Brother PE-DESIGN 8 User Manual

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Instruction Manual

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: REGULATIONS

Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) Declaration of Conformity

(For USA Only)

Responsible Party: Brother International Corporation

100 Somerset Corporate Boulevard Bridgewater, NJ 08807-0911 USA

declares that the product

Product Name: Brother USB Writer Model Number: PE-Design

complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

– Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. – Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. – Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. – Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer or local sales

distributor could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Canadian Department of Communications Compliance Statement

(For Canada Only)

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

Radio Interference

(Other than USA and Canada)

This machine complies with EN55022 (CISPR Publication 22) /Class B.

Congratulations on choosing our product!

Thank you very much for purchasing our product. To obtain the best performance from this unit and to ensure safe and correct operation, please read this Instruction Manual carefully, and then keep it in a safe place together with your warranty.

Please read before using this product

For designing beautiful embroidery patterns

• This system allows you to create a wide variety of embroidery patterns and supports a wider range of sewing attribute settings (thread density, sewing pitch, etc.). However, the final result will depend on your particular sewing machine model. We recommend that you make a trial sewing sample with your sewing data before sewing on the final material.

For safe operation

• Avoid dropping a needle, a piece of wire or other metallic objects into the unit or into the card slot.

• Do not store anything on the unit.

For a longer service life

• When storing the unit, avoid direct sunlight and high humidity locations. Do not store the unit close to a heater, iron or other hot objects.

• Do not spill water or other liquids on the unit or cards.

• Do not drop or hit the unit.

For repairs or adjustments

• In the event that a malfunction occurs or adjustment is required, please consult your nearest service center.

Notice

Neither this Instruction Manual nor the Installation Guide explains how to use your computer under Windows

. Please refer to the Windows® manuals.

Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other product names mentioned in the Instruction Manual and Installation Guide may be trademarks of registered trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged.

Important

Using this unit for unauthorized copying of material from embroidery cards, newspapers and magazines for commercial purpose is an infringement of copyrights which is punishable by law.

Caution

The software included with this product is protected by copyright laws. This software can be used or copied only in accordance with the copyright laws.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

This product is intended for household use.

For additional product information and updates, visit our web site at: http://www.brother.com/ or http://solutions.brother.com/

Turn Any Design Into Original Embroidery With PE-DESIGN

This software provides digitizing and editing capabilities, allowing you the creative freedom to design original embroidery. Easily turn illustrations, photos and lettering into custom embroidery designs.

■ Layout ready-made designs

(☞p. 15)

■ Large-sized patterns

(☞p. 176 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format))

■ Photo Stitch function (☞p. 24, p. 127)

Embroidery can easily be created from photos taken with a digital camera.

Photo Stitch 1 (Color)

Photo Stitch 1

(Sepia)

Photo Stitch 1

(Mono)

■ Combining with background

images

(☞p. 42)

Photo Stitch 2

(Color)

Photo Stitch 2

(Mono)

■ Creating custom logos

(☞p. 20, p. 70, p. 77, p. 80, p. 90 and p. 126)

What You Can Do With PE-DESIGN

Make Vivid Embroidery From Any Illustration or Photo

With Layout & Editing, images and photos can be automatically converted into embroidery patterns that can be sewn with the desired stitches.

■ Auto Punch function

(☞p. 20, p. 126)

Illustration and images can easily be converted into embroidery. In addition, the color and sew type can be changed as desired.

■ Drawing Shapes to Create an

Embroidery Design

(☞p. 29, p. 70)

■ Cross Stitch function

(☞p. 27, p. 134)

Illustration and images can easily be converted into cross-stitch embroidery. In addition, the size of the cross-stitches can be changed as desired.

■ Combining Embroidery

Patterns

(☞p. 38, p. 47, p. 52)

Increased Variety With the Many Stitches and Colors

This software includes 10 stitches for region sewing and 5 stitches for line sewing. By changing the stitches and colors, the same design can be given a different appearance. Try combining various settings.

For more details, refer to “Setting the thread color and sew type” on page 94.

Increased Variety of Fonts

Embroidery can be created using not only the built-in fonts, but also the TrueType fonts on your computer.

■ Monograms

(☞p. 90, p. 171 in the Instruction Manual

(PDF format))

Create monograms by simply selecting a font, typing in the text, then selecting a decorative pattern. A wide variety of decorative patterns are available.

■ Easy editing

(☞p. 35, p. 80)

Change the text arrangement to edit the text as you wish.

Sew Types

The sewing attributes for each sew type are first set to their default settings; however, by changing the settings of the sewing attributes, you can create custom stitching.

For more details, refer to “Line sewing attributes” on page 98 and “Region sewing attributes” on

page 101.

Line sew types

Zigzag Stitch Running Stitch/Triple Stitch

Motif Stitch E/V Stitch

Region sew types

Satin Stitch Fill Stitch

Programmable Fill Stitch Motif Stitch

Cross Stitch Concentric Circle Stitch

Radial Stitch Spiral Stitch

Piping Stitch Piping Stitch (motif setting)

Stippling Stitch Stippling Stitch (motif setting)

b Memo:

The stitching for the programmable fill stitch and the motif stitch depends on the selected stitch pattern.

For more details, refer to “Programmable fill stitch” on page 103, “Piping stitch” on page 105, “Motif

stitch” on page 106, and “Stippling stitch” on page 108.

Basic Operation Map

This package consists of five applications.

Create Embroidery Patterns Using All Four Applications

The main application (Layout & Editing) is supported by Design Center, Font Creator, Programmable Stitch Creator and Design Database.

Data Management

Design Database

(☞p. 187 in the Instruction

Manual (PDF format))

Manage design files

• Search for files

• Open files

• Organize files

• Convert files

• Write to cards

Layout & Editing (

Create embroidery patterns

• Automatically convert images to embroidery designs

• Custom lettering

• Custom designs

• Digitize

Edit/combine embroidery patterns

• Combine designs

• Adjust the position, size and shape

• Specify sewing attributes

• Apply stamp patterns

☞

p. 47)

Further Customization

Font Creator

(☞p. 217 in the Instruc-

tion Manual (PDF format)

Create custom font patterns

Custom fonts can be created to be used in text. If symbols and double-byte characters are also registered, the font can be used at any time.

Design Center

(☞p. 145)

Manually create embroidery patterns from image

With Design Center, extract outlines from an image, edit the shapes of lines and regions, and then specify sewing attributes and colors for each part of the pattern.

Programmable Stitch Creator

(☞p. 199 in the Instruction

Manual (PDF format)

Create custom stitch patterns

Create and edit fill/stamp stitch patterns and motif stitch patterns.

)

Write to original cards/Save to USB media

Embroider with the machine

New Features of Version 8

■ Stitch Generation Features

● A motif pattern can be applied to the stippling stitch.

● The underlay stitching function has been improved.

- New underlay stitching patterns have been added to the settings available for region sewing of text and manual punching patterns.

- The density for underlay stitching of regions can be set to Dense, Medium or Light.

■ Editing Functions and User Interface

Layout & Editing

● The Remove Overlaps and Merge commands have been added for editing shapes.

- Remove Overlaps: The overlapping regions of the shapes are removed.

- Merge: The overlapping regions of the shapes are merged.

● Designs can be created that combine embroidery with an image used in the background. Print the image on the fabric by using an iron-on transfer sheet or printable fabric, and then embroider on this fabric. The positioning sheet allows you to easily align the embroidering position.

● Rulers have been added at the top and left side of the Design Page. Measurement units when checking sizes and positions can be switched between millimeters and inches.

● Multiple files can be opened. Data can be copied and pasted between files.

● The Sewing Attribute Setting dialog box, Thread Color dialog box, and Text Attribute Setting dialog

box are in a combined dialog box, which is easier to use.

● The functions in the Import dialog box for importing embroidery designs have been improved.

● The functions in the Sewing Order/Lock dialog box have been improved.

- Embroidery patterns can be locked (no changes, such as moving, enlarging/reducing or editing, can

be performed).

- The sewing attribute of the objects in each color can be changed.

● The functions in the Image to Stitch Wizard have been improved.

- Sepia modes have been added to the Photo Stitch and Cross Stitch functions.

- A feature has been added to convert regions to lines when automatically converting to an embroidery

pattern with the Auto Punch function.

- Single cross-stitches and backstitches can be edited when automatically converting an image to an

embroidery pattern with the Cross Stitch function.

● The image can be rotated in 90° increments.

● Tools for drawing lines freehand have been added.

● Arranged text on an arc can be selected from transform text pattern.

● Stitch data can be divided by color.

Design Center

● An eraser tool has been added to the Tool Box in the Line Image Stage.

● The maximum setting for Thinning Process when converting a line image to a figure handle image has

been increased. This allows thicker figure handle lines to be created.

Font Creator

● A TrueType font character can be opened as a template. In addition, a custom font can be created automatically from a TrueType font.

● Characters other than letters of the alphabet, numbers and symbols can be registered.

● If a template image was open when custom font data is saved in PEF file, the template image will be

saved with the data.

■ General

● New sample embroidery files have been added to the Design Library.

● The estimated sewing time has been added to the design properties.

● Embroidery hoop sizes 200 × 200 mm(7.3/4 × 7.3/4 inches) and 200 × 300 mm(7.3/4 × 11.3/4 inches)

have been added to the Design Page Property dialog box.

● File formats have been added to those available for images that can be opened as templates or original images.

- GIF(.gif) format is supported.

- LZW-compressed .tif is also supported.

Instruction Manual (Basic)

New Features of Version 8................................9

Table of Contents...................................... 11

How To Use Manuals ................................ 13

Support/Service......................................... 14

Online Registration..........................................14

Checking for the Latest Version of

the Program ....................................................14

Tutorial ....................................................... 15

1. Importing Embroidery Patterns ...................15

2. Automatically Converting an Image to an

Embroidery Design......................................19

3. Drawing Shapes to Create an Embroidery

Design .........................................................29

4. Entering Text...............................................35

5. Combining Embroidery Patterns .................38

6. Print and Stitch............................................42

Arranging Embroidery Designs

(Layout & Editing) ..................................... 47

Layout & Editing Window ................................47

Opening/Importing Embroidery Designs .........47

Checking Embroidery Patterns .......................51

Editing Embroidery Designs............................52

Reshaping Embroidery Patterns .....................56

Editing a Stitch Pattern....................................62

Specifying the Design Page Size and Color ...68

Changing Application Settings ........................69

Drawing Shapes..............................................70

Manually Creating Professional-Level

Embroidery Patterns (Manual Punching) ........77

Adding Text.....................................................80

Entering Monograms.......................................90

Applying Sewing Attributes to Lines and

Regions ...........................................................93

Editing Regions.............................................114

Checking and Editing the Sewing

Order/Lock ....................................................117

Importing Image Data....................................120

Changing the Image Settings........................123

Automatically Converting an Image to an Embroidery Pattern

(Image to Stitch Wizard)................................125

Saving and Printing.......................................138

Basic Design Center Operations............ 145

Creating an Embroidery Design

From an Image..............................................145

Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns

From Images (Design Center) ................ 153

Design Center Window..................................153

Original Image Stage.....................................154

Line Image Stage ..........................................156

Figure Handle Stage......................................158

Sew Setting Stage.........................................163

About the Instruction Manual

(PDF Format)............................................ 170

Table of Contents

Instruction Manual (Advanced)

Tutorial (Advanced)................................. 171

Entering Monograms .....................................171

Creating Appliqués ........................................174

Creating Split Embroidery Designs................176

Creating Design for Multi-Position Hoops......182

Managing Embroidery Design Files

(Design Database) ................................... 187

Design Database Window .............................187

Starting Up Design Database........................187

Checking Embroidery Designs ......................188

Opening Embroidery Designs........................189

Organizing Embroidery Designs....................190

Searching for an Embroidery Design.............192

Converting Embroidery Design Files to

Different Formats...........................................193

Writing Embroidery Design Files to

an Original Card ............................................194

Outputting a Catalog of Embroidery

Designs..........................................................196

Basic Programmable Stitch Creator

Operations ............................................... 199

Programmable Stitch Creator Window ..........199

Creating Fill/Stamp Stitch Pattern .................199

Creating Motif Stitch Pattern..........................203

Creating Custom Stitch Patterns

(Programmable Stitch Creator) .............. 205

Opening a Pattern File...................................206

Creating a New Pattern .................................207

Viewing the Pattern While Creating It............208

Creating a Pattern in Fill/Stamp Mode...........208

Editing a Pattern in Fill/Stamp Mode .............209

Creating Embossing/Engraving Effects

in Fill/Stamp Mode.........................................211

Creating a Pattern in Motif Mode...................212

Editing a Pattern in Motif Mode .....................213

Saving Patterns .............................................214

Changing the Settings ...................................215

Basic Font Creator Operations .............. 217

Font Creator Window.....................................217

Manually Creating Custom Font ....................219

Creating Custom Fonts (Font Creator)..225

Opening a File .............................................. 225

Selecting a Character and Preparing the

Template....................................................... 226

Creating a Font Character Pattern................ 229

Editing Font Character Patterns ................... 230

Editing the Points of a Font Character

Pattern .......................................................... 231

Checking the Created Font Patterns ............ 232

Saving Font Character Patterns ................... 234

Changing the Settings .................................. 235

Tips and Techniques ............................... 237

Enlarging/Reducing Stitch Patterns .............. 237

Sewing Direction........................................... 237

Sewing Order................................................ 237

Sewing Wide Areas ...................................... 238

Jump Stitch and Jump Stitch Trimming ........ 238

Fonts Suitable for Embroidering ................... 239

Creating Outlined Characters

(Using Text Converted to Outline Object)..... 240

Converting Characters (Japanese, Chinese,

Korean, etc) to Embroidery Patterns ............ 241

Menus/Tools.............................................243

Layout & Editing............................................ 243

Design Center............................................... 249

Design Database .......................................... 254

Programmable Stitch Creator ....................... 256

Font Creator.................................................. 259

Troubleshooting ......................................263

Index ......................................................... 265

How To Use Manuals

The following manuals are included with this software.

