To provide a method for compensating a pattern distortion on a sheet-type work material spread onto a support surface.

This method comprises the following practice: the work material 26 is spread onto the support surface 14 and images of selected areal portions of the work material are captured; a controller 18 analyzes these images and projects them onto a display 30, whereupon the images are mapped to define any distortion in the work material; the controller then undistorts the images of these areal portions and projects them back onto the display so that an operator can position undistorted digital representations of pattern pieces onto the undistorted images of the work material; the controller then distorts the geometry of the pattern pieces positioned on the work material by the operator to conform to the distortion in the spread material; thus the aimed undistorted pattern is afforded.