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Millimeter options

warning

While FreeSewing supports millimeter options, we recommend using percentage options. While there are good reasons to use millimeter options, we may reject contributions that (ab)use them outside of a valid use case.

Structure​

A millimeter option should be a plain object with these properties:

  • mm : The default value in millimeters
  • min : The minimum that's allowed
  • max : The maximum that's allowed

Example​

options: {
  elasticWidth: {
    mm:  35,
    min:  5,
    max: 80
  }
}
COMMENT (by joost)

What's wrong with millimeter options?​

Millimeter options do not scale. Parametric design is the raison d'être of FreeSewing and that core belief that things should seamlessly adapt goes out the window when you use a mm option because now you have a value that will not change based on the input measurements.

When you need a millimeter option, reach for a snapped percentage option instead.

When to use millimeter options?​

There are some use-cases where a millimeter option makes sense. This is not an exhaustive list, so use your own judgement.

When the option is a de-facto measurement​

When an option functions as a de-facto measurement, you should use a millimeter option. For example, when you are designing a tent pattern, the length of the tent makes perfect sense as a millimeter option as FreeSewing does not have a length-of-tent measurements, and adding one does not make a lot of sense.