Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
Step 6 Saving the embroidery pattern
Step 7 Transferring the design to an original card
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Step 2
Extracting the outlines by
selecting colors
After opening the image, we will continue to the Line Image Stage, where we will select the colors of the areas to be used to create the outlines for the embroidery.
Move the pointer over the image.
→ The shape of the pointer changes to .
Click any part of the outline.
→ The selected color appears in a box on the right side, and appears in the check box to show that the color is selected.
Click Preview to preview the line image.
When the line image appears as desired, click OK.
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Memo:To display the image enlarged (or reduced), move the ZOOM slider up (or down). When the image is enlarged, you can scroll through it to display different parts.
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Memo:If a color other than that for the outline was selected, clear the check box beside the color to deselect it.
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Memo:If the preview is covered by the dialog box and cannot be viewed, move the pointer over the title bar of the dialog box, and then drag the dialog box to a more convenient place.
→ The line image is displayed in the Design Page.
Step 3
Editing the outlines (Line
Image Stage)
At this time, you might need to correct a few lines in the line image. You should make sure that regions are completely enclosed by either a single closed line or intersecting lines. Here, we will try to simply draw more leaf veins and to erase a number of leaves.
After editing the line image, we will continue to the Figure Handle Stage, where the line image is converted to a figure handle image.
This draws more leaf veins.
Click .
→ When the pointer is moved over the work area, the shape of the pointer changes to
.
Click the leaf for which you want to draw more veins.
Click .
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Memo:• To further enlarge the line image, continue clicking the line image.
• To zoom in on a specific area, move the pointer near the desired area, and then drag the pointer diagonally over the desired area. A dotted box appears as you drag the pointer, and the selected area is enlarged when the mouse button is released. • To zoom out from the line image, click ,
→ When the pointer is moved over the work area, the shape of the pointer changes to
.
Hold down the left mouse button and drag the pointer to draw the leaf vein.
To erase the leaf.
Click to view the entire line image. → The Design Page fills the Design Center
window.
Click
→ When the pointer is moved over the work area, the shape of the pointer changes to
Click the leaf that you want to erase.
Click .
→ When the pointer is moved over the work area, the shape of the pointer changes to
.
Move the pointer over the leaves that you want to erase, and then hold down the right mouse button.
→ The shape of the pointer changes to .
While holding down the right mouse, carefully drag the pointer to erase the line.
After editing the line image, click to view the entire line image.
→ The Design Page fills the Design Center window.
Convert the figure handle image to a pattern.
Click Stage, then To Figure Handle, or click .
For this exercise, leave the default setting. Click OK.
→ The line image is converted to a figure handle image.
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Memo:If you deleted part of the outline by mistake, you can cancel the immediate preceding operation by clicking Edit – Undo, or click on the Undo button . You have up to 5 undos in Design Center.
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Memo:Various settings are available for converting the line image to a figure handle image. (For more details, refer to “Changing settings for converting to outlines” on page 199.) 3
Step 4
Specifying sewing attributes
(Sew Setting Stage)
We are now going to apply sewing attributes to the different parts of the embroidery pattern.
Convert the figure handle image to a pattern.
Click Stage, then To Sew Setting or
click .
Specify the sewing attributes for the outline.
Click .
→ The shape of the pointer changes to , and the Sewing Attributes bar appears.
To change the outline color, click , select BLACK, and then click Close. (For this example, use the default color, BLACK.)
→ is displayed in the selected color.
To change the sew type to the zigzag stitch, click , then Zigzag Stitch.
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Memo:To move the dialog box to a more convenient place on the screen, move the pointer over the title bar, and then drag the dialog box.
→ The image now appears with “marching lines” along the outline.
Specify the sewing attributes for the regions.
Click .
→ The shape of the pointer changes to , and the Sewing Attributes bar appears as shown below.
To specify the color of the regions in the leaves, click to select LEAF GREEN and then click Close.
→ is displayed in the selected color.
Specify the sew type of the regions in the leaves. For this example, use the default sew type, Fill Stitch.
To change the attributes for the fill stitch, click Sew, then Sewing Attribute.
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Memo:If the width of the outline is too thick, click
Sew, then Sewing Attribute, and then
specify a different zigzag stitch width.
To change the direction of the fill stitching, click Constant, move the pointer over the red arrow inside of the circle, and then drag the red arrow to the desired angle.
Click the regions of the leaves to which you want to apply the attributes.
→ “Marching lines” appear around the selected region.
In the same way, specify the color and sew type for all regions of the leaves.
→ After applying the sewing attributes to the leaves, the image appears as shown below.
As with the leaves, specify the sewing attributes for part of the flower. Select the color CARMINE, set the stitching direction, and then click each region where you want to apply the attributes.
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Note:Sewing attributes cannot be applied to regions that are not fully enclosed, as shown in the illustration of the leaf below.
If the attributes cannot be applied to a region, go back to Figure Handle stage and make sure that region is closed. Edit any broken lines with the Point Edit tool. (For more details, refer to “Reshaping outlines” on page 205.)
Specify the sewing attributes for the
remainder of the flower. Select the color RED, set the stitching direction, and then click each region where you want to apply the attributes.
Step 5
Displaying a preview of the
embroidery
Preview the stitching and finished embroidery. Check the preview of the stitching.
Click Display, then Preview.
To return to the normal view after checking the preview, click Display, then Preview, or press
the key.
Check the preview of the finished embroidery.
Click Display, then Realistic Preview.
To return to the normal view, click Display,
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Esc
Step 6
Saving the embroidery
pattern
The embroidery pattern that was created can be saved.
Click File, then Save As.
Type in the file name.
If necessary, change the drive and folder. Click Save.
Step 7
Transferring the design to
an original card
By writing a pattern to a media that can be used in your embroidery machine and transferring it to your embroidery machine, you can actually sew the pattern. For this example, we will transfer the pattern to an original card.
Import the embroidery pattern into Layout & Editing.
Click Stage, then To Layout & Editing, or click .
→ Layout & Editing is started up.
Click Import.
→ The embroidery pattern created in Design Center is imported into Layout & Editing.
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Memo:For other media you may use include floppy disks, compact flash memory, USB media and etc.
Insert an original card into the USB card writer module.
Transfer the embroidery pattern.
Click File, then Write to Card. → The following message appears.
Click OK.
→ The following message appears.
Click OK.
Quit Layout & Editing.
Click File, then Exit.
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Note:The original card is inserted correctly when you hear it snap into place.
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Note:Before using the original card, make sure that the designs on the card are no longer needed or make sure to store them on your hard drive or other storage media.
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Note:• If the card writer module is not correctly connected or powered, an error message of “No card writer module is connected. Please connect card writer module.” will appear.
• If the original card is not inserted or is defective, an error message of “No original card is inserted. Please insert an original card.” will appear.
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Memo:In Layout & Editing, the pattern is saved as a .pes file.
To save the pattern, click File in Layout & Editing, then Save as.
Quit Design Center.
Display the Design Center window.
Click File, then Exit.