Installation Guide

This guide contains descriptions about the preparations necessary to begin using the software. Follow the instructions provided in this guide to complete the preparation and installation of the software.

Instruction Manual (Basic/this manual)

This manual contains descriptions of Layout & Editing and Design Center.

In order to understand how to use these applications, basic operations are first introduced through examples. Follow these procedures to gain an understanding of the general operations of these applications.

Precautions, additional information, and details on useful functions and the various settings are described later. Customer service information is also provided in this manual.

Instruction Manual (Basic and Advanced/PDF format)

This manual is provided in a PDF format on the enclosed CD-ROM. The following information is provided in addition to the Instruction Manual described above.

Details on Design Database, Programmable Stitch Creator and Font Creator are provided. Refer to this manual for information on these applications. Basic operations for each of these applications are described through examples. Then, precautions, additional information, and details on useful functions and the various settings are provided.

For a better understanding of the PE-DESIGN operations, an advanced tutorial, tips and techniques, and lists of menus/tools for each application are provided. In addition, this manual contains a troubleshooting section. Refer to this section if you have any problems while using this software.

■ Opening the Instruction Manual (PDF format)

Click All Programs, then PE-DESIGN 8, then Instruction Manual.

Otherwise, click Help, then Instruction Manual in the menu of any application.

b Memo:

• Adobe® Reader® is required for viewing and printing the PDF version of the Instruction Manual.

• If Adobe Systems Incorporated Web site (http://www.adobe.com/).

■ Printing the Instruction Manual (PDF format)

For details on printing from Adobe® Reader®, refer to the Help for Adobe® Reader®.

Reader® is not on your computer, it must be installed. It can be downloaded from the Adobe

Support/Service

Contact Technical Support if you have a problem. Please check the company web site (http:// www.brother.com/) to find the technical Support in your area. To view the FAQ and information for software updates, visit the Brother Solutions Center at (http://solutions.brother.com/).

a Note:

• On the above website, first select your country and next choose product.

• Have the information ready before contacting Technical Support.

• Make sure your computer's operating system is current with all updates.

• Have the make and model of your computer and Windows Installation Guide for system requirements.)

• Information on error messages that appear. This information will help expedite your questions more quickly.

Online Registration

If you wish to be contacted about upgrades and provided with important information such as future product developments and improvements, you can register your product online by following a simple registration procedure. Click Online Registration on the Help menu of Layout & Editing to start up the installed Web browser and open the online registration page on our Web site. The online registration page on the Web site appears when the following address is entered in the Address bar of the Web browser. http://www.brother.com/registration/

Operating System. (Refer to the

b Memo:

Online registration may not be available in some areas.

Checking for the Latest Version of the Program

Click Help in Layout & Editing, then Check for updates. The software is checked to determine whether or not it is the latest version. If the message shown below appears, the latest version of the software is being used.

If the message shown below appears, the latest version of the software is not being used. Click Yes, and then download the latest version of the software from the Web site.

b Memo:

If the

Always check for most recent version

at startup

is checked at startup to determine whether or not it is the latest version.

check box is selected, the software

Tutorial

This section describes the operations of Layout & Editing through the procedures for making embroidery patterns. First, follow the procedures to create the embroidery patterns and learn the basic operations.

1 Importing Embroidery Patterns (☞ p. 15)

Start up Layout & Editing, and import an embroidery pattern. Then, transfer the created embroidery pattern to an original card.

2 Automatically Converting an Image to an Embroidery Design (☞ p. 19)

Create an embroidery pattern with the Image to Stitch Wizard.

3 Drawing Shapes to Create an Embroidery Design (☞ p. 29)

Use the Shape tools to draw a design, and then specify the sewing attributes.

4 Entering Text (☞ p. 35)

Create a text pattern, and then arrange it on a shape.

5 Combining Embroidery Patterns (☞ p. 38)

Create an original design by combining various embroidery patterns.

6 Print and Stitch (☞ p. 42)

Create an original design by combining a printed image and an embroidery pattern.

Tutorial

1. Importing Embroidery Patterns

Sample embroidery patterns are provided with this software. These embroidery patterns can be imported into the Layout & Editing, written to an original card, and used with the embroidery machine.

Here, we will start up Layout & Editing, import an embroidery pattern, then write the pattern to a card.

Step 1 Starting up Layout & Editing

Step 2 Importing embroidery patterns

Step 3 Transferring the design to an original card

Step 1

Tutorial

Starting up Layout & Editing

Click Category selector. Move the scroll bar until Floral3 appears, and then click it.

Click , and then select All Programs, then PE-DESIGN 8, then PE-DESIGN 8 (Layout & Editing).

Step 2 Importing embroidery

patterns

Now, we will import the patterns for the flower, butterfly and sun.

Click on the Toolbar.

1. Click

2. Drag

3. Click

Drag the flower to import it into the Design Page, as shown in the illustration.

From the Category selector, select Animals, and then drag the butterfly into the Design Page.

Click .

Design Library view button

If has not been clicked, click it.

→ The contents of Design Library are

displayed.

“Importing embroidery designs” on

page 48.

From the Category selector, select Children, and then drag the sun into the Design Page.

Tutorial

To adjust the positions of the embroidery patterns, click the pattern to be moved, and then position the pointer over the pattern. When the shape of the pointer changes to

, drag the pattern to the desired location.

a Note:

When imported stitch patterns are enlarged or reduced, the embroidering quality may be reduced. Therefore, we recommend not enlarging or reducing stitch patterns.

“Enlarging/Reducing Stitch

Patterns” on page 237 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

Step 3 Transferring the design to

an original card

You can sew a pattern transferred to your sewing machine by writing it to media that can be used with your machine. For this example, we will transfer the design to an original card.

Click File, then Write to Card.

Click OK.

a Note:

When writing to an original card that already contains data, all data on the card will be deleted. Before using an original card, check that the designs on the card are no longer needed, and be sure to store all necessary data to a hard disk or other storage media.

“From an embroidery card” on

page 49.

When the writing is finished, the following message appears. Click OK.

Tutorial

b Memo:

You can also transfer designs to a floppy disk, CompactFlash card, and USB media. You will need to check your machine for the correct media to use.

Insert an original card into the USB card writer module.

a Note:

• If the card writer module is not correctly connected, the error message “No card writer module is connected. Please connect card writer module.” will appear.

• If the original card is not inserted or is defective, the error message “No original card is inserted. Please insert an original card.” will appear.

b Memo:

Stitch data is compressed to fit on an original card. Depending on the compression method, the size of the data may change. On average, a maximum of 200,000 stitches can fit on one card. However, the number of stitches in a pattern can vary depending on the type of machine that is used.

a Note:

Precautions for using the card writer module/original cards

• The original card is inserted correctly when you hear it snap into place.

• Never remove an original card or unplug the USB cable while the LED indicator is flashing.

• Correctly insert or remove the original card according to the Instruction Manual for the embroidery machine.

For details on saving embroidery

patterns, refer to “Saving the embroidery design” on page 22.

Tutorial

2. Automatically Converting an Image to an Embroidery Design

An embroidery pattern can be created from a digital camera photo, a scanned illustration , or clip art image.

Using the Image to Stitch Wizard in Layout & Editing, an image can be converted to an embroidery pattern. First, we must select which of the following three types of embroidery that we wish to sew.

■ Auto Punch

This creates an embroidery pattern from a clip art image or a scanned illustration.

Images with few and distinct colors are most appropriate.

■ Photo Stitch

This creates an embroidery pattern from a photo. This type of embroidery pattern has detailed and overlapping stitching.

Photos that are bright and sharp and where the subject to be embroidered appears clearly are most appropriate. When embroidering portraits, the size of the face in the photo should be at least 100 × 100 mm (4 × 4 inches) for best results.

■ Cross Stitch

This creates a cross-stitch embroidery pattern from an image.

Images with few and distinct colors and where the subject to be embroidered appears clearly are most appropriate.

b Memo:

• For details on using the Image to Stitch Wizard, refer to “Automatically Converting an Image to an Embroidery Pattern (Image to Stitch Wizard)” on page 125.

• The sizes of embroidery patterns and images appear in the status bar. In addition, the measurement units for the sizes can be displayed in either millimeters or inches.

“Measuring the distance between two points” on page 51, and “Changing the measurement

units (mm or inch)” on page 69.

• Sizes are shown in this manual in millimeters.

■ Image file formats

Images in the following formats can be imported.

- Windows bitmap (.bmp), Exif (.tif, .jpg), ZSoftPCX (.pcx), Windows Metafile (.wmf), Portable Network Graphics (.png), Encapsulated PostScript (.eps), Kodak PhotoCD (.pcd), FlashPix (.fpx), JPEG2000 (.j2k), GIF (.gif)

Tutorial

b Memo:

• If an EPS file doesn't contain a "Preview" image, it can not be displayed correctly. When you create a file in EPS format, be sure to save it with preview image.

In addition, files in these formats can be imported as images for printing on iron-on paper, as an original image in Design Center, and as templates for creating manual punching patterns, custom fonts and custom stitch patterns.

In this section, we are going to use the Auto Punch function to automatically create an embroidery pattern from an image. In addition, this section will describe how to view a preview and how to save the created embroidery pattern.

Tutorial

Auto Punch Function

Step 1 Importing image data into Layout & Editing

Step 2 Automatically converting the image to an embroidery pattern

Step 3 Displaying a preview of the embroidery

Step 4 Saving the embroidery design

Step 1 Importing image data into

Layout & Editing

First, we need to import the image that will be converted into an embroidery pattern. For this example, we will use the penguin image (penguin.bmp) provided with this application.

Click Image, then Input, then from File.

Double-click the

PE-DESIGN8\Tutorial\Tutorial_2

it.

When this application is installed, the PE-

DESIGN 8 folder is installed in the Documents (My Documents) folder.

When an image is imported for the first time, the contents of this folder are displayed.

Documents (My Documents

folder to open

Tutorial

Select the sample file penguin.bmp, and then click Open, or double-click the file’s icon.

→ The image appears in the work area.

b Memo:

Repeat steps to to choose another picture image. If you change the way to import

data from in step , you can import picture images from a scanner, digital camera or clipboard, or even create images with the portrait function and import that image.

1 3

“Importing Image Data” on page 120.

Move the pointer over the selected image, and then drag the image to the desired position.

Step 2

Automatically converting the image to an embroidery pattern

Next, the image will automatically be converted to an embroidery pattern.

Click Image, then Image to Stitch Wizard.

Select Auto Punch, and then click Next.

Tutorial

Drag the handle to adjust the selected image to the desired size.

Handles

Status bar shows the dimensions (width and height) of the image.

b Memo:

If the handles have disappeared, right-click the image, and then click menu that appeared.

Modify Image

in the

Check the Result View of the conversion, and then click Finish.

b Memo:

Selected regions can be converted to line sewing, for example, using zigzag stitches.

“If Auto Punch is selected” on

page 126.

