Projector PDF

A projector PDF is for a projector over a cutting table: it shows the pattern at full size on the fabric, leather or carpet, so you cut round it without printing or tracing. Write one with File › Export › Export…, choosing Projector PDF. It is offered first for Sewing, Leather goods, Carpets and Sign making drawings.

What it writes

One page at full size (1:1): the drawing, its margin, and a test square under it.
Light, thick lines on black (what a projector shows best: the black isn't projected), in the colours the drawing has on screen in the dark theme; or dark lines on white.
Every line the same width (1 mm unless you choose another), so it shows on the material.
Each layer a PDF layer, to show and hide in your PDF viewer's layers panel (cutting lines only, say, or one size of a graded pattern); or, with A page for each layer, each layer on a page of its own, named after it.
A test square (10 cm or 4 in) and, if you like, a calibration grid over the page, to set the projector's size and keystone by: line them up with your cutting mat's grid or a ruler.
Mirrored, if you choose, to cut from the back of the material.

A page wider or taller than 5080 mm (200 in) is more than PDF viewers show: the messages say so. Export part of the drawing, or a layer at a time.

Options

Option	Does
Black background	Light lines on black; off: dark lines on white.
Line width	Every line this wide: 1 mm.
Mirrored	Flipped left to right.
A page for each layer	A page per layer instead of one page with PDF layers.
Margin	Round the drawing: 10 mm.
Test square	The square under the drawing, 10 cm or 4 in across.
Calibration grid	Lines this far apart across the page (none, unless you set it).

Projecting

Open the PDF in a viewer that shows pages at actual size (Adobe Reader, PDF Projector apps, Inkscape) and show it full screen on the projector. Zoom and move the view until the test square measures 10 cm (or 4 in) on the table, square the keystone with the grid, then turn on the layers you want to see.