Brother MyCustomDesign Owner's Manual
My Custom Design ver.1.0
Embroidery Data Creation Software
Instruction Manual
• Before using this software, be sure to read this Instruction Manual for
information on the correct use of the software.
•Keep this Instruction Manual in a safe place for future reference.
Introduction
Thank you for using our embroidery design software My Custom Design.
My Custom Design enables you to create original embroidery patterns from the screen of your
Brother household computerized sewing machine equipped with an embroidery function. Carefully
read the instructions contained in this manual in order to fully understand each of the various
functions and the correct operation of this software.
Note:
This Instruction Manual does not contain explanations on the operation of the sewing machine. For
details on using the sewing machine functions to edit embroidery patterns, refer to the Instruction
Manual for the sewing machine.
Important:
Use of this software for unauthorized duplication of optional embroidery cards or newspapers,
magazines, etc. for commercial purposes may be unlawful and violate copyright laws.
This application is protected by copyright laws. The use and duplication of this software is
regulated by copyright laws.
This software is for household use only.
Safety Precautions
Note:
For safety precautions concerning the sewing machine, refer to the Instruction Manual provided
with the sewing machine. Use the sewing machine safely and correctly, as described in the
Instruction Manual.
1
What You Can Do With This Software
This software allows you to create original
patterns just by using the pen to draw
images and text on the screen of the sewing
machine and painting the drawing with the
desired colors as easily as drawing images
and text on paper with a pen.
Until now, you could select various
characters from those available, combine
them, and then embroider the characters.
However, now you can write your signature
on the screen, and then embroider it.
The created embroidery patterns can be
resized, combined with characters and
images and freely arranged in the sewing
machine’s embroidering or embroideryediting screen in the same way that built-in
embroidery patterns are.
Embroidery patterns that can be created with this software
Lines of the drawing are sewn with satin stitches and areas are sewn with fill stitches.
The following settings can be specified.
1 Satin stitch (lines): thickness and stitch density
2 Fill stitch (areas): sewing direction and stitch density
Line thickness: 1.0 mm
Fill stitch sewing direction:
2
Line thickness: 3.0 mm
Fill stitch sewing direction:
Chapter 1 Before Use
CHECKING
Sewing Machine
My Custom Design can be used with any of the following sewing machines. Check that your
sewing machine model and its program version meets the following requirements.
Models: Innov-ís 4000D/4000
Program version: Ver. 1.2 or later
* The program version can be checked by pressing (Setting) key.
For more details, refer to the Instruction Manual provided with the sewing
machine.
1 Displayed here
For upgrade information, consult with your nearest Brother sales
representative or check the Brother Web site (www.brother.com).
1
3
USB Media
Important:
Since all data saving media, including USB media, may sometimes fail, we recommend
that you make backup copies for all saved data.
The sewing machine reads this software and starts it up from USB media. In addition, data
created with this application is stored on the USB media. Follow the precautions below when
handling the USB media.
• For details about available USB media, refer to “USB memory stick.pdf” in the “Innov-ís 4000D/
4000” section on our web site.
• Since all data saving media, including USB media, may sometimes fail, we recommend that you
make backup copies for all saved data.
• Do not insert USB media containing pattern data other than those saved using our application.
(Only .pm6 and .phc data can be used.)
• If the file name of embroidery data cannot be identified, for example, the name contains special
characters, the names are not displayed. If this occurs, change the name of the file.
• Do not create folders in USB media. If embroidery data is stored in a folder, that embroidery data
cannot be displayed by the sewing machine.
Precautions on the Use of the Display
• Only touch the screen with your finger or the pen included with the sewing machine. Do not use a
mechanical pencil, screwdriver or any other hard or sharp object. In addition, do not press the
screen with extreme pressure, otherwise the screen may be damaged.
• All or part of the screen may sometimes become darker or lighter due to changes in the surrounding
temperature or other changes in the environment. This is not a sign of a malfunction. If the screen
is difficult to read, adjust its brightness.
• The screen may be dark immediately after the sewing machine is turned on. This is a normal
characteristic of the backlight and is not a malfunction. After approximately 10 minutes, the screen
should reach its normal level of brightness.
• If you are not directly facing the screen, the colors may be distorted or the screen may be difficult
to read. This is a normal characteristic of the screen and is not a malfunction. Be sure to sit in front
of the screen while using it.
4
SETTING THE SEWING MACHINE TO START UP THE SOFTWARE
The sewing machine must first be set so that My Custom Design can be started up. APPLICATION
CHECK on the settings screen must be set to ON. If the sewing machine is turned on with USB
media inserted, the machine checks the software on the USB media, and then starts it up.
1 Tu rn on the sewing machine.
2 Press , and then press to display the next screen.
3 On the display, press so that it changes
to , and then press .
