software for jewelry artisans Matrix Re-Defined Matrix Version 6.0 is our most extensive upgrade yet. For over two years, we have been closely examining the tools and concepts that work best for jewelry designers. With History built right into models, a library of history-enabled parts and styles, a completely updated and streamlined interface, a host of new tools that follow the hottest design trends, and new viewport controls that make subtle modifications and creative designing easier than ever before, we think you’ll agree: this is the most efficient, flexible, and creative software tool for jewelry designers yet!   Matrix History Instead of complicated history trees or a list of rules to follow, Matrix History works just the way you’d expect: intuitively, automatically, and with no surprises! Watch history update on-the-fly as you make dramatic or subtle design changes. A complex change that would have taken several steps is now quick and effortless, meaning your design work is free to become a more intuitive, creative process. And, after saving a piece made with the new tools, you can open it days, weeks, or even months later and make any required changes; or, adapt it to a new customer, size, gemstone, or style with ease. History-enabled Sweeps: Change the shape, size, or placement of Profiles and Rails to see instant results in the shape of the surface. Style Pieces: Quickly design by making changes to a library of already-assembled parts and pieces using the principles of History.
software for jewelry artisans Gems, Settings, & Cutters with History: Tools that naturally relate – such as Gems, Prongs, Heads, & Bezels – have built-in history so that changes ripple down through the design, from each related part to the next. Match Attributes: Each gem in the program remembers the values that were used in any Setting or Cutter tools associated with it. “Match Attributes” transfers these settings to another gem in the program, while accommodating all differences in shape, size, and location. Continue editing the new object to perfect your design! Edit Existing Objects: History-enabled Settings tools mean each object retains a “memory” of the program values used to create it. Quickly change an object by opening the builder used to create it and changing the values related to each dimension of the selected object. Interface Changes When interacting with the product, there are now three unique yet interrelated paths a user can take. Operate Matrix completely through the familiar Rhino command line; engage the re-designed, intuitive builder interface; or directly modify pieces in the viewports using the brand-new Viewport Control Handles (VCH). Each method offers a slightly different approach to designing; yet all three work together effortlessly. We’ve learned from our customers that most users get a few tools learned well and stick with them! But what about the range of other options available in the program? Inevitably, a design will arise that will require tools that are new to a user, so we’ve provided a shortcut to help you find the one you need each and every time! Select the item you wish to work on, from a simple ring rail to a complete gem configuration, and press the F6 key. Every option and tool available for use with that item is offered here, without any searching through menus and buttons   for the one you need.
software for jewelry artisans Finally, within a given function, the most commonly- applied tools are handed to you first; with more advanced or complicated options offered at higher levels to simplify your work. With these streamlined options and more ways to find the tools you need, the program is more intuitive than ever before! F6 Key: Select any object onscreen and press “F6” to see a menu of all possible Matrix tools that will work with that object. Viewport Control Handles: Directly control different dimensions on a model by clicking and dragging onscreen handles related to each builder setting. See instant feedback while you work! Redesigned Builder Interface: EVERY builder in the program has been redesigned for an updated, streamlined, and simpler look. Now, a single slider controls each setting, with many builders offering “modes” that lead you Redesigned Style Sheets: A new look for the library of styles available within each Setting and Cutter tool makes it even easier to load new default program styles, and to save your own default styles, thereby creating your own library of styles within each builder. Interactive Booleans: Select this option, available in many new Cutting tools (“Boolean = Yes” & “Select Surface”) and the preview will display the cut version of the surface – not the cutting object – while you work. The final result of the tool will also be the cut surface: not the cutters. Rendering and shaded working modes: A whole host of new “working modes” for shading models have been created to fit the many different ways our customers use Matrix. Modes for better seeing surfaces, technical drawing modes, modes for inspecting tolerances, and design review modes displaying finished metal and gems that can be controlled in real-time are just some of the new additions. Each new offering makes it easier to see, work on, design, evaluate, and present jewelry in any of the number of ways people use the product. Next Generation Render Engine: Cutting-edge technology available through the new VRay render engine has been combined with the speed and ease of the Matrix tools to apply exclusive, Gemvision- created metal and gem materials to finished designs. Quickly configure a render through this intuitive interface, from a quick 30-second render that makes the sale to the ultra-realistic render that goes on your website or in your store window.  
software for jewelry artisans New Tools: Anticipate Design Trends: Jewelry is fashion, and fashion is always changing.  Matrix has always been developed with an eye to the latest trends, while keeping in mind what has come before and keeping abreast of what may be on the way. Version 6.0 is no different, offering a wide variety of brand-new tools as well as newly redesigned tools that are specific to both the emerging trends and those that are yet to come! Subtlety of design is now available with new speed and ease: Looking at great design work, it is clear that small details make a big difference. This level of subtlety has traditionally been hard to achieve in CAD; or, at the very least, time-consuming. The problem is simply that there are countless variables that can make or break great design. We examined these details very closely and developed new tools and techniques that allow designers to control small details far more quickly and easily than ever before.   