Nesting by shape

What it does

Nest by shape packs the outline of each piece rather than the box round it, so a round sticker can sit in the corner of its neighbour. It is on by default. Under it Studio says what that saved in sheets, for example Saving 1 sheet — 2 by shape against 3 in rows, or that it made no difference, which on a square sticker it honestly often does.

The saving is worked out from the real ink, not from boxes, and it is counted in sheets because that is what you pay for. The gap between pieces is kept all the way round each one, so a circle keeps a round gap and not a square one.

Why it matters for your shop

For circles, triangles, shields and stars, the box round the shape is bigger than the shape, and every one of those boxes is paid for in stock. Packing by outline gets that back. Studio says plainly when it does not help, so a sheet of squares is not dressed up as a saving.

A sheet you arrange by hand stays as you arranged it. The line above the sheet changes from Arranged automatically to Arranged by hand — re-pack, and Studio never packs it again behind your back. Press the re-pack control when you want it packed again.

How to use it

1. Press Add design and choose your files. Each lands with its cut line drawn.
2. Open the Job tab. Nest by shape is on. Type a number into Gap between pieces and the pieces move apart.
3. Read the line under it for what nesting saved.
4. Fill the sheet — N sets the copies to the most that fit. N is Studio's own count from packing a sheet, not an estimate. It is not offered when there are two designs on the sheet, because Studio cannot know in what proportion you want them.
5. To move several pieces, press on an empty part of the sheet and drag a box. Shift adds to the choice, Alt takes away and Escape lets the box go. Drag any chosen piece and they all move together. One Undo puts the whole group back.

Learn more

Add designs and set the gap is the how-to guide.