Tutorial

Step 3 Displaying a preview of the

embroidery

Preview the finished embroidery.

Click Display, then Realistic Preview.

To return to the normal view, click Display, then Realistic Preview, or press the key.

Esc

→ The generated embroidery pattern is

displayed.

Step 4 Saving the embroidery

design

Once the embroidery design is finished, you may want to save it in order to retrieve it later.

Click File, then Save.

Select the drive and the folder, and then type in the file name.

Click Save.

Tutorial

b Memo:

Various clip art images can be found in the

ClipArt

folder, which can be found in the folder where PE-DESIGN was installed. (For example, click the drive where PE-DESIGN was installed, then

Brother

Try these image samples for great results.

, then

For details on transferring designs to original cards, refer to “Transferring the design to an original card” on page 17.

Program Files

PE-DESIGN 8

, then

ClipArt

Tutorial

Photo Stitch Function

By using the Photo Stitch function, embroidery patterns can be created from photos. The following two conversion methods are available, and the color can be selected.

Photo Stitch 1:

This creates an embroidery pattern very similar to the image in one or many colors. This type of embroidery pattern has detailed and overlapping stitching.

The embroidery pattern can be created in color (Color), sepia or grayscale (Sepia), or in one color (Mono).

Photo Stitch 2:

This creates an embroidery pattern in one or four colors. The embroidery pattern contains repeating zigzag stitches.

The embroidery pattern can be created in four colors (Color) or in one color (Mono).

For this example, we will create an embroidery pattern using Color and Photo Stitch 1. This procedure describes how to select the desired preview image from the six "candidates" that are created with automatic corrections applied in order to create the embroidery pattern.

Step 1 Importing photo data into Layout & Editing

Step 2 Automatically converting the image to an embroidery pattern

Step 1 Importing photo data into

Layout & Editing

Refer to “Importing image data into Layout & Editing” on page 20. Select the Tutorial_2 folder, and then select girl2-face.bmp as the image.

Step 2

Automatically converting the image to an embroidery pattern

Next, the image will automatically be converted to an embroidery pattern.

Click Image, then Image to Stitch Wizard.

Click Photo Stitch 1, then Color, and then click Next.

b Memo:

The Sepia choice means you can create sepia tone or grayscale tone embroidery. The selection of mono is for black-and-white monotone embroidery.

“If Photo Stitch 1 (Sepia) is

selected” on page 129, “If Photo Stitch 1 (Mono) is selected” on page 130.

Tutorial

b Memo:

• The shape of the mask line can be edited by moving, adding or deleting the point of the mask line.

• It is also possible to select the mask shape from various template shapes already available.

“If Photo Stitch 1 (Color) is

selected” on page 127.

Click Fit to page to change the final finishing size.

Tutorial

Click Auto Generate.

→ With a single-colored background, as in

this example, click Auto Generate to automatically detect the outline of the image.

Click Next.

Embroidery pattern size

→ This is a size where the design fills the

entire design page.

b Memo:

• The size of the embroidery pattern appears in the lower left corner of the dialog box. The user can change the size freely with this display.

• For best results, change the size of the embroidery pattern to the sizes listed below.

• Face only: 100 × 100 mm

• Head and shoulders: 130 × 180 mm

“If Photo Stitch 1 (Color) is

selected” on page 127.

Check the preview of the area to be converted then click Next.

Click Select from Candidates.

→ There are six patterns with different

brightness and contrasts based on the original image.

Select one of the candidates and click OK.

→ This preview changes to the selected

image.

Click Finish.

Tutorial

■ Creating Beautiful Photo

• Select a photograph that shows a large image.

• Increase the contrast.

• An image with a width and height between 300

• Check the photo.

• If the embroidery pattern is not created as

For details on saving embroidery

patterns, refer to “Saving the embroidery design” on page 22. For details on transferring designs to original cards, refer to “Transferring the design to an original card” on page 17.

Embroidery

(A photograph with an intricate image, for example, one that contains many objects, is not suitable.)

and 500 dots is suitable.

The following types of photos are not appropriate for creating embroidery patterns.

• Photos where the subject is small, such as in photos of gatherings

• Photos where the subject appears dark, such as photos taken in a room or taken with backlighting

expected, change the settings in the Photo

Stitch 1 Parameters dialog box. Brightness: Increase the brightness of the

image. Max. Number of Colors: Increase the number of colors that are used.

“Color Option” on page 131.

→ The generated embroidery pattern is

displayed.

• If the created embroidery pattern contains colors

that you do not wish to emphasize (for example, grays in the face), change the sewing order in the Sewing Order/Lock dialog box so that the undesirable color is sewn before all other colors.

“Editing the sewing order” on page 118.

Tutorial

Cross Stitch Function

Cross Stitch embroidery patterns can be created from images. For example, clip art image can be used.

Step 1 Importing image data into Layout & Editing

Step 2 Automatically converting an image to a cross-stitch pattern

Step 1 Importing image data into

Layout & Editing

Refer to “Importing image data into Layout & Editing” on page 20. Select the Tutorial_2 folder, and then select tulip.bmp as the image.

Select Cross Stitch, then Color, and then click Next.

Tutorial

Step 2

Automatically converting an image to a cross-stitch pattern

Next, the image will automatically be converted to an embroidery pattern.

Click Image, then Image to Stitch Wizard.

b Memo:

The Sepia choice means you can create sepia tone or grayscale tone embroidery.

“If Cross Stitch (Sepia) is

selected” on page 136.

Click Next.

In this dialog box, the cross size and the number of colors can be specified. For this example, we will use the default settings.

Click Finish.

In this dialog box, stitches can be added, deleted or edited, and colors and the number of times each stitch is sewn can be specified. For this example, we will use the default settings.

b Memo:

It is possible to edit stitch by stitch in one unit of the cross stitch.

“If Cross Stitch (Color) is

selected” on page 134.

Tutorial

→ The generated embroidery design is

displayed.

For details on saving embroidery

patterns, refer to “Saving the embroidery design” on page 22. For details on transferring designs to original cards, refer to “Transferring the design to an original card” on page 17.

Tutorial

3. Drawing Shapes to Create an Embroidery Design

This section will describe how to draw various shapes and combine them to create an embroidery design. The Shape tools in Layout & Editing allow you to draw various shapes. Using these tools, we will draw the stem, leaves, flower and flower pot.

Step 1 Drawing and moving shapes

Step 2 Duplicating, flipping and moving shapes

Step 3 Specifying hole sewing

Step 4 Applying a pattern to stitching

Step 5 Editing points and modifying shapes

Step 1

We will follow the procedure described below to draw shapes.

1 Select the Shape tool.

2 Specify the thread color and sew type for the

lines.

3 Specify the thread color and sew type for the

regions.

4 Drag the pointer in the Design Page to draw the

shape.

Drawing and moving shapes

Line color button

Line sew type selector

Draw the stem.

(1) Click , then .

(2) Click to display the color palette.

(3) Click LIME GREEN.

If the desired color is not displayed, move the scroll bar until it appears.

Tutorial

Region color button

Region sew type selector

Shape tools

Selected thread color and color name

Thread color palette

Tutorial

(4) Click in the Line sew type selector, and

then click Zigzag Stitch.

b Memo:

The color, sewing attributes and size can also be changed after the shape is drawn.

(5) Click the start point 1, and then double-

click the end point 2.

Draw the leaf on the right.

As with the stem, we will specify the color and sew type, then draw the shape. This time, since the shape will have a region, we will also specify the color and sew type for the region.

(1) Click , then .

(2) Click for line sewing, and then click

LIME GREEN in the color palette.

(3) Click in the Line sew type selector, and

then select Zigzag Stitch.

(4) Click for region sewing, and then click

LIME GREEN in the color palette.

(5) Click in the Region sew type selector,

and then select Fill Stitch.

(6) While holding down the key, drag

the pointer in the Design Page, as shown in the illustration.

Shift

b Memo:

To draw the shape while maintaining its height-to-width proportion, hold down the

Shift

key while dragging the pointer.

(7) Place the pointer over the leaf so that the

shape of the pointer changes to , and then drag the leaf to the desired position.

Step 2

Now, we will duplicate the leaf on the right side, flip it horizontally, and then move it to the left side of the stem.

Duplicating, flipping and moving shapes

Duplicate the leaf on the right.

(1) Right-click the leaf.

(2) Click Duplicate.

To specify whether the color is being selected for line sewing or region sewing, click a Color button, or select the type of sewing here.

(2) (3) (4)

(1)

(5)

Flip the duplicated leaf horizontally.

(1) Right-click the duplicated leaf.

(2) Click Mirror, then Vertical.

Drag the duplicated leaf to the left side of the stem.

Tutorial

Now, we will draw the flower and a circle at the center. Then, we will apply a setting so that the overlapping areas are not sewn twice.

Step 3

Specifying hole sewing

Draw the flower petals.

(1) Click , then .

(2) Select RED as the line color and Zigzag

Stitch as the sew type.

(3) Select PINK as the region color and

Radial Stitch as the sew type.

(4) While holding down the key, drag

the pointer in the Design Page, as shown in the illustration.

Shift

Tutorial

Align the leaves on the left and right sides.

(1) While holding down the key, right-

click on the leaf on the right side and then click on the leaf on the left side.

(2) Click Align, then Top.

Ctrl

b Memo:

Multiple embroidery patterns can be selected in any of the following ways.

• Click the first pattern, and then, while holding down the key, click the next

pattern.

• Drag the pointer to draw a selection frame across the patterns to be selected.

Ctrl

(2)

(1)

Draw the circle at the center.

(1) Click , then .

(2) Select YELLOW as the line color and

Zigzag Stitch as the sew type.

(3) Select YELLOW as the region color and

Concentric Circle Stitch as the sew type.

(4) While holding down the key, drag

the pointer in the Design Page, as shown in the illustration.

(5) Drag the circle to the center of the flower

petals.

(2) (3)

(1)

(3)

(4)

Shift

(4)

(5)

(2) (3)

Select the patterns where hole sewing is to be applied.

(1) Click .

(2) Click the yellow circle, then while holding

down the key, click the flower petals.

(1)

Specify hole sewing.

(1) Click Sew, then Set hole sewing.

Ctrl

(2)

Tutorial

Detailed line and region attribute settings can be specified from the Sewing Attribute Setting dialog box. Now, we will specify settings for region sewing for the flowerpot.

b Memo:

Overlapped patterns can also be set so that the overlapping region is removed or they can be merged.

“Changing shapes of overlapped

patterns” on page 75.

Step 4

Applying a pattern to stitching

Specify the color and sew type for the line and region of the flowerpot.

(1) Click , then .

(2) Select CLAY BROWN as the line color

and Zigzag Stitch as the sew type.

(3) Select DEEP GOLD as the region color

and Prog. Fill Stitch as the sew type.

(2) Click OK.

a Note:

Hole sewing cannot be applied if one of the patterns is not completely enclosed within the other pattern.

“Preventing overlapping

stitching (hole sewing)” on page 75.

(2)

(1)

Specify the sewing attributes.

(1) Click .

(2) There are two display modes for the

(1)

Sewing Attribute Setting dialog box. For this example, we will specify settings in Beginner mode. If the dialog box is displayed in Expert mode, click To Beginner mode to display the dialog box in Beginner mode.

(3)

(2)

(3)

Tutorial

(3) Drag the Density slider to specify 5.0 line/

mm.

(4) Drag the red arrow in Direction area to 90

degrees.

(3)

(4)

(2)

The effects of the specified settings can be previewed. This preview can be displayed/hidden by clicking the Show Hint/Hide Hint button.

Click this button to return the attribute to its default setting.

(7) Move the slider to specify 7.6 x 7.6 mm.

The selected pattern is displayed.

b Memo:

More detailed settings can be specified in Expert mode.

“Specifying sewing attributes” on

page 96.

Tutorial

(5) Click in the Programmable fill

section.

(6) Select net4, and then click OK.

Tutorial

Step 5

Editing points and modifying shapes

Now, we will delete one corner from the pentagon to create a flowerpot.

Draw the flowerpot.

Drag the pointer in the Design Page, as shown in the illustration.

Delete a point.

(1) Click , then .

→ The point is deleted to form a trapezoid.

This completes the pattern.

For details on saving embroidery

patterns, refer to “Saving the embroidery design” on page 22. For details on transferring designs to original cards, refer to “Transferring the design to an original card” on page 17.

(2) Click the shape for the flowerpot.

→ The points in the shape appear.

(3) Right-click the top point to be deleted, and

then click Delete.

