One of the main questions regarding Shoe Last Maker is how to import shoe lasts. Users often already have collections of shoe lasts and want to be able to parametrically edit them in Shoe Last Maker. This can be done, but it requires that you first parameterize the shoe last. […]
Updates
A fully parametric cowboy boot shoe last template has been uploaded to the collection. It has several unique features made possible by new settings (found in the options form) that have been added in recent updates to Shoe Last Maker, as follows: Manual Wedge Angle: Typically, wedge angle is coupled […]
The latest version of Shoe Last Maker can now build orthopedic shoe lasts that extend up the ankle. To design the ankle region, an ankle curve is included in the shoe last parametric definition. A surface is created to join the normal shoe last top curve to the ankle top […]
In my last couple Shoe Last Maker tutorials, I showed how to morph shoemaking patterns from one shoe last to another, and also how to flatten them. But what if you don’t have any shoemaking patterns in the first place? In this tutorial, I’ll explain how you might go about […]
Flattening patterns for shoemaking is now possible in the latest version of Shoe Last Maker (1.011). In this tutorial, I’ll explain how it’s done. Assuming you already have a pattern consisting of curves on a shoe last, the first step is to put them on a layer called ‘Flatten’. If […]
This tutorial covers morphing of shoemaking patterns from one shoe last to another. Morphing is a new capability in the latest version of Shoe Last Maker (V1.011 currently). It allows for the mapping of geometries from one shoe last to another. This is a huge time saver as it means […]
While a parametric approach to shoe last design has numerous advantages, it can make it challenging to achieve a smooth shoe last surface. In this tutorial I’ll cover some basic techniques for achieving a smooth shoe last surface in Shoe Last Maker. The corresponding video for this tutorial uses the […]
In this post I’m going to explain how to work with reference images when designing shoe lasts and components in Shoe Last Maker. Using reference images is a great way to simplify the design process. There is a virtually unlimited collection of footwear images on the web at your disposal, […]
In this tutorial I’m going to explain how measurements work in Shoe Last Maker. This will include both foot and last measurements as well as size indices, allowances, and template adapt options. There is a video version of the tutorial above, but I think I did a better job explaining […]
In this post I’ll cover the basics of designing parametric wedges, platforms, and high heel shoe components in Shoe Last Maker. The process for designing heels, wedges, and platforms (bottom components) in Shoe Last Maker is pretty much the same as with designing shoe lasts. First you put in basic […]