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Designing for Stained Glass - Part Three

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In the first article of this series, I promised to talk more about design software. While using software for design work - it's actually CAD (computer aided design) software - may seem intimidating to some, I hope you'll give it a try. I've found three sources for stained glass design software on the internet so far. They all allow you to download a demo version so you can get an experience of what the software will do before you buy it.

American Bevel Designer I and Designer II
These programs have images available for American Bevel clusters, standard straight line bevels, and other stock bevels In addition, the Designer II version has glass libraries from various manufacturers so you can incorporate images of the actual glass into the pattern.

Dragonfly Software - The Glass Eye
This package lets you incorporate your own scanned images and has available the images of both stock and bevel clusters from Mika International.

SGDesigns - Pattern Wizard
This program also lets you fill in the design with images of real glass. There is also a resizing program to make the design in different dimensions. This author has nice pictures of the actual program screens on the site.

One advantage of making design drawings with software is the ability to save them in the computer for future reference. Changes can also be made more easily and a copy of one design file can be altered to make new designs. Software that allows you to use colored texture backgrounds that are representations of the actual glass helps you to get a better idea of what your project will look like before you build it. Having a preview of the finished version of your design can be a real advantage - especially if it's a project you're discussing with someone else.

I've only used the American Bevel program so far and I'd be interested in hearing any feedback about how the programs worked . You can join in the discussion for this article or sent me an email if you want.

In the earlier article, I talk about a palmette design panel I made. I used the American Bevel Designer software to draw out the pattern for the interior section of this project.

Using the tools in the software, I executed the rough sketch I had mapped out. Once I was happy with the design, I printed it out and traced it onto the Presstick pattern paper using a light box my father made for me several years ago. I've used the more traditional method of making a pattern to cut glass using kraft paper, pattern paper and carbon paper. This works but I like using the Presstick better. The method doesn't need all the layers of paper, the pattern pieces stick well for cutting and peal off when I'm done.

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