(1)

(3)

(2)

(3)

Tutorial

4. Entering Text

In this example, we will create an embroidery pattern for text. From Layout & Editing, various embroidery patterns can be created for text.

Built-in fonts: This software is provided with 35 built-in fonts.

TrueType fonts: TrueType fonts installed on your computer can be used to create embroidery

patterns.

Small fonts: These small fonts have sizes between 3 and 6 mm (0.12 and 0.24 inch).

Because of their size, these fonts are useful for beautifully sewing small text.

Monograms: Design custom monograms by combining text and decorative patterns.

Custom fonts: User-defined fonts can be created by using the Font Creator.

Text arrangement: The text can be arranged along an outline or an arc.

Transforming: Text can be transformed into any of the 26 Transform styles.

For details, refer to “Adding Text” on page 80.

This section describes the procedures for entering text and arranging it on a circle.

Tutorial

Step 1 Drawing a circle

Step 2 Entering text

Step 3 Arranging text on a shape

Step 1

Draw the circle that the text will be arranged on.

Drawing a circle

Click , then .

Select YELLOW as the line color and Zigzag Stitch as the line sew type.

Refer to “Drawing and moving shapes” on page 29.

Turn off region sewing.

Click so that and the Region sew

type selector are no longer displayed.

Tutorial

Drag the pointer in the Design Page, as shown in the illustration.

Step 2

Entering text

Click , then .

Click OK.

→ The text appears in the Design Page.

b Memo:

The character font, size, color and sew type can be changed.

“Selecting text attributes” on

page 81.

Step 3

Arranging text on a shape

Select the text and the circle.

“Memo” on page 31.

Place the pointer over the ellipse or text so that the shape of the pointer changes to , right-click it, and then click Fit Text to Path Setting.

Click the Design Page.

From the keyboard, type in “ABCDE”.

The entered text appears.

b Memo:

Text can also be entered by clicking a character under clicking

insert

Insert Character

, then

In the Fit Text to Path Attribute Setting dialog box, select the text arrangement. For this example, we will leave the default setting unchanged.

Click OK.

→ The text is arranged along the circle.

This completes the pattern.

Tutorial

b Memo:

• The arranged text can be moved to the desired location on the shape. Select only the text that is arranged on the shape, and then drag it along the shape (path) as shown below.

Tutorial

• The text can be arranged in a variety of ways.

“Specifying text arrangement” on

page 87.

• The text can be arranged on an arc using a different method.

“Transforming text” on page 84.

For details on saving embroidery

patterns, refer to “Saving the embroidery design” on page 22. For details on transferring designs to original cards, refer to “Transferring the design to an original card” on page 17.

Tutorial

5. Combining Embroidery Patterns

In this example, we will create an original embroidery pattern by combining an embroidery pattern created from an image 1, an embroidery pattern created from entered text 2, and an embroidery pattern included with this software 3. At the same time, we will resize each embroidery pattern and rearrange them.

Step 1 Using the Auto Punch function to create an embroidery pattern from an image

Step 2 Adding text and adjusting character spacing

Step 3 Adding an oval and adjusting the text

Step 4 Importing and rotating an embroidery pattern

Step 1

Using the Auto Punch function to create

While holding down the key, drag a handle to reduce the size of the image.

an embroidery pattern from an image

Now, we will open the image of the tulip and convert it to an embroidery pattern.

Click Image, then Input, then from File.

Shift

Import the file tulip.bmp. Select the file

Documents (My Documents PE-DESIGN 8

“Importing image data into Layout &

Editing” on page 20.

tulip.bmp

, then

by clicking the

Tutorial

, then

) folder, then

Tutorial_5

Click on the Tool Box.

Select Auto Punch, and then click Next.

Tutorial

Click Finish.

→ An embroidery pattern of the tulip is

created.

Step 2 Adding text and adjusting

character spacing

Click , then . Click the bottom edge

of the tulip.

Click , then .

Click the text, and then click the lower-left point of “p”.

Place the pointer over “p” so that the shape of the pointer changes to , and then drag the character to the right to adjust the character spacing.

In the same way, move points of other characters to adjust the overall character spacing.

Tutorial

From the keyboard, type in “Tulip”, and then click OK.

→ The text is entered.

Step 3 Adding an oval and

adjusting the text

Click , then .

Turn off line and region sewing.

“Drawing a circle” on page 35.

Tutorial

Place the pointer over the oval or text so that the shape of the pointer changes to , right-click it, and then click Fit Text to Path Setting.

Select the other side check box, and then click OK.

Draw an oval and adjust its position.

Drag the pointer within the work area to draw a large circle, and then adjust its position.

Select the word Tulip. Hold the key down and select the oval.

Ctrl

→ The text is arranged along the inside of

the circle.

Click outside of the currently selected object so that nothing is selected, and then select the text and drag it along the circle.

“Memo” on page 37 and “Specifying text

arrangement” on page 87.

Tutorial

Step 4 Importing and rotating an

embroidery pattern

Now, we will import the embroidery pattern for the butterfly, and then adjust its angle.

Click File, then Import.

Click .

Design Library view button

Drag a rotation handle that appeared to adjust the angle of the pattern.

If has not been clicked, click it.

From the Category selector, select Animals, and then drag the butterfly into the Design Page.

Click the butterfly to select it, and then click

on the Toolbar.

This completes the pattern.

For details on saving embroidery

patterns, refer to “Saving the embroidery design” on page 22. For details on transferring designs to original cards, refer to “Transferring the design to an original card” on page 17.

Tutorial

6. Print and Stitch

In this example, we will create a design that combines embroidery and an image.

We will import an image into Layout & Editing, and then create an embroidery design that combines it with the image. Next, we will print the image on an iron-on transfer sheet or printable fabric, and then use the embroidery machine to sew the embroidery on top of printed fabric.

Print the background image on fabric.

Embroider

Step 1 Creating a design combined with a background image

Step 2 Printing the background image

Step 3 Printing the positioning sheet

Step 4 Embroidering

Step 1

Creating a design combined with a background image

These designs can be created by importing an image, then creating an embroidery pattern or importing an existing embroidery pattern. For this example, we will use the gift box image (Bear_Background.jpg) and the embroidery pattern of the bear (Bear.pes) provided with this software.

Start up Layout & Editing.

Specify a Design Page size of 130 x 180 mm.

“Specifying the Design Page Size and

Color” on page 68.

Click Image, then Input, then from File.

Import the file Bear_Background.jpg.

Select the file Bear_Background.jpg by clicking the Documents (My Documents) folder, then PE-DESIGN 8, then Tutorial, then Tutorial_6.

“Importing Image Data” on page 120.

Click .

Import the file Bear.pes.

Select the file Bear.pes by clicking the

Documents (My Documents) folder, then PE-DESIGN 8, then Tutorial, then Tutorial_6.

“Importing embroidery designs” on

page 48.

Enter the text.

Select built-in font No. 30, and thread color DEEP ROSE.

Tutorial

(3) Click , and then drag the rotation

handle to adjust the angle of the pattern.

(4) Drag or a handle to adjust the size of

the pattern.

(3)

(4)

“Transforming text” on page 84, “Rotating

patterns” on page 54.

After the design is finished, save the embroidery data onto media so it can be transferred to the embroidery machine.

For details on saving embroidery

patterns, refer to “Saving the embroidery design” on page 22. For details on transferring designs to original cards, refer to “Transferring the design to an original card” on page 17.

Tutorial

“Entering text/Small text” on page 80.

Transform the text to fit with the design of the image.

(1) Click .

(2) Select the Transform check box, and

then click .

(1)

(2)

Step 2 Printing the background

image

Print the background image on an iron-on transfer sheet or printable fabric.

Click File, then Print Setup.

Tutorial

Specify the print settings.

(1) Select the printer to be used.

(2) Under Paper and Orientation, select the

appropriate settings for the iron-on transfer sheet or printable fabric to be printed on.

(3) Select Image print mode.

(4) Select Print the image on printable

fablic or an iron-on transfer sheet.

(5) To print a flipped image on an iron-on

transfer sheet, select the Print a flipped image check box. Some printers will automatically print an image flipped if an iron-on transfer sheet is selected as the paper. If this type of printer is being used, clear the Print a flipped image check box. For details, refer to the instructions for the printer being used.

(1)

(2) (2)

Check the image position.

If any part of the image extends out of the print area, drag the image to adjust its position.

Click OK.

Click Print.

b Memo:

To check the print image, click

Specify the appropriate settings in the Print dialog box, and then click OK.

“Printing” on page 143.

→ Printing begins.

Print Preview

(3)

(4)

Click Change Position.

(5)

b Memo:

For details on printing on iron-on transfer sheets or printable fabric, refer to the instructions for the iron-on transfer sheets and printable fabric.

Tutorial

Step 3 Printing the positioning

sheet

Print a sheet for aligning the image and the embroidery.

Specify the print settings.

(1) Under Paper and Orientation, select the

appropriate settings for the paper to be printed on.

(2) Select Print a sheet of paper for

aligning the printed image and the embroidery.

(1) (1)

(2)

Click Print.

Specify the appropriate settings in the Print dialog box, and then click OK.

“Printing” on page 143.

→ Printing begins.

Step 4 Embroidering

If an iron-on transfer sheet is used, transfer the image onto fabric.

b Memo:

For details on transferring from iron-on transfer sheets, refer to the instructions for the iron-on transfer sheets.

Hoop the fabric in the embroidery frame.

Place the positioning sheet on the fabric to be embroidered so that it is aligned with the printed image.

• If the positioning sheet is too large, cut it to an appropriate size so it can easily be used for aligning the positions.

• Tape the positioning sheet to the fabric to secure it in place.

Tutorial

b Memo:

To check the print image, click

Print Preview

Attach the embroidery frame to the embroidery machine.

Be sure that the positioning sheet does not move out of place.

Align the needle with the mark at the center of the positioning sheet.

• If the embroidery machine has a built-in camera, press the start positioning button to detect the positioning mark and automatically align the embroidering position.

• With other embroidery machines, manually align the positions.

After positioning is finished, remove the positioning sheet from the fabric.

Start the embroidery machine to embroider the pattern.

Tutorial

b Memo:

• For details on using the embroidery machine, refer to the Operation Manual included with the machine.

• Six patterns of completed samples for Print and Stitch are provided in the following folder.

Documents (My Documents PE-DESIGN 8\Sample\Layout & Editing Print and Stitch

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Layout & Editing Window

5 Design Page

1 Toolbar

Provides shortcuts for the menu commands.

2 Sewing Attributes bar

Sets the sewing attributes (color and sew type) of lines and regions in the pattern.

3 Tool Box

Used to create, select and edit patterns.

4 Reference Window

Displays all patterns in the work area, giving you an overview while you work on a detailed area.

“Viewing design in the reference window”

on page 66.

5 4

The actual part of the work area that can be saved and sewn.

b Memo:

The default value for the design page size in this example is 100 ×100 mm (4 × 4 inches).

6 Work area

7 Thread colors, sewing attributes and text

attributes

This dialog box combines tabs for specifying thread colors, sewing attributes and text attributes. Click a tab to display the parameters.

b Memo:

• To display this dialog box, click or ,

Sew

or select the menu command

Attribute Setting Setting

To close this dialog box, click .

• When the application is first started, this combined dialog box is attached at the right side of the window. This dialog box can be moved by dragging it or double-clicking its title bar (bar at the top of the dialog box). To return the dialog box to its original attached position, drag it to the right side of the window or double-click its title bar.

Text - Text Attribute

Sewing

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Opening/Importing Embroidery Designs

b Memo:

Multiple files can be opened in Layout & Editing. In addition, data can be copied and pasted between files that are open at the same time.

Creating a new embroidery design

Toolbar button:

1. Click , or click File, then New.

→ A new Design Page appears.

b Memo:

The size of the Design Page can be changed.

“Specifying the Design Page Size

and Color” on page 68.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Opening a Layout & Editing file

An embroidery design that has previously been saved as a Layout & Editing file (.pes file) can be opened.

Toolbar button:

1. Click , or click File, then Open.

2. Select the drive and the folder.

• If the Preview check box is selected, the

contents of the selected file will appear in the Preview box.

a Note:

• If no files are listed, there are no .pes files in the selected folder. Select a folder containing a .pes file.

• If the selected file is in a format other than the .pes format, the message “Unexpected file format” appears in the

Preview

box.

3. To open a file, select it, and then click Open,

or double-click the file’s icon.

→ The contents of the selected file appear in

the Design Page.

b Memo:

A file can be opened in any of the following ways.

