Canvas Size and Measurements

Created by Sunny Hart, Modified on Tue, 3 Mar at 9:05 AM by Sunny Hart

STEK EDGE • Canvas

Resize Canvas: Match Your Film Size and Avoid Miscuts

Resize the canvas to match your film/media size so you can lay out patterns accurately and reduce wasted material.

Purpose: Resize the canvas to match your film/media size so you can lay out patterns accurately and reduce wasted material.

Tool to: STEK EDGE (current version) — Canvas → Resize Canvas

Margin reminder: EDGE includes a default safe margin (about ¼ inch, or equivalent in mm). Keep patterns inside this safe area to reduce edge miscuts.

Why this matters

Problem: If your canvas size does not match the film roll you are actually loading, it’s easy to place patterns outside the usable area. That can cause miscuts or patterns being cut off.
What EDGE improves: Resize Canvas lets you set canvas width and length using presets or manual input, and you can switch units between metric and imperial.
Result: Cleaner layouts, fewer miscuts, and less film waste.

What this feature does

What it is: A canvas tool that changes the canvas width and length so the working area matches your film/media.
What it helps you do: Confirm how many patterns fit on your roll length (ex: 50 ft / 15 m) and roll width (ex: 48 in / 60 in / 72 in) before plotting.
What it does not do (optional): It does not change the physical roll loaded in the plotter. You still need to load and align the media correctly on the machine.

Videos

Video

Video — Resize Canvas (Set media width/length + margins)

Covers: Setting canvas width/length using presets or manual input, switching units, and understanding the default margin.

When to use: Before plotting, especially when you change roll width, change roll length, or run a job that tightly fills the film.

Before you start

You need: Patterns opened in the canvas (or be ready to open them).
Recommended: Know your roll width and planned job length before resizing (ex: 48/60/72 in; 50 ft / 15 m).
Terms used (optional): Canvas width/length = working area; Presets = predefined sizes; Margin/safe area = buffer near edges.

How to use it

Workflow

Workflow A — Recommended (use preset sizes)

Open Resize Canvas
Where: Canvas → Resize Canvas
Do: Open the resize controls for width and length.
Expected result: You see width/length settings and preset options.
Select a preset canvas size
Where: Resize Canvas → presets list
Do: Choose the preset that matches your film roll size.
Expected result: The canvas updates to the selected width and length.
Review fit and layout
Where: Canvas
Do: Confirm patterns sit within the usable area and are not too close to the edges.
Expected result: You can see how many parts fit and whether placement is safe.

Workflow

Workflow B — Manual input (custom width/length)

Enter width and length manually
Where: Resize Canvas → width/length fields
Do: Type your exact roll width and job length values.
Expected result: The canvas updates to match your inputs.
Switch units (metric ↔ imperial) if needed
Where: Canvas Settings (unit preference)
Do: Switch between metric and imperial based on your shop workflow.
Expected result: Width/length values display in the unit you selected.

Margins (important)

EDGE applies a default margin around the canvas (approximately ¼ inch, or the equivalent in millimeters). This creates a safe area so patterns are not placed too close to the film edge.

Why this exists: Plotters have real-world constraints (tracking, pinch rollers, edge tolerance). A pattern near the edge can miscut even if the software looks correct.
What to do: Keep patterns inside the safe area and leave extra clearance when your job is tight.
Benefit: Helps prevent patterns being cut too close to the edge, cut in half, or plotted outside the film.

Tips

Resize the canvas before final layout so you don’t push parts outside the usable area.
If you run tight layouts, zoom in and check the edges carefully before plotting.
If you switch between inches and mm, change units first so you can validate sizes correctly.

Common mistakes

Mistake: Using a default canvas size that does not match the roll → Fix: Resize Canvas to the correct width and job length before plotting.
Mistake: Ignoring the margin/safe area and placing parts on the edge → Fix: Keep all patterns inside the safe area.
Mistake: Entering manual values in the wrong unit → Fix: Confirm metric vs imperial first, then re-enter values.

Troubleshooting

Issue: Patterns appear outside the usable film area after resizing
Cause: Canvas size is smaller than the layout, or patterns were placed before resizing
Fix: Resize first, then rearrange patterns inside the safe area. Re-check the edges.

Issue: Plotter cuts too close to the edge even though the layout looked okay
Cause: Roll alignment and plotter margins differ from the canvas safe area
Fix: Keep extra clearance, confirm plotter alignment, and validate roll setup.

Wrap-up

You resized the canvas to match your real film/media size, used presets or manual input, and validated placement using the built-in safe margin. This reduces miscuts and waste by ensuring patterns fit the usable film area before plotting.