built in screen capture of the project.

You can click on each button one at a time to view the report, pick the one you want to print or save.
The txt report creates a file in the same directory/location as the program before it loads into the text editor and you see it.
It will be over written every report if not moved or renamed.

The Txt file version was requested by a photographer who required entry with 1/16" values.
It has the most output fields of the 3 reports.


From report of choice: Next step is marking the mat for cut's

Place matboard with it's length, longer side (Horizontal)
Lay it with good side, face down on a clean safe surface.
Measure, mark, and cut from the back side of the mat.
Mark mat with it's mat number 1, 2, or 3, near top.
Mark Top as A, Bottom = B, Left = C, Right = D
Best to use 1A, 1B, etc to improve the chance of not mixing up board and cuts.


Further instructions for meters, calculators, custom personal photos as defaults,
frame overlap - photo overlap correction calc, always grey photo zone, etc to follow.




Contact : kurt@kurtebertphoto.com
Web : http://www.kurtebertphoto.com/kmat/