• Display the embroidery design file in Windows Explorer, and then drag the file into the Layout & Editing window.

• Display the embroidery design file in Windows Explorer, and then doubleclick the file.

Importing embroidery

b Memo:

• To view the data in the selected folder as thumbnails in the

Browse

To see a more detailed design, select a file, and then click

• To open the displayed file, click

Browse

Preview

dialog box, click

Open

designs

Toolbar button:

1. Click , or click File, then Import.

2. Select the category from the drop down menu

then select the view mode.

213

1 Design Library view mode

2 Folder view mode

3 Card view mode

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

3. Select the file icon for the design to be

imported, and then click Import, or doubleclick the file icon.

→ The embroidery design is displayed in the

Design Page.

b Memo:

• The design can be imported by dragging its file icon from the Design Page.

• Multiple files cannot be selected to be imported at the same time.

4. Click in the upper-right corner of the

Import dialog box to close it.

■ From Design Library

1. Click to display the dialog box in

Design Library view mode.

2. From the Category selector, select a category

to display the corresponding embroidery data.

■ From a folder

1. Click to display the dialog box in

folder view mode.

Import

dialog box to the

b Memo:

Since .dst files do not contain thread color information, the colors are temporarily assigned when the design is imported into Layout & Editing. Therefore, the colors of an imported .dst file may not appear as expected. You can change the thread colors using functions in the box.

Sewing Order/Lock

“Changing colors” on page 118.

dialog

■ From an embroidery card

1. Insert an embroidery card into the USB card

writer module.

Refer to “Transferring the design to an

original card” on page 17.

2. Click .

→

After the card has been read, the dialog box appears in card view mode, and the embroidery designs on the card are displayed.

a Note:

Due to copyright issues, some embroidery cards cannot be used with this function.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Indicates the path to the currently selected folder.

2. Click .

→ The Browse for folder dialog box

appears.

3. Select a folder, and then click OK.

4. From the File Type box, select a file name

extension to display the corresponding embroidery data.

a Note:

When importing designs from other vendors, be sure to choose a design that will fit in the Design Page.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Importing embroidery design from Design Center

An embroidery design in Design Center can be imported directly into the Layout & Editing Design Page.

“Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns

From Images (Design Center)” on page 153.

Toolbar button:

1. Start up Design Center and open the file.

“Original Image Stage” on page 146

and “Opening a file” on page 155.

2. Click , or click File, then Import from

Design Center.

3. In the Magnification box, type or select the

magnification factor.

a Note:

The maximum magnification ratio that can be specified is the ratio that enlarges the design to the size of the Design Page. The minimum magnification ratio is 25%.

Under

Orientation

5. Click Import to import the embroidery design.

, select the desired orientation.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Checking Embroidery Patterns

Zooming

You can zoom in to work on details of the embroidery pattern or you can zoom out to work on any part of the embroidery pattern that cannot be viewed in the work area.

After clicking on the Tool Box,

appear. Click the button for

the desired operation.

: Click in the Design Page to display the area

enlarged. To zoom in on a specific area, move the pointer near the desired area, and then drag the pointer diagonally over the desired area.

: Click in the Design Page to display the area

reduced.

: The Design Page is displayed at its actual

size.

: Select an object, and then click the button.

The Design Page is zoomed to display only the selected objects.

Measuring the distance between two points

1. Click on the Tool Box.

2. Move the pointer to the beginning of the part of

the object, and then hold down the mouse button.

→ A small circle appears, indicating the start

point of the measurement.

3. Drag the pointer to view the measurement in

the status bar.

Width

Length

Height

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

: The entire Design Page is displayed to fit

within the window.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Editing Embroidery Designs

This section describes various editing operations, such as moving, enlarging/reducing or rotating patterns. A pattern must first be selected before it can be edited.

Selecting patterns

1. Click on the Tool Box.

2. Click the pattern.

→ Handles appear around the pattern.

Handles

b Memo:

• The status bar shows the dimensions (width and height) of the pattern.

• To deselect the pattern, select a different pattern, click a blank area of the Design Page, or click any other button in the Tool Box.

3. To select an additional pattern, hold down the

key and click the other pattern.

Ctrl

b Memo:

You can also select patterns by dragging the pointer across the pattern.

b Memo:

Press the key to select the next pattern in the order that they were created.

■ Selecting all embroidery patterns

Tab

Moving patterns

1. Move the pointer over a selected pattern or

group of selected patterns.

2. Drag the pattern to the desired location.

b Memo:

• To move the pattern horizontally or vertically, hold down the key while

dragging it.

b Memo:

• Pressing the arrow keys moves the selected pattern 0.5 mm (about 0.02 inch) in the direction of the arrow on the key. Holding down the arrow key for the desired direction continues moving the outline in that direction.

Snap to Grid

• If

Grid setup

moves the pattern one grid mark in the direction of the arrow on the key.

• The arrow keys cannot be used to move text on a path if just the text is selected. The path must also be selected in order to move using the arrow keys.

■ Moving embroidery patterns to

the center

is selected from

, each press of an arrow key

“Changing the grid settings” on page 69.

“Specifying text arrangement” on page 87.

Shift

Display :

1. Click on the Tool Box.

2. Click Edit, then Select All.

1. Select one or more patterns.

2. Click Edit, then Center.

→ All selected patterns move to the center of

Design Page.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Aligning embroidery patterns

1. Select the patterns.

2. Click Edit, then Align, then Left, Center,

Right, Top, Middle, or Bottom.

→ The selected patterns are aligned as

shown below.

Top

Middle

Bottom

RightCenterLeft

Scaling patterns

■ Scaling manually

1. Select the pattern(s).

a Note:

• Stamp settings remain independent from the patterns that they are applied to. If a pattern containing a stamp is edited, be sure to check the stamp after editing is finished.

“Applying and editing Stamps”

on page 114.

• Some patterns imported from embroidery cards cannot be scaled.

• When scaling stitch patterns, the number of stitches remains the same, resulting in a loss of quality. To keep density and fill pattern of the embroidery pattern, hold down the key while scaling.

■ Scaling numerically

1. Select the patterns.

Click

Edit

3. To change the width and height proportionally,

select the Maintain aspect ratio check box.

Ctrl

“Enlarging/Reducing Stitch

Patterns” on page 237 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

, then

Numerical Setting

, then

Size

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Handles

2. Drag the handle to adjust the selected

pattern(s) to the desired size.

b Memo:

Shift

• If the key is held down while a handle is dragged, the pattern is enlarged or reduced from the center of the pattern.

• As you drag the handle, the current size is displayed on the status bar.

4. Select the whether the width and height will be

set as a percentage (%) or a dimension (millimeters or inches).

5. Type or select the desired width and height.

To resize the selected pattern while maintaining the original density and fill pattern, select the

Keep density and fill pattern

check box.

b Memo:

The

Keep density and fill pattern

is available only if stitch data is selected.

“Enlarging/Reducing Stitch

Patterns” on page 237 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

7. Click OK.

check box

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Flipping patterns horizontally or vertically

Toolbar button: ,

1. Select the pattern(s).

2. Click Edit, then Mirror, then Horizontal, or

click .

Click Edit, then Mirror, then Vertical, or click

Rotating patterns

■ Rotating manually

Toolbar button:

1. Select the pattern(s).

2. Click Edit, then Rotate, or click .

3. Drag the rotation handle.

1. The handles are replaced by smaller squares.

2. The shape of pointer changes to

3. Rotate

a Note:

Some patterns imported from embroidery cards cannot be flipped.

b Memo:

To rotate the pattern in 15° increments, hold down the key while dragging the

handle.

Shift

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Rotating numerically

1. Select the pattern(s).

2. Click Edit, then Numerical Setting, then

Rotate.

3. Type or select the desired rotation angle.

b Memo:

• An angle can also be selected by dragging

in the

Rotate

dialog box.

4. Click OK.

Grouping/Ungrouping embroidery patterns

■ Grouping patterns

Several individual patterns can be grouped so that the same changes apply to all of the patterns within the group.

■ Editing grouped patterns

individually

Even after patterns are grouped, they can be edited individually.

1. To select a single pattern within a group, hold

down the key while clicking the pattern. To select multiple patterns within a group, hold

down the and keys while clicking the patterns.

Alt

Alt Ctrl

b Memo:

A light blue frame appears around the grouped patterns whenever the group or an individual pattern is selected.

2. Edit the object as desired.

b Memo:

Grouping is cancelled if patterns are deleted to leave only one.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

1. Select several patterns.

2. Click Edit, then Group.

→ The selected patterns are grouped.

b Memo:

If part of a pattern with hole sewing or any other path arrangement applied is selected to be grouped, the entire pattern is grouped.

■ Ungrouping patterns

1. Select a grouped embroidery pattern.

2. Click Edit, then Ungroup.

→ The patterns are ungrouped.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Reshaping Embroidery Patterns

Selecting points

1. Click on the Tool Box.

→ Two buttons appear .

2. Click .

3. Click the pattern.

→ The points in the pattern appear as small

empty squares.

b Memo:

The pattern can be a broken line, a curve, an arc, a fan shape, an arc & string, a manual punching pattern, or stitch data.

4. To select a single point, click an empty square.

• The selected point appears as a small black square.

b Memo:

Multiple points can be selected in any of the following ways.

• Drag the pointer.

→

All points within the box are selected.

• Hold down the key while clicking the points.

→

Each point that is clicked is added to the selection.

→

To deselect a point, click the selected point.

• Hold down the key while clicking the points.

→

All points between those that were clicked are selected.

• Hold down the key while pressing

the or key.

→

The next point toward the end point is added to the selection.

→

To deselect a point, press the

or key.

• Hold down the key while pressing

the or key.

→

The next point toward the start point is added to the selection.

→

To deselect a point, press the

or key.

In addition, the direction for selecting points can be changed toward the start point or toward the end point as described below.

• Hold down the key while pressing the

or key.

Ctrl

Shift

Ctrl

→

The selection direction changes to the end point.

• Hold down the key while pressing the

or key.

→

The selection direction changes to the start point.

• For details on selecting points in a stitch pattern, refer to “Selecting stitch points of stitch pattern” on page 62.

Ctrl

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Moving points

1. Select the point.

“Selecting points” on page 56.

2. Drag the point to the new location.

Selected point

Drag

b Memo:

• All of the selected points move in the same direction.

• To move the point of a broken line, a curve, a manual punching pattern, or stitch data horizontally or vertically, hold down the

Shift

key while dragging it.

• Pressing the arrow keys moves the selected point 0.5 mm (about 0.02 inch) in the direction of the arrow on the key. Holding down the arrow key for the desired direction continues moving the outline in that direction.

Snap to Grid

•If an arrow key moves the point one grid mark in the direction of the arrow on the key.

• The arrow keys cannot be used to move the end points of an Arc, Arc & String, and Fan.

• Points in patterns set for hole sewing can also be moved. However, the point cannot be moved to cross an outline. In order to move the point in this way, cancel hole sewing first.

is selected, each press of

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

a Note:

You must drag a point that is selected. If you start dragging by clicking elsewhere on the outline of the pattern, a new point will be inserted or the selected point(s) will be deselected.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Inserting points

New points can be inserted in order to change the shape of a pattern. In the case of a new point on a curve, you can also use the handle to reorient the tangent to the new point.

1. Click , then .

2. Click the pattern.

3. Click the outline to add a point.

Click

2. Click Edit, then Delete, or press the

key to remove the point.

Selected point

Delete

Transforming straight lines into

Deleting points

1. Select the point.

“Selecting points” on page 56.

curves or curves into straight lines

1. Select the point.

“Selecting points” on page 56.

2. Click Edit, then Point, then click To Curve, or

click To Straight.

To C u rve To Straight

b Memo:

To transform a curve to a straight line, click a point on the curve, and then click

Point

, then

To Straight

Edit

, then

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Smoothing out the path at a point

1. Select the point where the path is to be

smoothed out.

“Selecting points” on page 56.

2. Click Edit, then Point, then To Smooth.

→ The path at the point is smoothed out.

Transforming to a pointed path

1. Select the point where the path is to be

transformed to a pointed one.

“Selecting points” on page 56.

2. Click Edit, then Point, then To Cusp.

→ The path is transformed to a pointed one

at the selected point.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

3. Drag the path to adjust it.

Symmetrically adjusting the control handles of a point

1. Select the point where the control handles are

to be adjusted symmetrically.

“Selecting points” on page 56.

2. Click Edit, then Point, then To Symmetry.

3. Drag the path to adjust it.

→ The control handles of the point are

moved symmetrically.

