TIPS FOR USING THE MASKING TOOL IN AUTO PILOT MACH 3

The Mask Tool will let you select a pattern as a mask object and a pattern to be masked. The mask tool operates like a cookie-cutter.

Mask will remove everything either inside of the mask, or outside, depending on your choice.

Select the pattern to use as mask object and click the "Build" button to create the mask.

Once the mask has finished building it will be purple. Purple is a preview, if the correct object was chosen, carry on.

If the object looked like it was turning purple and then nothing happened make sure the object is closed.

You cannot use an open shape as a mask. If the wrong object was chosen, or it seems like it is taking a long time, click "Cancel" to cancel the mask. If it is taking a long time, there is a ton of data it is sorting through, this is usually an indication that the wrong pattern was chosen, or the pattern is open and not closed.

Click to select the edge of the purple mask object. The mask object will turn red when selected and the name of the mask will be shown on the sidebar, next to the mask field. Red means ready to cut.

This may not be necessary, but you can edit the mask object by selecting the mask and clicking the Edit button. Selected mask will then turn green. Click inside the mask to trim out areas of the mask object. Click "Done" when finished editing the mask. Mask will turn purple again.

Select the options you would like to use for masking.

“Mask Inside” will erase what is inside the mask object.

“Mask Outside” will erase what is outside the mask object.

“Continuous Sew” will make the created mask sew as continuous as possible, meaning the pattern that is being masked will try to complete the path using the shortest distance from point to point, rather than hit the mask and stop. If you choose to not have “Continuous Sew” on, everywhere the pattern hits the mask will need to be tied off.

“Sew Mask Outline” will sew the outline created by the mask object.

Select the pattern to be masked. When pattern to be masked is selected, the name of the pattern will be shown on the sidebar, next to Pattern field. When both Mask and Pattern have been selected, click the "Accept" button to apply the mask to the selected pattern.

Note: Whatever pattern is chosen for use as the mask object, is “used up” by the process. Meaning the object used for the mask will no longer be there after the mask is performed. If you are going to be doing several masks using the same shape make a copy and retain it, or save the mask within the mask tool for use again.

 

 

Example:

You have picture on your quilt you do not want to quilt over with your edge to edge. When this picture is within your sew zone you can start the masking process.

Use push pins to create the object to use as the mask. Open Push Pins, select connect while placing, close when done.

Use the sew head to trace around the object, while tracing, press the white handle button on the sew head to drop pushpins.

When you have made it all the way around click “done” in the push pin tool.

The push pin line will now be purple. Purple is locked. You must unlock the object to use it.

To unlock the push pin line, right-click somewhere in open space on your screen, the right-click menu will pop up. The very bottom of this menu has Group Manager. Open Group Manager and look for Push Pin Pattern. Click on “Dequeued and Locked” and change it to “Queued and Unlocked”

Now you may use it as your mask.

Open the mask tool, click on the push pin line. Click build.

The shape will fill with purple.

Click on the edge of the shape to turn it red.

Select “Mask inside” and “Continuous Sew” then click on the pattern that you want to cut, in this case, the Edge to Edge in the background.

Then click “Accept”

The pattern inside the push pin line will now have disappeared. Mask complete!