Custom Mats

Creating a Custom Mat

To create a new blank custom mat, simply select Mat -> Create New Custom Mat. The new mat will appear in the Custom category.

To create a new mat that is a copy of an existing mat, press the mouse menu button (right button on windows) on the mat you wish to copy. Select Create Custom Copy Custom Mat and the copy will appear in the Custom category. This copy is completely separate from the source mat.

Editing a Custom Mat

To edit a Custom Mat in the Mat Selector, simply double click on the mat.

To edit a custom mat in the album, choose the mat and select Mat -> Edit Current Mat. This will only edit the mat in the album, the original Custom Mat it was created from will not be changed.

Aperture Shapes There are four available aperture shapes: Square Shape Rectangular Shape Freeform / Polygon Rotating Rectangle
Custom Mat Editor   The custom mat editor is a simple drawing program which allows you to develop custom mat designs for use in JAD. Its layout is shown in the figure on the right: The Custom Mat Editor consists of three main section, these are (from left to right): Tools, Mat Canvas and Control Panel.

Tools

This contains the tools which determine how objects are manipulated on the canvas. The following tools and functions are available: 

	Pointer Tool	Select apertures by clicking on them. Move apertures by dragging on when selected. Manipulate aperture shape or size by dragging on control points.
	Hand Tool
	Add Points	Add a point to a selected Polygon aperture by clicking on the line segment you wish to add a vertex to.
	Remove Points	Remove a point from a Polygon aperture by clicking on the control point. Shapes must have a minimum of three vertices.
	Square Shape	Draw a square aperture by dragging from the top left corner to the bottom right corner with the mouse.
	Rectangular Shape	Draw a rectangular aperture by dragging from the top left corner to the bottom right corner with the mouse.
	Freeform Shape	Draw a free form shaped aperture. Click on the starting point and then once for each vertex you wish the aperture to have. To complete the shape, either complete the shape or double-click. Shapes cannot contain lines which cross over.
	Rotated Rectangle Shape	Draw a rectangular aperture by dragging from the top left corner to the bottom right corner with the mouse. This shape can then be rotated with the central control point, or by specifying a rotation angle in the control panel.
	Duplicate Shape	Duplicate the selected aperture(s).
	Delete Shape	Delete the selected aperture(s).
	Flip Horizontally	Flip the selected aperture horizontally. If no aperture is selected then the entire mat is flipped.
	Flip Vertically	Flip the selected aperture horizontally. If no aperture is selected then the entire mat is flipped.
	Rotate Clockwise	Rotate the selected aperture right by 90 degrees. If no aperture is selected then the entire mat is rotated. If the mat is not square it will be rotated by 180 degrees.
	Rotate Anti-clockwise	Rotate the selected aperture left by 90 degrees. If no aperture is selected then the entire mat is rotated. If the mat is not square it will be rotated by 180 degrees.
	Centre Horizontally	Reposition the selected aperture so that it is centred horizontally on the mat. If this is a cover inlay, the aperture is centre excluding the binding strip on the left.
	Centre Vertically	Reposition the selected aperture so that it is centred vertically on the mat.
	Snap to Grid	Snap the tool operations to the grid.
	Show Grid / Pitch	Display the grid, and modify the grid spacing.
	Show Photos	Display the photos which are already placed in the apertures.

Nudge

To make small movements of 1mm (0.03") first select the shape and then use the arrow keys on your keyboard.

Group Alignment Tools

These tools are used to group and align a series of apertures.  Using the pointer, simply drag it around the outside of the apertures to be grouped.  Alternatively, you can hold down the SHIFT key and select each aperture.

NOTE: The first aperture selected is the reference point for positioning the other apertures.

Mat Canvas

This shows the current state of the custom mat. Apertures can be moved or manipulated based on the current tool (see Tools above). Only one aperture can be selected at a time.

Also shown on here may be hints regarding the location of embossing panels or cover binding strips if applicable.

Control Panel

Shape Selector                                      

This allows you to change the shape of an aperture. Simply change the shape name and the aperture will change the type. A warning will be presented if the actual shape may change.

Z Order

If apertures are overlapping, the one with a higher Z-Order value will show on top. This is only relevant for overlapping apertures - mainly for E-Albums.

Border

Select the checkbox to enable an aperture keyline border for any image placed there. The next few items determine the characteristics of the border. See Placing Photos for further detail.

Colour

The colour of the keyline border.

Line Width

The width of the keyline border in mm.

Shape Attributes

The actual position of the shape selected. This will either contain the location of the aperture, or the position of the points if it is a Polygon.

Saving Custom Mats in "Favourites"

An easier alternative to exporting and importing custom mats is to save them to your "Favourites" list.  These will then appear each time you open the same album type.

Exporting Custom Mats

To export the custom mats in the Custom Mat category of an album select Mat -> Export Custom Mats from the menu. This file can be imported into other albums.

Importing Custom Mats

Custom Mats may be imported from previously exported mat files, or from saved album files. Select Mat -> Import Custom Mats and choose the mat file (.jamats) or album file (.jlb). The custom mats will be added to the Custom Mat category of your album.