3. Drag the path to adjust it.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Moving entry/exit points and the center point

■ Moving the entry/exit points

You can reposition the entry and exit points of objects created with the tools on the Tool Box in order to adjust the stitching.

This is the exit point for the outline stitching. Stitching continues from this point to the next pattern.

This is the entry point for the inside region stitching. The previous pattern is connected to this point.

This is the exit point for the inside region stitching. Stitching continues from this point to the next pattern.

1. Click on the Tool Box.

→ Two buttons appear .

2. Click .

a Note:

If the entry and exit points have been optimized (a check mark appears in front of

Optimize Entry/Exit points

the on the

Sew

of the patterns cannot be edited. In order to use this tool for editing the entry and exit points, select the menu command

Optimize Entry/Exit points

setting.

menu), the entry and exit points

3. Click the object.

→ The entry and exit points of the object

appear.

b Memo:

If the region has the concentric circle stitch or radial stitch applied, the center point of the stitching also appears.

“Moving the center point” on

page 61.

command

Sew

to cancel the

–

b Memo:

If the outline or the inside region are set to not be sewn, the corresponding point does not appear.

4. Drag the arrow for the point to the desired

location on the outline.

a Note:

• Only entry and exit points for patterns created with the Circle or Arc, Rectangle and Outline tools can be edited. Stitch pattern or patterns created with the Text tools or Manual Punch tools cannot be edited.

Sew

–

• If the menu command

Entry/Exit points

the entry and exit points, all manual adjustments of the entry and exit points will be lost, and the positions of the points will be automatically optimized.

is selected to optimize

Optimize

a Note:

The entry and exit points of stitch data, text, and manual punching patterns cannot be edited.

This is the entry point for the outline stitching. The previous pattern is connected to this point.

■ Optimizing the entry/exit points

The positions of the entry and the exit points for the objects can be adjusted automatically in order to optimize stitching.

1. Click Sew, then Optimize Entry/Exit points.

To optimize the entry and exit points, select this command so that a check mark appears. To cancel optimizing, select this command so that no check mark appears.

→ If a check mark appears beside Optimize

Entry/Exit points, the entry and exit

points for the stitching of connected objects with the same color are optimized (in other words, they are connected by the shortest distance possible).

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

a Note:

• Only entry and exit points for patterns created with the Circle or Arc, Rectangle and Outline tools can be optimized.

• If the menu command

Entry/Exit points

the entry and exit points, the entry and exit points cannot be moved with the Entry/ Exit point tool.

→ If the check mark does not appear beside

Optimize Entry/Exit points, the entry and exit points are not optimized. If the optimizing of the entry and exit points is cancelled, the entry point and exit point positions are retained. In addition, the positions of the entry and the exit points can be manually changed with the Entry/ Exit/Center point tool.

Sew

–

Optimize

is selected to optimize

■ Moving the center point

The center point for regions set to the concentric circle or radial stitch can be repositioned for a more decorative effect.

1. Click , then .

2. Click the region set to the concentric circle or

radial stitch.

→ The entry and exit points and the center

point of the object appear.

Center point

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

3. Drag the center point to the desired location.

Optimize Entry/Exit points not selected

Optimize Entry/Exit points selected

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Editing a Stitch Pattern

In stitch patterns, stitches appears as solid lines ( ), and jump stitches appear as dotted lines ( ).

Converting objects to a stitch pattern

Objects drawn with the tools in Layout & Editing can be converted into a stitch pattern, allowing you to make detailed changes by modifying the position of individual stitches.

“Drawing Shapes” on page 70.

1. Select the object.

2. Click Sew, then Convert to Stitches.

The selected object is converted to stitch pattern.

b Memo:

• If any part of grouped objects, objects set for hole sewing, and text arranged on shapes is selected, all objects in the entire group are converted to stitch patterns.

• Patterns that do not have sewing attributes applied are deleted when the object is converted to stitch pattern.

• Object means patterns created with Shape tools or Text tools or Manual Punch tools.

Selecting stitch points of stitch pattern

1. Click , then .

2. Click the object.

→ The stitch points in the stitch pattern

appear as small empty squares.

a Note:

Stitch pattern are surrounded with a dotted line.

If the object is not surrounded by a dotted line, it cannot be edited. Stitch points cannot be edited if the pattern is not a stitch pattern.

→ The dotted line around the converted

pattern indicates that it is a stitch pattern. Each stitch of the converted pattern can be edited with the Edit Point tool.

3. To select a single stitch point, click an empty

square.

→ The selected stitch point appears as a

small black square.

b Memo:

• If you click on a jump stitch, the points at both ends are selected.

• Multiple stitch points can be selected in the same way that embroidery pattern points are selected.

“Selecting points” on page 56.

• To select all stitch points in the next color, press the key. To select all stitch

points in the previous color, hold down the

Shift Tab

Tab

key and press the key.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

b Memo:

• Press the and keys.

→

• Press the and keys.

→

• Select at least one point in a given color, and then press the key.

→

• Select at least one point in a given color, and then press the key.

→

Ctrl

The entry point of the first thread color is selected.

Ctrl

The exit point of the last thread color is selected.

The entry point of the color is selected.

The exit point of the color is selected.

Home

End

Home

End

a Note

When selecting stitch points, be sure to click the stitch point (do not click a blank area of the Design Page), otherwise all of the selected points will be deselected.

■ Moving stitch points

1. Drag the selected stitch points to the new

location.

b Memo:

If the end point of a jump stitch is deleted, that jump stitch segment is deleted and the stitches before and after the jump stitch are connected.

Converting a stitch pattern to blocks

Imported stitch data or patterns converted to stitch pattern can be converted into blocks (manual punching data), allowing you to change some of their sewing attributes and to scale individual colors while keeping their stitching quality.

1. Select the stitch pattern.

2. Click Sew, then Stitch to Block.

3. Move the slider to select the desired

sensitivity.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

b Memo:

Stitch points are moved in the same way that embroidery pattern points are moved. However, if the arrow keys are used, each press moves the stitch point 0.1 mm (0.004 inch).

“Moving points” on page 57.

■ Inserting stitch points and jump

stitches

1. Click a line between two stitch points to add a

new point at that position.

b Memo:

To insert a stitch point and change the previous line into a jump stitch, hold down the

Shift

and keys while clicking on the

Ctrl

line.

■ Deleting stitch points

1. Press the key to delete the selected

stitch point.

Delete

b Memo:

The

Normal

satisfactory results in most cases, but depending on the complexity of the pattern, you may need to select a setting more towards

setting should provide

Coarse

Fine

4. Click OK.

→ The stitch pattern is converted to grouped

manual punching data.

For details on grouping or ungrouping manual punching data or editing a part of grouped manual punching data, refer to “Grouping/ Ungrouping embroidery patterns” on page 55.

a Note:

The

Stitch to Block

used with some stitch pattern imported from embroidery cards.

“Enlarging/Reducing Stitch

Patterns” on page 237 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

command cannot be

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Splitting off parts of a stitch

5. Double-click in the Design Page to specify the

section to be split off.

pattern

1. Click on the Tool Box.

b Memo:

This tool is available only for stitch data.

a Note:

Patterns created with the drawing or Text tools of Layout & Editing need to be converted into stitches before they can be cut with the Split stitch tool.

“Converting objects to a stitch

pattern” on page 62.

2. Click the stitch data.

→ All other stitch data disappear from the

display.

3. Click in the Design Page at the point where

you want to start drawing the enclosing lines.

4. Continue clicking in the Design Page to

specify each corner of the enclosure around the area to be cut off.

→ The dotted line that is drawn when you

move the pointer changes to a solid line when the next point is specified.

6. Edit the cutoff section as desired.

a Note:

• Only one cutoff section can be specified from the pattern at one time. Repeat the procedure for each piece of the pattern that you want to cut off.

• The cutoff piece moves to the end of the sewing order and the thread color order appears in the order selected for the original pattern.

Dividing stitch data by color

■ Dividing stitch data by color

Stitch data can be divided according to the various colors.

Before dividing

After dividing

1. Select the one or more stitch data.

b Memo:

• To remove the last point that was entered, click the right mouse button. Each successive right-click removes points, one by one, in the opposite order that they were entered. Once all points are deleted, the Tool Box buttons are available again, however, the application remains in Split stitch mode.

• An enclosure is valid only if it contains stitch data. If it contains no stitch data, an error message appears, and the enclosure is erased, but the application remains in Split stitch mode.

2. Click Sew, then Divide Stitches by Color.

→ Dotted lines appear around each part of

the stitch data.

b Memo:

This function is not available if data other than stitch data is selected or if grouped embroidery data containing data other than stitch data is selected.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Displaying a preview of the embroidery

Once the embroidery design is complete, you can display a preview of it in order to see how the stitching is connected, or you can display a realistic preview of it in order to see how the design will appear once it is sewn.

■ Preview

Toolbar button:

2. To leave the realistic preview display, repeat

step

1., or press the key.

Esc

a Note:

• The embroidery design cannot be edited while the realistic preview is displayed.

• The image imported into the Design Page can also be displayed in the preview if the appropriate Display Image setting is selected.

“Changing the display of the

background image” on page 123.

1. Click , or click Display, then Preview.

→ A preview of the embroidery design

appears.

2. To leave the preview display, repeat step 1.,

or press the key.

Esc

■ Realistic Preview

Toolbar button:

1. Click , or click Display, then Realistic

Preview.

→ A realistic preview of the embroidery

design appears.

b Memo:

Changing realistic preview settings

Set the realistic preview settings for the desired realistic preview display.

1. Click Display, then Realistic Preview Attribute Setting.

→ A Realistic Preview Attribute

Setting dialog box similar to the

ones shown below appears.

2. If necessary, specify settings for

Thread Width, Contrast and Brightness.

3. Click Apply to display a realistic preview of the patterns with the new settings (when the realistic preview is displayed).

Or, click OK to save the settings for the next time that the Realistic Preview function is select (when the realistic preview is not displayed).

“Displaying a preview of the

embroidery” on page 65.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Checking the stitching

: Reverses the stitching by the number

of stitches specified in the stitches/ step selector.

The actual stitching as it will be performed by the embroidery machine can be viewed using the stitch simulator.

Toolbar button:

1. Click , or click Display, then Stitch

Simulator.

The Stitch Simulator dialog box appears, and the embroidery design is cleared from the Design Page.

2. Click to begin the stitching simulation.

b Memo:

• The slider shows the current location in the simulation. In addition, the slider can be moved to change the position in the simulation.

: Advances the stitching by the number

of stitches specified in the stitches/ step selector.

*: Returns to the beginning of the design

in the previous hoop section.

*: Advances to the beginning of the

design in the next hoop section.

* Appear only for patterns created on customsized Design Pages.

The numbers indicate the following.

Number of the current stitch

Total number of stitches

Number of the color being draw

Total number of colors used

Pattern section that is displayed Total number of hoop sections

in the pattern This indicator appears only for patterns created on custom-sized Design Pages.

3. Click in the upper-right corner of the dialog

box to close the dialog box.

• To get a better view of the stitching, zoom in on the design before opening the

Simulator

The following operations can be performed if the corresponding button is clicked.

dialog box.

: Stops the simulation and returns to the

previous display.

: Temporarily stops the simulation. To

restart the simulation, click .

: Drag the slider to adjust the

simulation stitching speed.

: Returns to the beginning of the

previous color.

: Advances to the beginning of the next

color.

Stitch

b Memo:

If a pattern was selected when the

Simulator

selected pattern is drawn in the simulation.

dialog box was displayed, only the

Stitch

Viewing design in the reference window

A design in the Design Page is displayed in the Reference Window, giving you an overall view of the design while you work on a detailed area. The display area frame (red rectangle) indicates the part of the pattern displayed in the Design Page.

Toolbar button:

To switch between displaying and hiding the

Reference window, click , click Display, then

Reference Window, or press the shortcut key

F11

().

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Zooming

The Reference Window can be switched to display either the entire Design Page or only the embroidery pattern.

1. Click .

→ The image displayed in the Reference

Window changes.

■ Scaling the display area frame

1. Move the pointer over a corner of the display

area frame.

2. Drag the corner to adjust the display area

frame to the desired size.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Moving the display area frame

The part of the design displayed in the Design Page can be selected from the Reference Window.

1. Move the pointer over the display area frame.

2. Drag the display area frame so that it

surrounds the desired part of the design.

→ The selected part of the design is

displayed in the Design Page.

