If your input file does not group shapes in an optimal way, you can split each shape into individual files and then re-nest them to improve layout efficiency in PrimeCenter. Having one file per shape is especially useful for applications like lettering.
How it works
Splitting and re-nesting shapes involves two steps:
-
Apply the “Split for re-nest” check/fix profile.
- Nest the newly generated files. For more details on nesting, see Nesting in PrimeCenter.
Prerequisites
Before applying the profile, you may need to learn more about check/fix profiles:
- Understanding check/fix profiles and how to use them
- Managing check/fix profiles
- How to apply a check/fix profile to a file?
- List of check/fix profiles included in PrimeCenter
Configuring the “Split for re-nest” profile
This profile includes several settings to define how shapes are split.
PrimeCenter V3.1
Contour
📌 Contour selection
This option is available since PrimeCenter V3.1.
Select which contours to use for splitting:
- Specific contours: Choose specific cut contour names from the Cut contours list (formerly "Dictionary").
-
All detected contours: Automatically considers all contours in the Cut contours list (formerly "Dictionary").
Warning
If multiple contours are detected in the file, all of them will be used for splitting.
📌 Remove objects after split
Choose how objects outside the split shapes are handled:
- Outside of the page area (optimized): Removes objects outside the page area. Objects inside the page area are kept, and those crossing the edge are hidden.
- Outside of the shape area (slower): Removes objects outside the shape’s contour. The output PDF will contain only the split shapes.
- None: All objects are kept but hidden.
| Input file | Outside of the page area (optimized) | Outside of the shape area (slower) | None |
📌 Create shape on most external contour
- ✅ Enabled: Only considers the most external contour.
- ❌ Disabled: Generates a file for each cut contour inside the shape.
| Input file | ✅ Enabled | ❌ Disabled |
Adjustments
-
Minimal object size: Define the minimum size of shapes to be considered for splitting.
- Example: If set to 5 mm, smaller shapes will be ignored.
- Tolerance for detection: Set a tolerance value for detecting contours. If set to X mm, contours larger than X mm may not be detected correctly.
Examples
Example 1: Lettering for signs
Input file
Split for re-nest settings
- Contour: CutContour (name used in the input file)
- Minimal object size: 0 mm
- Remove objects after split: Outside of the shape area
- Create shape on most external contour: ✅ Enabled
Result
16 files generated (one per shape).
Nested output file
Example 2: Layout optimization
Input file
Split for re-nest settings
- Contour: cutcontour (name used in the input file)
- Minimal objects size: 5 mm
- Remove objects after split: Outside of the shape area
- Create shape on most external contour: ✅ Enabled
Result
27 files generated (one per shape).