Overview

Shade Sail Software

Developed specifically for the shade sail industry, who use HDPE knitted fabric, this stand-alone (no CAD system required!) application runs on Microsoft Windows based computers.

reports
MPanel Shade Designer provides a step-by-step wizard interface that virtually walks the user through the process of creating a three-dimensional model and an accurate flat fabric pattern of a shade sail structure.

Utilizing the same powerful tools found in our popular MPanel design and pattering software, MPanel Shade Designer features options for including seam allowance and material compensation (to plan for the stretch in the material) as well as a fully dimensioned pattern in a printable, production ready report, all with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Support for the user to create and save custom databases of different shade cloth materials and various corner hardware & connection methods are also included. A fully-featured evaluation version is available for download by completing the registration form via the demo tab above which will setup a private Dashboard for you where you can download the software and license key, make purchases or choose other programs to evaluate.

Tutorials

Shade Sail Design & Patterning Software


Getting started videos
Getting started
Editing databases

Sail shade design videos
Materials
Measurements
Calculations
Visualization

Production videos
Fabric pattern
Estimation
Production and visualization reports
Editing databases

Shadow analysis using MPanel Shade Designer

If you would like to do a shadow analysis using the shade sail that you have designed with MPanel Shade Designer, there are two simple methods.

1. MPanel Shade Designer and Awning Composer from Trivantage – Click Here

2. MPanel Shade Designer and Trimble Sketchup – Click Here to see a document showing the steps

3. MPanel Shade Designer and Trimble SketchUp – Click Here to see a video showing the steps

 

Awning Composer® and Tri Vantage® are registered trademarks of Glen Raven, Inc. Copyright © 2013

Sketchup® is a registered trademark of Trimble©

Version History


Version change log

Version 16 2024-09-04
Version 16 (Sept 2024):
Mapping of multiple panels allowing new partial panels.
New edge type "continuous cable".
Sets the "same tension on all around" check box automatically.
Extra cable length for production added to databases and reports.
Startup log window will close automatically after 1 minute.
The program is now 64 bit for faster execution and larger image sizes. 
A 32 bit is available for old computers for 12 months.
Version 15 2023-09-10
Version 15 (Sept 2023):
Reo patches now shown in Fabric view.
Panels and Reo patches are now labelled.
Panels and Reo patches can now be moved and rotated in fabric pattern view.
This allows "hand nesting" of panels inside the roll lines.
Reo patches now have a line indicating the force reaction direction.
Dimensions and labels can be shown or hidden with a toolbar button.
Panel exports include the Reo patch with reaction line.
Panel Mapping reports minimum fabric length if panels fit in fabric width

Version 14 (Sept 2022):
Center panel for 3, 5 and 6 sided sails available for evenly spaced or fabric width spaced panels
Mapped total fabric length checks if end strips will fit into roll width and then counts longest length.
New "Sail Join" edge style added as work-around to make multi-part sail patterns which can be joined to form sails with more than 6 sides
Drop down arrows implemented on measurement tables
Date entered now uses a date/time picker box and legacy files still read in OK.

Version 14 2022-09-07
Version 14 (Sept 2022):
Center panel for 3, 5 and 6 sided sails available for evenly spaced or fabric width spaced panels
Mapped total fabric length checks if end strips will fit into roll width and then counts longest length.
New "Sail Join" edge style added as work-around to make multi-part sail patterns which can be joined to form sails with more than 6 sides
Drop down arrows implemented on measurement tables
Date entered now uses a date/time picker box and legacy files still read in OK.
Version 13 2021-09-09
Version 13 (Sept 2021):
Corner details such as D-Rings accurately shown and drawn on patterns for plotting
Corner Style adds truncated or rebated corners for plotter/cutter
Match marks added to seams
Shaped seam dip offset now shows deepest point along seam (when max dip is more the 5% from the center)
Panel Mapping now shows total fabric length
Version 12 2020-09-08
Version 12.1 maintenance release (Feb 2021):
Corrected a conversion error in customer added database values when working in cm (customers working in cm should double check their values after this change).
Saved view orientation could fail if the local used commas as a decimal point, now corected.
For new installations, a change in the default file locations allow more reliable installations on computers shared between different users.
(an update to an existing installation will not change any file locations or lose any data.
(for computer experts, in depth technical information on this change is available via a link in the help file)

New Seams database allows user defined seam details and guides.
New Hem "Fold-to Guide" added to edges database.
Export Panel Mapping to standard plotter file.
New report generator allows for user report selection.
Updates to help file include "height ratio explained" and corner rings.

Version 11.1 2019-12-28
11.1 Maintenance Release:
6-sided sail with mid connections on several sides caused exception error - fixed
Nesting includes panel numbers and corner TAG
Nesting reo patches now included

v11
Panel Mapping
Optional Nesting
Hi Density Modelling for smooth plots
Hi Definition Report images on/off for users experiencing video card related issues
Integrated import of Leica and Proliner site measurement

Version 11 2019-09-01
11.1 Maintenance Release:
6-sided sail with mid connections on several sides caused exception error - fixed
Nesting includes panel numbers and corner TAG
Nesting reo patches now included

v11
Panel Mapping
Optional Nesting
Hi Density Modelling for smooth plots
Hi Definition Report images on/off for users experiencing video card related issues
Integrated import of Leica and Proliner site measurement

Version 10 2018-11-28
New Hi-Res design and report interface
Perspective View added
User control over Visualisation Report view
Version 9.1 2018-05-28
page size too big for all text...... fixed
added data file path to "can't find db files" message
missing shear strain report during panelling...... fixed
daigonal panelling maxed out at 3 seams..... fixed
occasional problems with local licence ............. fixed
Version 9.0 2017-09-01
Panel by Fabric Width
Leica 3D Disto file import
New "Additional Text" added to visualization report
More plotters added
More fabric databases added
Version 8.0 2016-07-01
Material database can now include images.
Manufacturers fabric databases now include fabric swatch images.
Manufacturer's fabric databases can now be checked and updated from within MPanel Shade Designer.
There is now an example corner construction image, used to help define the corner construction, and to show an example of your sail construction.
The Estimations page has new features including calculating weights for the sail assembly and adding the internal seams in the cost calculations.
The Production reports are improved and new reports are added for fabric corner reinforcements and a report created from the Estimations page.
The Visualisation report is improved with more data including the sail area and edge length and a second page showing fabric swatch and construction images.
Version 7.0 2015-03-01
Version 6.0 2014-04-01
Version 5.0 2013-07-01
Version 4.0 2013-02-01

Demo

Demo

Awning Composer

Click on the link below to download MPanel Shade Designer for Awning Composer and contact support for a license key.

Download Demo

Nesting

MPSD Nesting

is an optional feature which automatically arranges your fabric panels to fit inside your fabric width to minimize fabric waste.

This powerful new feature is simple to use to quickly determine the minimum length of fabric needed to make the sail saving time and money.

Allow 180 degree rotation

Many fabrics can be plotted in either direction in other words the panel can be rotated 180 degrees—this is typical for PVC coated fabrics. Many fabrics have a weave or pattern which prevents use of this fabric saving feature.

Spacing

Sets the buffer space between panels and from panels and the fabric roll edges.

 

Rotation Angle

Sets the limit that panels can be rotated from the fabric warp direction. This can help fine tune fabric utilization.

 

Export to plotter

Output Nest queue in dxf format ready for several built in plotting machines. If your machine is not included contact [email protected]

 

Plot Report
with panel arrangement and useful Nest statistics can be printed or sent to pdf.

Download Nesting Brochure

Nesting operation in MPanel Shade Designer