■ Redrawing the display area frame

Instead of moving the display area frame, the frame can be redrawn to display the desired part of the pattern in the Design Page.

1. Click the area to be displayed, or drag the

pointer over the desired part of the design in the Reference Window.

→ The display area frame is redrawn, and

the selected part of the design is displayed in the Design Page.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Specifying the Design Page Size and Color

The color and size of the Design Page in addition to the color of the background can be changed. You can select a Design Page size according to the size of hoop that you will be using with your embroidery machine. You can also specify a custom size for the Design Page for embroidery patterns that will be split and embroidered in multiple sections.

1. Click Option, then Design Page Property.

2. Select the Design Page size.

To adjust the Design Page size according to the hoop size, select Hoop Size, and then select the desired hoop size from the selector.

b Memo:

To arrange the pattern in a Design Page rotated 90 degrees, select the

Degrees

check box.

Rotate 90

a Note:

• The Design Page sizes

100

172 mm

used to embroider multi-position designs using a special embroidery hoop attached to the embroidery machine at three installation positions.

• Do not select a hoop size larger than the embroidery hoop that can be used with your machine.

indicated by the “*”, are

“Creating Design for MultiPosition Hoops” on page 182 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

130

300 mm

To specify a custom Design Page size, select Custom Size, and then type or select the desired width and height for the Design Page.

“Creating Split Embroidery Designs” on

page 176 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

3. From the Page selector, select the desired

color for the Design Page.

4. From the Background selector, select the

desired color for the background.

5. Click OK.

b Memo:

To return to the default settings (

mm (4”

× 4”) of

Hoop Size

100

), click

100

Default

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Changing Application Settings

Changing the grid settings

A grid of dotted lines or solid lines can be displayed or hidden, and the spacing for the grid can be adjusted.

1. Click Display, then Grid Setup.

2. To display the grid, select the Show Grid

check box. To hide the grid, clear the Show Grid check box.

3. To use the grid for aligning patterns or creating

patterns of the same size, select the Snap to Grid check box.

b Memo:

The pointer will move by the amount set in

Grid interval

The snap feature works whether or not the grid is displayed.

Changing the measurement units (mm or inch)

The measurements for values displayed in the application can be in either millimeters or inches.

1. Click Option, then Select System Unit, and

then select the desired measurement units (mm or inch).

Changing the ruler settings

The ruler can be displayed or hidden.

1. Click Display, then Ruler.

→ A check mark appears beside the

command, and the ruler appears.

To hide the ruler, click Display, then Ruler again so that the check mark disappears.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

4. To set the grid spacing, type or select a value

in the Grid interval box.

5. To display the grid as solid lines, select the

with Axes check box. To display the grid as dots (intersecting points of the grid) and center lines, clear the with Axes check box.

6. Click OK to apply the changes and to close the

dialog box.

Click to switch the measurement units between millimeters and inches.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Drawing Shapes

Rectangles, rectangles with rounded corners, and curved patterns (regular circles, ovals, arcs, fan shapes, and arc & strings) can be drawn by using the Rectangle, Circle or Arc tools.

b Memo:

• You can change the color and sew type either before or after drawing the shape.

“Setting the thread color and sew type” on page 94.

• You can also use the settings in the shape.

“Specifying sewing attributes” on page 96.

Sewing Attribute Setting

dialog box to define other attributes of the

About rectangle, circle and arc

Rectangle

Circle

Fan shape

All of these patterns, except arcs have an outline and a inside region, and can independently be assigned different sewing attributes. Arcs are simple outlines.

Oval

Arc & string

Arc

Drawing rectangle, circle or arc Shape

1. Click on the Tool Box.

→ Six buttons appear .

2. Click the button for the shape to be drawn.

→ The Sewing Attributes bar appears.

3. Drag the pointer to draw the shape.

■ Rectangle

The point where you start dragging is considered a corner of the rectangle. The point where the mouse button is released is the diagonally opposite corner of the rectangle.

b Memo:

To draw a square, hold down the key while dragging the pointer.

■

Rectangle with rounded corners

Shift

a Note:

When drawing a shape with this tool, select the shape before drawing. You cannot, for example, draw a circle, then change it to an arc afterward.

Click to view the current corner radius setting

in the Edge radius selector.

To change the radius of the corners, click the Edge radius selector, and then type the desired radius

and press the key, or select the desired value.

Enter

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Drag the pointer to draw a rectangle with corners of the currently specified radius.

Example 1 Edge radius: 0.0 mm

Example 2 Edge radius: 20.0 mm

b Memo:

Even if an object drawn with the Rectangle tool is selected, the appears so that the setting for the radius of the corners can be changed.

■ Circle or Oval

The point where you start dragging is considered a corner of an imaginary rectangle around the oval. The point where you release the mouse button is the diagonally opposite point of the rectangle. The oval will fit inside this imaginary rectangle (its greater axis is along the longer edge of the rectangle, and its smaller axis is along the smaller edge).

Edge radius

selector

b Memo:

Arc

Click at start point.

Move to end point.

Click at end point.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Arc & String

Click at start point.

To draw a circle, hold down the key while dragging the pointer.

■

Arc , Arc & String or Fan

Shift

1. Proceed as you would to draw a circle or an

oval.

→ A radial line appears on the oval when the

mouse button is released.

2. Move the pointer to the start point of the arc,

and then click.

→ The radial line disappears.

3. Move the pointer until the arc/arc & string/fan

has the desired shape, and then click.

Move to end point.

Click at end point.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Fan

Click at start point.

Move to end point.

Click at end point.

Drawing various shape

The Shape tools allow you to draw 24 types of shapes, such as hearts, stars or polygons. These shapes will have an outline and an inside region that can independently be assigned different sewing attributes.

1. Click on the Tool Box.

→ The buttons for the 24 types of shapes

appear.

2. Click the button for the shape to be drawn.

3. Drag the pointer in the Design Page.

The point where you start dragging is considered a corner of an imaginary rectangle around the shape. The point where you release the mouse button is the diagonally opposite point of the shape. The shape will fit inside this imaginary rectangle.

b Memo:

To draw the shape while maintaining the original height-to-width proportion, hold down

Shift

the key while dragging the pointer.

About straight line and curve

The Outline tools allow you to add straight lines and curves to your pattern.

•

Using the tools available with these buttons draws a closed path. Since this type of pattern has an outline and an inside region, each part can be assigned different sew types and colors.

b Memo:

If the line of the pattern crosses itself, the inside region cannot be filled, and the line must be uncrossed so that the fill can be applied.

•

Using the tools available with these buttons draws an open path. Since this type of pattern is a simple outline and does not have an inside region, line sew type and color settings can only be applied to the line itself.

Furthermore, if an image is used as a template, and can be used to semi-automatically extract the image boundary.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

End point

Start point

Open line

This closed line crosses itself, so the regions will not be filled.

End point

Open curve

This closed curve crosses itself, so the regions will not be filled.

Closed line

Closed curve

Drawing straight line and

: When a template image is displayed,

click along the outlines of the image to draw closed lines tracing the image.

(Shortcut key: )

: When a template image is displayed,

click along the outlines of the image to draw open lines tracing the image.

(Shortcut key: )

: Drag the pointer to draw a closed

freehand line.

: Drag the pointer to draw an open

freehand line.

2. Click the button for the shape to be drawn.

→ The Sewing Attributes bar appears.

3. Click in the Design Page or drag the pointer to

draw the line.

■ Straight lines/curves

Although the procedure for using the Straight Line tool is described below, the Curve tool and SemiAutomatic tool are used in the same way.

1. Click in the Design Page to specify the start

point.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

curve

1. Click on the Tool Box.

→ Eight buttons appear:

: Click points to draw a closed line

constructed of straight lines.

(Shortcut key: )

: Click points to draw an open line

constructed of straight lines.

(Shortcut key: )

: Click points to draw a closed curve.

(Shortcut key: )

: Click points to draw an open curve.

(Shortcut key: )

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

2. Click in the Design Page to specify the next

point.

b Memo:

To remove the last point that was entered, click the right mouse button, or press the

BackSpace

3. Continue clicking to specify every point, and

then double-click the last point, or press the

Enter

key.

b Memo:

• You can freely switch between the different line types either by clicking a different button or by pressing the shortcut key.

• When drawing a straight line, hold down the

Shift

key while moving the pointer to draw

vertically or horizontally.

• A template image is needed in order to draw using the Semi-Automatic tool. If there is no image, this tool will draw like the Straight Line tool.

“Importing Image Data” on

page 120.

• Even after the pattern is drawn, you can transform straight lines into curves and vice versa.

“Transforming straight lines into

curves or curves into straight lines” on page 58.

■ Freehand lines

1. Drag the pointer to draw the line.

2. Release the mouse button to finish drawing.

Changing the attributes of line ends

The attribute of the ends of lines drawn with the Outline tool can be changed.

1. Select an object drawn with an Outline tool.

“Selecting patterns” on page 52.

→ The Path shape selector appears in the

Sewing Attributes bar.

2. From the selector, select the desired attribute

of the line ends.

→ The line changes to the selected line end

attribute.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Preventing overlapping stitching (hole sewing)

By specifying hole sewing, the stitching in overlapping regions will not be sewn twice. Hole sewing can be set only when one region completely encloses another.

1. Select a pair of patterns, for example, a circle

included in an oval.

Valid

b Memo:

For a pair to be valid, one of the patterns must be completely enclosed within the other pattern, and not contain text, manual punching patterns or stitch data.

b Memo:

• Once a pair of patterns has been set for hole sewing, they will move together if you try to move one of the patterns.

• When setting hole sewing to three or more objects, first set hole sewing to two objects. After this, select the first two grouped objects and the next one object and repeat the hole sewing setting.

• The outline of patterns created with the Outline, Fan Shape and Arc & String tools can be edited with the Point Edit tool.

a Note:

To see better what the hole sewing setting does, previewing the patterns before and after setting hole sewing.

“Displaying a preview of the

embroidery” on page 65.

■ Canceling hole sewing

1. Select a pattern that has been set for hole

sewing.

2. Click Sew, then Cancel hole sewing.

The pair of patterns can now be moved independently.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Invalid

2. Click Sew, then Set hole sewing.

→ If the selected pair can be set for hole

sewing, the following message appears.

→ If the selected pair cannot be set for hole

sewing, the error message appears.

Sewn twice Sewn once

Hole sewing not set Hole sewing set

3. Click OK to remove the message.

Changing shapes of overlapped patterns

Embroidery patterns created with the Rectangle, Circle or Arc tools, Shape tools or the Outline tools can be selected to remove overlapping regions or to be merged.

■ Removing overlapping

Overlapped patterns can be set so that the overlapping region is removed.

When this is applied to multiple patterns, the region overlapped by other patterns is cut out.

1. Select two or more overlapped patterns.

2. Click Sew, then Remove Overlaps.

→ The region overlapped by other patterns

is removed.

→ If this cannot be applied to the selected

patterns, an error message appears.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

• When partially overlapped

• When enclosed

■ Merging

Overlapped patterns can be merged together. When this is applied to multiple patterns, the color and sew type of the last pattern drawn (topmost pattern) is applied to the merged pattern.

1. Select two or more overlapped patterns.

2. Click Sew, then Merge.

→ All of the selected patterns are merged

together.

→ If this cannot be applied to the selected

patterns, an error message appears.

• When partially overlapped

• When enclosed

• When enclosed by the last pattern in the sewing order

First pattern in the sewing order

Second pattern in the sewing order

Third pattern in the sewing order

• When enclosed by the last pattern in the sewing order

First pattern in the sewing order

Second pattern in the sewing order

Third pattern in the sewing order

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Manually Creating Professional-Level Embroidery Patterns (Manual Punching)

When fill stitches or satin stitches have been specified for region sewing, the angle of the stitching over the region is either all in the same direction or in a direction depending on the shape. However, if the Manual Punch tools are used, the sewing angle can be adjusted as desired to create patterns that appear more like manual embroidery.

For example, if fill stitches or satin stitches have been specified for a region with the following shape, the stitching will appear as shown below.

<Shape>

If a manual punching pattern is created using the above image as a guide, the stitching will appear as shown below.

The lines drawn in the pattern show the direction of the stitching. The stitching is created so that it turns around the center of the radial stitching.

Satin stitch

A three-dimensional appearance, like the flower petals, can be created for the flat design of this shape.

Fill stitch

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

In addition, feathered edge settings can be specified for manual punch patterns. By reducing the stitch density or specifying the length of the stitching, a feathered outline can be applied to the pattern.