4 Tu rn off the machine.
5
STARTING UP MY CUSTOM DESIGN
1
Insert the USB media containing the application into the USB
port connector for media on the right side of the machine.
Caution
• The connectors on the USB cable can only be inserted into a
connector in one direction.
• Do not insert USB media containing pattern data other than
those saved using our application. (Only .pm6 and .phc data
can be used.)
2 Tu rn on the sewing machine.
1
3 With your finger, lightly press the opening screen. A screen
that allows you to select the application or sewing machine,
like that shown at the left, appears.
* If USB media that does not contain the application is inserted, the
Utility Stitch screen appears.
4 Press the icon for the application. My Custom Design starts up.
* Startup takes about 20 seconds.
Caution
Do not turn off the machine or eject the USB media while the
application is starting up, otherwise the USB media may be
damaged.
Closing the Application
1 To close My Custom Design, turn off the sewing machine.
To close the application to use the sewing machine, press
. (Refer to page 43.)
Notes
• When the application is closed, the currently displayed data is deleted. Be sure
to save any necessary data before closing the application.
6
KEY OPERATIONS (ADJUSTING THE SCREEN, CHANGING THE BUZZER SETTTING AND CHECKING THE VERSION NUMBER)
1 Press to display the screen shown at the left.
1 Allows you to adjust the density/brightness of the screen
2 Current density setting
3 Tu r ns on/off the buzzer
4 Changes the display language
2
1
3
4
Use
5 Changes the thread color display (thread brands only)
Use
6 Displays the version information for My Custom Design
and to choose the display language.
and to choose the thread color display.
5
Adjusting the Screen
Press and to adjust the brightness of the screen so
that adjustments can be clearly viewed.
To make the screen lighter, press . To make the screen
darker, press .
6
Buzzer
When set to ON, a beeping sound is produced each time a key
is pressed. Press so that it changes to .
* The screen brightness and the buzzer settings depend on the settings
of the sewing machine. If the settings are changed in My Custom
Design, the sewing machine settings are changed in the same way.
2 After the desired settings are specified, press .
7
BASIC PROCEDURE OVERVIEW
The basic procedure is described below. For details, refer to the indicated page.
3
1
Draw the lines of the pattern
in the pattern drawing
screen.
(→ page 12)
2 Add color to the pattern.
(→ page 24)
Specify the stitching settings.
Specify the width of the satin
stitches and the sewing direction
of the fill stitches. (→ page 29)
4 Convert the image data to
embroidery data.
The embroidery data check screen
appears. (→ page 33)
5 Save the embroidery data on
USB media. (→ page 35)
8
APPLICATION SCREENS
Pattern Drawing Screen
When My Custom Design is started up, the following pattern drawing screen appears. The
pattern can be drawn in this screen.
1 Pattern drawing area
Draw the pattern within this area.
The actual dimension of the pattern area is the size of the
extra large embroidery frame (30 cm (height) × 18 cm
(width)).
2 Use to select the thread colors.
1
4
2
3
2
5
■ Key functions
Key
Machine
function key
New pattern key
Settings key
3 Pattern drawing keys
Use to draw the pattern.
4 You can use the touch pen to enter data when this icon is
displayed.
5 Touch this key to undo previous operation.
Key displays
The appearances of the keys have the following
meanings.
This key is selected (being used).
(When the application is started up, the
freehand line key is selected.)
This key is not but can be selected.
This key cannot be selected.
Description ReferenceKey Name
Press this key to close My Custom Design and use the sewing
machine. When this key is pressed, all data that had been
drawn is erased.
Press this key when you want to begin creating a new pattern.
When this key is pressed, the currently displayed data is
deleted and the first screen displayed when My Custom Design
is started up appears.
Press this key to adjust the screen density and turn on/off the
buzzer.
43
42
7
Freehand
line key
Line thread
color key
Press this key to draw lines freehand.
Press this key to select the color of the lines.
12
24
9
Key
Straight line
key
Description ReferenceKey Name
Press this key to draw straight lines.
16
Continuous
straight line key
Circle key
Ellipse key
Square key
Rectangle
key
Select/move
key
Copy key
Delete key
Erase key
Press this key to draw straight lines that are connected.
Press this key to draw circles.
Press this key to draw ellipses.
Press this key to draw squares.
Press this key to draw rectangles.
Press this key to select a section for moving, copying or deleting
lines and shapes that have been drawn.
Press this key to copy the selected section.
Press this key to delete the selected section.
Press this key to erase lines that have been drawn.
14
13
15
20
20
17, 18
18
19
21
10
Fill key
Area thread
color key
Undo key
Zoom key
Recall key
Store key
Stitching
settings key
Convert key
Press this key to fill areas with color. When a thread color for an
area is selected, this key becomes available, indicating that an
area can be filled with color.
Press this key to select the color of an area.
Press this key to undo the last operation that was performed
and return to the condition before that operation was performed.
