Choose an export
Compare all eight export actions, prepare the current design, and know what the download should contain before you use it.
Compare the formats
| Action | Current job | Scale and medium | Choices before download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel DXF | Open or plot one full-size panel layer at a time in CAD | 1:1 DXF in millimetres | None |
| Cloth Layout DXF | Place generated panels on roll-width strips | Full-size DXF in millimetres | Colour groups come from the panel-viewer action |
| Corner Patches DXF | Export the tack, head, and clew reinforcement patterns | 1:1 DXF in millimetres | None |
| Plotter PDF | Print one full-size panel per wide-format page | 1:1 PDF with a page sized to each panel | None |
| Offset PDF | Reconstruct panels from measurements on A4 sheets | Dimensioned, schematic A4 PDF | File-menu dialog defaults to a 2,400 mm workbench limit |
| Projector SVG | Project the first generated panel at full size | 1:1 SVG in millimetres | None |
| Tiled PDF | Print each panel at a chosen ratio on ordinary paper | A3 or A4 PDF; default 1:25 | Paper size and scale denominator |
| Prototype PDF | Pack selected, grain-aligned panels onto shared paper pages | A3 or A4 PDF; default Fit to page | Paper, fit/manual scale, and panel checklist |
Corner Patches DXF is the only action that does not need generated panels. It is generated from the current mould and patch settings, so it stays available before panel generation. Every other action exports the last generated flat-panel set.
Prepare the design
Generate the current panels when required
Choose Panels > Generate Panels, then check the result with Panels > View Panels. If a design change disabled View Panels, generate again before using any panel-based export.
Skip this step only for Corner Patches DXF.
Choose an entry point
Use File > Export to see all eight actions. After panel generation, you can also open Panels > View Panels and use the export toolbar above the viewer.
The viewer toolbar has seven actions; Corner Patches DXF is available only from the File menu.
Wait for the download
The viewer toolbar adds an ellipsis to the active action and temporarily disables the other export buttons. The File-menu path has no general progress indicator; Cloth Layout DXF is the exception and changes the status bar to exporting cloth layout — this can take a minute or two….
Neither entry point shows a separate success message. Check the browser's downloads when the operation finishes.
Verify before using the file
Open the downloaded file and check its panel labels, units, scale, allowance marks, and page or layer count against the generated set. The app labels the exports as design assistance and tells you to verify dimensions before cutting.
Understand the two export surfaces
The two entry points are not identical.
| Difference | File > Export | Panel-viewer toolbar |
|---|---|---|
| Signed-out state | Items are not greyed out for account state; selecting one shows a sign-in error | Export buttons are disabled and Sign in to export is shown |
| Corner patches | Available, including before panel generation | Not present |
| Cloth colours | Sends one default off-white group | Sends the active resolved panel colours |
| Offset splitting | Opens the workbench-limit dialog | Downloads directly with splitting off |
| In-progress feedback | Only Cloth Layout changes the status bar | Active button shows an ellipsis; all export buttons pause |
| Errors | Dismissible banner and status-bar message | Inline message beside the buttons |
If the design changed after generation, panel-dependent File-menu items are disabled with Generate panels first. A stale request can also return a regeneration message from the online export.
Recover from a failed export
- Create a free account to continue means the current browser session is not signed in. Sign in, return to the design tab, and try again.
- Generate panels before exporting means there is no current generated set. Generate again, even if the status bar still shows an older panel count.
- A full nesting queue or timeout applies only to Cloth Layout DXF. Wait a moment and retry; the layout request may legitimately run for a minute or two.
- A paper/scale or selected-panel error belongs to Tiled PDF or Prototype PDF. Reopen the dialog and choose a valid paper, positive scale, and at least one panel.
- Any other export error means no usable download was produced. Keep the design, review the message, and regenerate or change the relevant option before retrying.