Creative design workflow: Through dialoguing directly with our customer base, Gemvision has adapted the software to work the way our users work. And above all else, we’ve learned that everyone works on the product a little bit differently! Now, whether you take a straight line or a meandering path through the design process, Matrix 6.0 provides amazing flexibility to fit the way you work. Designing “on-the-fly” is easier than ever before, meaning you can start by laying out gems, or designing a shank, or a little bit of both! Designing and Duplicating: Two ways to use the product: When designing a new piece, you want to use tools that are more freeform and creative; but when duplicating an existing design, you need tools that are very quick and precise. Matrix provides both kinds of tools, as well as tools with the built-in flexibility to work either way. Meets users at ANY skill-level: In a way no other version has been able to do in the past, Matrix 6.0 offers functionality that Rhino can’t provide alone; making it effective for all levels of users. These tools are easy to learn for a brand-new user while being powerful enough for the most advanced user. Rhino Tools Made More Powerful: With access to the very heart of the Rhino engine, Gemvision developer were able to adapt some of the commonly-used Rhino tools to the way jewelers use them most! Newly Redesigned Info & Settings: Quick access to a few key pieces of “Object Information” about any object onscreen is now a click away. Labels show up right beside their objects; or, try “Super-Selecting” just the ones you need. Matrix History and Rhino History can be toggled on and off easily from the new, icon-driven Information & Settings menu.
software for jewelry artisans Matrix 6 New Tools List New Cutters Brite Cutters: Two brite cutter builders create either a complete channel of brite-cut stones or a single cutter you can rotate for a number of cool brite-cutting effects.   Micro Prongs: Create the sweet scalloped Micro Pave effect under a row of stones, even “bending” the cutter to create the neatly angled sides and fishtail- effect of the real thing! New Gems Tools Emerald & Baguette Builders: Control the girdle thickness, corners, and taper of emerald and baguette stones to match the exact stone you have in front of you. Emerald Cluster & Emerald Profile: Add gems around any emerald stone, or just add an emerald- shaped setting, to create the difficult emerald cluster shape. Advanced Cluster Builder: Create a cluster of gems around any-shaped curve, for unique and funky cluster designs. Advanced Pave Builder: Pave has been completely overhauled, with sophisticated new mathematics that provide you with control over the exact layout of the stones, their sizes, and how they “interact” with one another and with the edge curves of their surface to create lines, hex patterns, or purely random patterns. Gem Control: Similar to Gem Follow, this tool points the culet of a gem to any object onscreen while using history. Move this object around and all the gems move to, for quickly designing and redesigning pieces without the time-consuming hassle of repetitive edits. Gems Between Two Curves: Sounds simple, but it’s not: let the builder calculate the math for you, placing exactly the size gems you’ll need in the spaces between any two curves in space. Baguettes Between Two Curves: Build a baguette anywhere in space by choosing two curves between which to fit it.
software for jewelry artisans Gem Follow: With a complex Pave pattern or gem configuration laid out, this amazing tool orients the “North” of all the selected tones to any object you indicate. In that way, stunningly different prong arrangements can be created that offer unique effects on any surface. Baguette Channel: Choose the size, taper, and location of a channel of baguettes, letting the builder calculate the difficult math for you to fit just the gems you need! New Settings Metal Piece: Instantly add a metal profile around a gem line, creating a surface from gems instead of the other way around! This amazing tool incorporates history, so that any gem you move will cause the surface to follow suit, accommodating your changes for instant style edits and spectacular surface control. Object on a Curve: Choose a library piece or create your own to array interactively along a curve, either uniform or tapered, at the size and spacing you choose. Millgrain Builder: Array a sphere along a curve to create interactive millgrain for which you can adjust the taper, size, and spacing. Channel Border Curve: Quickly add a curve around a row of gems, adjusting its distance from the gems and its length on either end.   New Profile & Rail Tools Sweep 1 History, Sweep 2 History, and Multi Rail Sweep History: Input up to four rail curves and still sweep a surface automatically. Sweep history with any number of rails and profiles accommodates any changes you make to rail and profile curves, updating the surface instantly while you work. No more slowing down for intricate design changes, Sweep History tools will save you hours on complicated surface modeling, but are easy enough for a beginner to get amazing control over how surfaces sweep along their rails! Profile Blend: Blend Targets’ new big brother, Profile Blend instantly blends a history-enabled surface between any profiles onscreen, making surface modeling a snap. Move or change the shape of surfaces to make complicated design changes in mere seconds.
software for jewelry artisans Curve from 2 Views History: Just like Curve from two views, this tool lets you edit input curves and see the effects in the resulting curve. Custom Rail Advanced: A true “Curve from three views”, this amazing tool inputs up to 3 shape curves in 3 different views and incorporates them all into a single curve. Adjust the blend on the resulting curve, using more of one shape curve than the other, and incorporate this tool with Multi Rail Sweep History for a fully interactive model. Even the most experienced user will never model the same way again! Get Profile: Create your own profile with Curve tools and instantly input it into the Profile Placer with a few simple clicks. Profile Merge: This smart tool merges two side-by-side profiles into one, taking the busy work out of setting up split shank designs that converge at the side of the ring.   Rhino Tools Made More Powerful Polyline on Surface: Draw a polyline and instantly project it to a surface while you work. GV Extract Isocurve: Extract an isocurve from a surface and rotate it, while it still adheres to the surface. Extrude All: Extrude many curves at a time, with access to all Extrude tools in one. Pipe All: Pipe many curves at a time. Make Downward Facing: Transform any object so a new side faces down. Mirror Mode / Mirror Mode Shatter: Mirror interactively while you work, seeing changes on the other half, quadrant, or opposite quadrant of your screen. Gem Flow Along: The Flow Along Curve and Surface commands work with gem and block objects Gem Splop: The “Splop” command works on gems and block objects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

