CAMTASTIC_Cmd-BuildCompositeBuildComposite_AD

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to create a single composite layer from selected existing layers in the current document. The advantage of creating a composite layer is that you can create objects - through addition or subtraction of overlapping objects on different layers - that are not possible to draw or flash on a single layer.

Access

This command is accessed from the CAMtastic Editor by choosing the Edit » Composite Layers » Build Composite command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the Merge Composite dialog will appear, providing the following controls:

• At the top of the dialog are controls for specifying the name for the new layer and also its polarity.
• The main grid section of the dialog is used to specify the layers that you wish to include in the merged composite. Select a layer from the associated drop-down, which contains all currently defined and loaded layers in the design.
• For each layer, specify the polarity as either Dark or Clear. If Dark, the contents of the layer will be added to the merged composite. If Clear, they will be subtracted.
• The Spread field allows you to specify enlargement/reduction of apertures within the associated layer.

After setting up all layers that you wish to include in the merge, click OK - the new layer will be created and added to the layers list in the CAMtastic panel.

Tips

1. The order in which the layers are selected for the merge, is the order in which they will be compiled. This is important because if you do not get the ordering correct for what you wish to achieve with the composite, the results can be somewhat undesirable. For example, if you wish a small area of a larger polygon to be voided, make sure the layer with the polygon is listed first and then the layer containing the void.
2. Existing composite layers should not be used to create new ones.
3. The polarity options for the composite layer simply control (toggle) the polarity settings for the individual layers.