Each press of this key undoes one operation.
Press this key to display an enlargement of a specified section.
Press this key to recall image data from USB media.
Press this key to save the image data onto USB media.
Press this key to specify stitching settings. Shrinkage
adjustment, the width of satin stitches, the sewing direction of fill
stitches and the stitch density can be specified.
Press this key to convert the image data to embroidery data.
26
25
13
22, 27
40
39
29
33
Embroidery Data Check Screen
Once you are finished drawing the pattern, press the convert key in the pattern drawing screen
to convert the image data to embroidery data. When the data is converted, the embroidery data
check screen appears.
Embroidery pattern display area
1
The actual dimension of the pattern area is the size of the
extra large embroidery frame (30 cm (height) × 18 cm
(width)).
The pattern moves to the center of the display area and
the embroidery data is displayed.
2 The size of the pattern is displayed.
1
2
3
4
5
■ Key functions
Key Description ReferenceKey Name
Store key
Return key
Next thread key
Thread back key
Image key
3 The total number of stitches is displayed.
4 The necessary amount of time required to sew the pattern
is displayed. (The amount of time needed to change threads
is not included.)
5 The number of thread colors is displayed.
6 The types of embroidery frames that can be used are
6
7
shown. The icons for the embroidery frames that can be
used appear in color.
7 The part of the pattern that will be sewn with the thread
8
color shown first in the thread order list below is displayed.
8 The names of the thread colors and their sewing order are
displayed.
Press this key to save the embroidery data.
Press this key to return to the pattern drawing screen. The
embroidery data is changed back to image data and the pattern
colors can be changed or the pattern can be edited.
Press this key to show the part of the pattern that will be sewn
with the next thread color when checking the sewing order.
Each press of this key shows the next part of the pattern.
Press this key to show the part of the pattern that will be sewn
with the previous thread color when checking the sewing order.
Each press of this key shows the previous part of the pattern.
Press this key to view an image of the pattern as it will be
sewn.
35
33
-
-
34
11
Chapter 2 Creating a Sample Pattern
In order to get a better understanding of how to use this software,
we will describe the procedure for creating the pattern shown at
the left as an example. By creating an actual pattern, you can learn
to master the operation of this software.
1
Drawing the Lines of the Pattern
If the freehand line key is selected, the pen can be used to freely
draw lines on the screen as easily as drawing images and text on
paper with a pen.
Drawing Lines Freehand
1 Press so that it changes to . (When the application
is started up, this key already appears as .)
2 Draw the images with the pen.
With the touch pen (stylus), lines can be drawn freely; however,
circles and straight lines cannot be drawn perfectly.
If one of the other graphics keys is selected, perfect circles and
straight lines can be drawn. The procedures for using the graphics
keys to draw are described on the following pages.
Caution
Do not try to fill an area with lines, otherwise the drawing cannot be
converted to embroidery data.
We will draw the pattern in the following order.
123456
12
1. Drawing a Circle
Press so that it changes to .
1
2 From the point that will be the center of the circle, drag the pen
along the screen until the circle is the desired size.
3
When the circle is the desired size, remove the pen from the screen.
To draw a circle
* The arrow in the illustration
shown above indicates the
direction that the pen is
moved.
■ Creating the Desired Circle
Undoing
If the position or size of the shape is not what you want, the drawn
line can be erased so that it can be drawn again. There are many
ways of erasing lines, but here we will explain how to use .
2
1
The circle is drawn with the
starting point as the center and the
line connecting the starting point
and the ending point as the radius.
The size can be adjusted as
desired until the pen is removed
from the screen.
1 Starting point
2 Ending point
To undo the last drawing operation, press . The last operation
that was performed is undone and the drawing returns to the
condition before that operation was performed.
Notes
• can be pressed at any time while the image is being drawn. For example,
if a line is accidentally erased with a different operation, press this key to add
back the line and return the drawing to its previous condition.
• Each press of this key undoes one operation.
• An undo operation cannot be undone. For example, this key cannot be pressed
to add a line that was erased by pressing this key.
13
2.
Drawing Straight Lines That Are Connected
1 Press so that it changes to .
2 Touch the point that will be the beginning of the drawing.
3 Touch the next point where you wish to add a corner.
A straight line is drawn connecting the starting point and the
next point touched.
4 Continue in the same way until you are finished drawing the
line. A straight line is drawn connecting the last point to the
starting point.
L
F
D
H
G
E
B
J
I
C
K
A
1
M
9
0
3
2
4
5
6
7
8
14
To draw straight lines that are connected
Each time you touch the screen
2
1
3
with the pen, a straight line is
drawn connecting the last point
that was touched to the next point
that is touched.
Each time the screen is touched
a straight line is added to the
polygon until a different key is
selected.
1 Starting point
2 Next touched point
3 Next touched point
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