software for jewelry artisans Newly Redesigned Info & Settings Object Info: Labels show up right beside their objects or the old layout. Super Select: Access to just the objects you need. Options are based on what you have onscreen.   Rhino & Matrix History: Quickly turn on and off Rhino History Access Matrix History directly, to turn it on and off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matrix Version 6.0: Matrix Re-Defined.

 

Jewelry design trends have changed. Has your jewelry design software?

 

Redefining 3D jewelry design. Matrix Version 6.0 is our most extensive upgrade yet. For over two years, we have been closely examining the tools and concepts that work for jewelry designers. With access to the very heart of the Rhino engine, our software engineers are able to fully tap its potential, and have now taken it a step beyond to make the most comprehensive 3D jewelry design tools in the business. Tools found in Matrix 6.0 are not available in Rhino alone or in other CAD packages. With the speed, flexibility, and amazing efficiency of Version 6.0 tools, we think you’ll agree: the extra effort has paid off!

 

Massive upgrades provide the most advanced tools in the industry. Jewelry design requires a very specific set of tools. Yet over the past few years, more and more products have come out on the market claiming to be jewelry design software.  Most of these products are merely a capable CAD package with a gem library. In contrast, Matrix offers the most extensive tool set of any software package available, with a range of jewelry-specific functions not available in any other product. Matrix is more than just another plug in: it’s a completely new way of designing jewelry product, running over the top of the very capable Rhino engine. 


New Differences between Matrix and Rhino. From the look of the interface to the way you interact with the model on the screen, Matrix provides freedom and flexibility not available in Rhino alone. However, the core Rhino tools are always at your finger tips. Tools in Matrix Version 6.0 offer jewelry designers more creative, flexible, and capable control over the modeling process than ever before.

 

Finally: CAD that approaches design from a designer’s perspective.

 

Trends….following them and anticipating them.  Jewelry is fashion, and fashion is always changing.  Matrix has always been developed with an eye to the latest trends, while keeping in mind what has come before and keeping abreast of what may be on the way. Version 6.0 is no different, offering a wide variety of brand-new tools as well as newly redesigned tools that are specific to both the emerging trends and those that are yet to come!

 

Subtlety of design is now available with new speed and ease. Looking at great design work, it is clear that small details make a big difference. This level of subtlety has traditionally been hard to achieve in CAD; or, at the very least, time-consuming. The problem is simply that there are countless variables that can make or break great design. We examined these details very closely and developed new tools and techniques that allow designers to control small details far more quickly and easily than ever before.   

 

Jewelry design workflow. Through dialoguing directly with our customer base, Gemvision has adapted the software to work the way our users work. And above all else, we’ve learned that everyone works on the product a little bit differently! Now, whether you take a straight line or a meandering path through the design process, Matrix 6.0 provides amazing flexibility to fit the way you work. Designing “on-the-fly” is easier than ever before, meaning you can start by laying out gems, or designing a shank, or a little bit of both!

Designing and Duplicating: Two ways to use the product. When designing a new piece, you want to use tools that are more freeform and creative; but when duplicating an existing design, you need tools that are very quick and precise. Matrix provides both kinds of tools, as well as tools with the built-in flexibility to work either way.

 

Easy-to-use History is built right into the design elements.

 

At last: a CAD product with History that is easy to use.  In a brand-new feature not available anywhere else in the industry, “History” in Matrix means that each item you build with the new tools has a “memory” of the settings used to create it. Instead of complicated history trees or a list of rules to follow, Matrix History works just the way you’d expect: intuitively, automatically, and with no surprises! Watch history update on-the-fly as you make dramatic or subtle design changes. A complex change that would have taken several steps is now quick and effortless, meaning your design work is free to become a more intuitive creative process. And, after saving a piece made with the new tools, you can open it days, weeks, or even months later and make any required changes; or, adapt it to a new customer, size, gemstone, or style with ease.

