Stupid question...

[wombat1138]

I'm trying to find some simple way to record paper-cutting patterns-- basically, ways to optimize different sizes of squares that can be harvested from common paper sizes, frex dividing a 8.5x11" sheet to get a 5" square, a 6" square, a 3.5" square, three 2.5" squares, and a small leftover 1x1.5" rectangle.

I can't believe there isn't an easy way to do this with OpenOffice Draw or Microsoft Paint; so far, the closest I've gotten is setting up a visible/snappable grid in OpenOffice and setting all margins to zero, but then it doesn't seem happy about overlapping the edges of different squares. I suspect I am missing something crashingly obvious, but am nearly resigned to just physically drawing the lines onto appropriately-proportioned sheets of paper or index cards, and then hoping I don't lose the resulting templates. Any tips/thoughts from anyone?

Comments

[carneggy.livejournal.com]

In Word, I'd just add a bunch of AutoShape rectangles that have been resized to the exact sizes you need, and then print that page.

[carneggy.livejournal.com]

(Or alternately, use the Autoshape lines to draw edge-to-edge lines as needed.)

[wombat1138.livejournal.com]

Hmm-- ideally, I just want a small, simple line graphic that I can upload somewhere; I don't actually need a full-sized physical template, just an indication how the different-sized squares fit together. (Inking the outlines onto quadrille-ruled index cards would be great if I were more confident of not losing track of them.) I don't have MS Word loaded at home, but I can schlep over to the library tomorrow and try it on one of their machines; thanks for the tip :)