 

History through tools that work together.  Another feature integrated into Matrix history means tools that naturally relate – such as Gems, Prongs, Underbezels, Heads, Cutters, etc - work together through history to make your job easier. Matrix 6.0 achieves a new level of interaction by building history into each related element of a design. Items with history automatically work together, so that changes ripple down through your design from each related part to the next.

 

Match Attributes speeds up design time. Another function of history means that a new item can be quickly told to mimic the settings of an existing item with the “Match Attributes” tool. This tool saves you time by effortlessly re-creating the same design on a different piece. Build a part just once: then, apply your design to different shapes, sizes, and locations on a piece to quickly create a line of jewelry, develop new variations on an existing design, or add the same design element to different parts of a single piece while you work.

 

Library Items for Quick Builds. Creating a design from scratch ensures you get exactly what you want. But often, the base of a design comes from a standard part or profile. Matrix now offers a library of parts made enormously flexible through the power of history. Call up a part or piece that is very close to your needs and quickly edit it so it will fit right into your design. Build library parts yourself to create your own custom line which may be applied again and again to a range of gem sizes and styles through the power of history.

 

Adapting the program to the ways our users work.

 

An Updated Interface. Extensive work has been done by Gemvision developers and graphic designers alike to create a completely new, user-friendly graphic display. When interacting with the product, there are now three unique yet interrelated paths a user can take. Operate Matrix completely through the familiar Rhino command line; engage the re-designed, intuitive builder interface; or directly modify pieces in the viewports using the brand-new Viewport Control Handles (VCH). Each method offers a slightly different approach to designing; yet all three work together effortlessly. We’ll let you decide which method is best for you.

 

Quick access to common tools. We’ve learned from our customers that most users get a few tools learned well and stick with them! But what about the range of other options available in the program? Inevitably, a design will arise that will require tools that are new to a user, so we’ve provided a shortcut to help you find the one you need each and every time! Select the item you wish to work on, from a simple ring rail to a complete gem configuration, and press the F6 key. Every option and tool available for use with that item is offered here, without any searching through menus and buttons for the one you need. And within a given function, the most commonly-applied tools are handed to you first; with more advanced or complicated options offered at higher levels to simplify your work. With these streamlined options and more ways to find the tools you need, the program is more intuitive than ever before!

 

Rendering and shaded working modes. A whole host of new “working modes” for shading models have been created to fit the many different ways our customers use Matrix. Modes for better seeing surfaces, technical drawing modes, modes for inspecting tolerances, and design review modes displaying finished metal and gems that can be controlled in real-time are just some of the new additions. Each new offering makes it easier to see, work on, design, evaluate, and present jewelry in any of the number of ways people use the product.

 

Next Generation Render Engine. From the quickest to the most spectacular photo-quality render, Matrix 6.0 delivers. Cutting-edge technology available through the new VRay render engine has been combined with the speed and ease of the Matrix tools to apply exclusive, Gemvision- created metal and gem materials to your designs. Quickly configure a render through this intuitive interface, from a quick 30-second render that makes the sale to the ultra-realistic render that goes on your website or in your store window.

 

Tools that are intuitive and effective for all levels of user: brand-new thru advanced.

 

Meets users at ANY skill-level. In a way no other version has been able to do in the past, Matrix 6.0 offers functionality that Rhino can’t provide alone; making it effective for all levels of users. These tools are easy to learn for a brand-new user while being powerful enough for the most advanced user.

 

Updated Gem Tools. Whether you’re creating pave, gems along a line, one-of-a-kind gem shapes, or simply loading and editing a single gem, Matrix Version 6.0 offers the largest array of tools for laying out and adjusting gems. Control over gems’ scale, rotation, and movement have been combined into one simple tool. And pave layout has been improved and made even more sophisticated to automatically produce beautiful, flowing patters over even the most demanding surfaces.

 

Redesigned instruction manual and online help. Learn the product from basic through advanced at the skill-level and speed most effective for you with the newly-restructured Help manual. Choose a level – Primary, Intermediate, or Advanced – that suits your learning needs; or, reference the comprehensive index to find the tool you need to know. Access the online help in the program to view video tutorials and instructional animations that walk you through how to use each tool. Finally, email Gemvision tech support, access our extensive newsgroup, and browse additional online tutorials directly through the program.

A World-Class Product for a World-Wide Market

 

Multi-Language versions. As the rest of the world discovers Matrix, we were challenged with how to make the translation to other languages.  With Version 6 we now offer French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Polish, with others in the works.