Refer to “Featherd edge” in “Manual punch” on page 108.

Example: Fill stitch

Different variations can be applied to the flower petals.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

The following example shows how the Manual Punch tools are used to draw a beard over image of the reindeer (Rudolph.bmp), which is used as a template. The template and finished pattern are provided in the following folder.

Documents (My Documents)\PE-DESIGN8\ Sample\Layout & Editing\Manual Punch

1. Import the file Rudolph.bmp.

“Importing Image Data” on page 120.

: This is used for semi-automatically

creating straight block-type punching patterns. By semi-automatically tracing, points can be specified along the lines of a template.

(Shortcut key: )

: This is used for creating running-type

punching patterns (line sewing).

(Shortcut key: )

: This is used for creating feed-type

punching patterns (jump stitches). (Shortcut key: )

“Jump Stitch and Jump Stitch Trimming”

on page 238 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

While creating a manual punching pattern, you can switch between the various tools. This is very easy if the shortcut keys are used.

3. Click to start drawing a running-type

pattern.

→ The Sewing Attributes bar appears.

b Memo:

If the semi-automatic block-type punch tool is used for drawing, an image must be imported to be used as a template.

2. Click on the Tool Box.

→ Five buttons appear:

This is used for creating straight block-

type punching patterns (region sewing).

(Shortcut key: )

This is used for creating curved block-

type punching patterns (region sewing).

(Shortcut key: )

4. Select Fill Stitch as the block sew type and

SILVER as the punch color.

b Memo:

• The color and sew type can be also be changed after the pattern is created.

“Color” on page 95 and “Sew

type” on page 96.

• You can also use the settings in the

Attribute Setting

If you do not change these settings at this time, the current settings will be applied. However, you can modify the sewing attributes at any time.

dialog box.

“Specifying sewing attributes” on page 96.

Sewing

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

5. Click in the Design Page to specify points 1

(start point) through 12.

b Memo:

To remove the last point that was entered,

press the key, or click the right mouse button.

6. After clicking point 12 (the last point of the

running-type pattern), click , and then

click in the Design Page to specify point 13 througn 15.

BackSpace

8. Click in the Design Page to specify points 24

through 48.

9. Click point 49 (the last point of the pattern),

and then press the key or double-click the point to complete the pattern.

Enter

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

→ The area surrounded by the line is

specified as a block.

7. Click in the Design Page to specify points 16

through 23.

b Memo:

• If the shape cannot be drawn with the Manual Punch tools as desired, points can be edited to adjust the shape.

“Reshaping Embroidery Patterns”

on page 56.

• Line sewing is not created along outlines of

patterns drawn with , or .

→ The blocks A through E will be created, in

order.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Adding Text

Entering text/Small text

1. Click on the Tool Box.

→ Three buttons appear: .

2. Click or .

: Text

: Small text

→ The Sewing Attributes bar appears.

4. Click in the Design Page.

→ The Edit Text Letters dialog box

appears, containing a chart with all characters available with the selected font.

5. Type the text.

b Memo:

3. If necessary, change the font, text size, color

and sew type.

b Memo:

• You can change the font, text size, color, and sew type either before or after creating the text.

“Font” on page 81, “Text Size” on

page 83, “Color” on page 95 and “Sew type” on page 96.

• You can also use the settings in the

Attribute Setting

attributes of the text.

• You can also use the settings in the

Attribute Setting

attributes for text.

dialog box to define other

“Specifying text attributes” on page 83.

dialog box to define other

“Specifying sewing attributes” on page 96.

Text

Sewing

a Note:

• If one of the fonts provided with this application (01 to 35) or custom fonts is selected, the line sew type cannot be selected.

• A sew type cannot be selected for small text.

• Press the key to enter a new line of text.

• You can also enter a character by selecting it in the character table, then clicking or simply by double-clicking it. This is particularly useful if you have to enter accented characters that are not available on your keyboard.

Enter

6. Click OK.

→ The text is displayed in the Design Page.

b Memo:

• If you want to edit the entered text, select it, and then select the menu command

Text – Edit Letters. Edit the text in the Edit Text Letters dialog box that

appears.

“Editing entered text” on page 83.

• The Small Text tool is used to create text patterns where the jump stitches between the characters do not need to be cut.

a Note:

• If the entered characters are not available with the selected font or if the text cannot be converted to an embroidery pattern, an error message appears. Click the message and return to the

Letters

dialog box, where you can correct

the text.

Insert

to close

Edit Text

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

a Note:

Precautions for small text

• Reduce the thread tension to less than what is used when embroidering normal designs.

• Sew at a speed slower than what is used when embroidering normal designs. (For details on adjusting the thread tension and sewing speed, refer to the Instruction Manual provided with your embroidery machine.)

• For best results when sewing small font patterns, do not cut the jump stitches between the characters. (For details on setting the machine for thread cutting, refer to the Instruction Manual for the embroidery machine.)

Selecting text attributes

Text attributes can be specified with the Font selector and Text Size selector.

Font sample

Font number

Types of characters available

2. Click the desired font.

→ The setting is applied to all text patterns

that you will create, until the setting is changed.

→ If text patterns or characters in a text

pattern were selected, the setting is also applied to the selected text.

The available fonts and the types of characters available with each font are listed below.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

b Memo:

The

Font

selector and

appear when on the Tool Box is selected. It also appears when text or a

character in the Design Page has been selected.

Text Size

a Note:

Embroidering text

• A font other than small text set to a small character size may not be embroidered correctly. We recommend setting the character size to 10 mm or more.

• Depending on the design, text using a TrueType font may not be correctly converted to an embroidery pattern. Select a TrueType font where characters have an even line thickness, such as with Arial.

■ Font

1. Click in the Font selector.

→ A list of fonts appears when clicking on

the menu arrow at the right.

selector

• Built-in Fonts

Tex t

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Tex t

Small text

•Custom Fonts

PEF files created with Font Creator and saved in the MyFont folder where PE-DESIGN was installed appear as user-defined fonts after the fonts listed in the table above. The UD icon appears on custom fonts.

“Creating Custom Fonts (Font Creator)”

on page 225 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

• TrueType Fonts

The names and samples of installed TrueType fonts appear after the Custom Fonts.

Built-in Fonts

Custom Fonts

TrueType Fonts

Uppercase letters of the English alphabet

Lowercase letters of the English alphabet

Numerals

Punctuation marks, brackets and other symbols

Uppercase and lowercase accented letters

Size for small text (appears only for small text)

b Memo:

Only built-in fonts can be used with small text.

b Memo:

TrueType font settings can be changed in the

TrueType Font Attribute Setting

which is displayed by clicking the menu command

Setting

Text – TrueType Font Attribute

“Specifying TrueType text

attributes” on page 89.

dialog box,

a Note:

Text created using certain TrueType fonts may not be converted correctly into an embroidery pattern due to the shape of the character. These characters cannot be embroidered correctly. Test sew before embroidering on your project. In addition, text created using some TrueType fonts cannot be converted at all.

“Entering text/Small text” on page 80.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Text Size

1. Click in the Text Size selector.

Specifying text attributes

Various character attributes for text can be set in the Text Attribute Setting dialog box.

The settings are applied to the text pattern each time the settings are changed.

1. Select the text or small text.

2. Type the desired height and press the

Enter

→ The setting is applied to all text patterns

→ If text patterns or characters in a text

key, or click the desired value.

that you will create, until the setting is changed.

pattern were selected, the setting is also applied to the selected text.

“Entering text/Small text” on page 80.

Editing entered text

Text that has been entered can easily be edited.

1. Select the text or small text.

a Note:

You cannot edit more than one text pattern at a time. If you select more than one text pattern, this menu command is not available.

2. Click Text, then Edit Letters.

3. The selected text is displayed in the text field.

2. Click Text, then Text Attribute Setting.

“Thread colors, sewing attributes and text

attributes” on page 47.

3. If necessary, change the text attributes.

b Memo:

To return a parameter to its default setting,

click beside it.

0.0 mm

Kerning

Sets the spacing between individual characters.

5.0 mm (between “A” and “b”)

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

4. Edit the text as needed.

5. Click OK.

→ The edited text is displayed in the Design

Page.

“Entering text/Small text” on page 80.

Vertical Offset

Rotate angle

Moves the text vertically.

Rotates the characters.

0.0 mm

2.0 mm

0 degree

20 degrees

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Character Spacing

Line Spacing

Alignment

Direction

Sets the spacing between all characters.

Sets the spacing between lines as a percentage of the character height.

Aligns several lines of text to the left, center or right.

Specifies whether characters will be positioned horizontally or vertically.

0.0 mm

2.0 mm

100%

150%

Left

Center

Right

Horizontal

Ver tic al

2. Select the Transform check box, and then

click the transformation shape button.

→ Depending on the selected shape, a

dotted line and or appear

around the text.

a Note:

A text pattern created from a TrueType font contains data for both line and region sewing. Therefore, if this command is selected, depending on the form of the TrueType font, there may be a gap between the line and the region in the text.

b Memo:

• Vertical text will be displayed vertically on the Design Page.

Kerning

•Both the spacing between characters.

Spacing

pattern, while individual characters. Applying the entire text in the pattern is the same as specifying “Selecting characters” on page 85 for more details about selecting individual characters in a text pattern.

and

Character Spacing

is always applied to the entire text

Kerning

Character Spacing

can be applied to

. Refer to

set

Character

Kerning

■ Transforming text

A preset transform shape can be applied to text.

b Memo:

Small text cannot be transformed.

1. Select the text.

3. Drag to transform the text.

b Memo:

• can only be dragged vertically.

• can only be dragged horizontally.

To return the transformed text to its original shape, clear the Transform check box.

b Memo:

• Text can be arranged on an arc if or

is selected.

• The settings specified in the dialog box are applied to all text patterns

Setting

that you create, until the settings are changed.

Text Attribute

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Selecting characters

The font, character size, thread color, sew type and other attributes can be changed for each character that is selected.

1. Click , then .

2. Click the text or small text.

→ The points in the text appear as small

empty squares.

3. To select a single character, click the point for

the character.

To select multiple characters, hold down the

Ctrl

key and click each point for the other characters, or drag the pointer over the points of characters.

→ The points for the selected characters

appear as a small black squares.

→ The handles appear on the character.

→ The Sewing Attributes bar appears.

Easy changes to the character size and attributes

You can easily use drag operations to change the size and text attributes (character spacing, vertical offset, rotation) for text, small text, and monogram characters.

■ Changing the size

1. Bring the pointer onto the upper right

handle.

2. Drag the handle.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

→ The size of the character outline

displayed with dotted lines changes.

1 Rotation handle

2 Size handle

3 Vertical offset handle

b Memo:

• Multiple points can be selected and the selected points can be changed in the same way that embroidery pattern points are selected.

“Selecting points” on page 56.

• With TrueType fonts, the outline can be set to be sewn or not, and settings can be selected for the color and sew type.

3. When you release the mouse button, the

character size is changed.

→ The new size is displayed on the Sewing

Attributes bar.

b Memo:

The character size of small text can be increased. However the stitching will become coarse.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Changing the character spacing

1. Place the pointer onto the character body

other than the handles and drag the character horizontally.

→ The character outline displayed with

dotted lines moves.

2. When you release the mouse button, the

character spacing is changed.

→ When the Text Attribute Setting dialog

box is opened, the new kerning is displayed.

■ Changing the vertical offset

1. Bring the pointer onto the lower handle.

2. Drag the handle vertically.

→ The character outline displayed with

dotted lines moves.

3. When you release the mouse button, the

character offset is changed.

→ When the Text Attribute Setting dialog

box is opened, the new vertical offset is displayed.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Rotating the characters

b Memo:

Monogram characters can not be rotated.

1. Bring the pointer onto the handle.

2. Drag the handle.

→ The character outline displayed with

dotted lines rotates.

Specifying text arrangement

A line of text can be arranged along a path.

“Drawing Shapes” on page 70.

Toolbar button:

1. Select the text or small text and a path.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

3. When you release the mouse button, the

character angle is changed.

→ When the Text Attribute Setting dialog

box is opened, the new rotation angle is displayed.

b Memo:

• Settings specified in the

• To return to the default settings, click .

• The settings specified in the

dialog box are applied to all

Setting

selected characters.

dialog box are applied to all text

Setting

patterns that you create, until the settings are changed.

Text Attribute

2. Click , or click Text, then Fit Text to

Path Setting.

3. From the Horizontal Alignment, Vertical

Alignment and Text Orientation selectors,

select the desired settings.

b Memo:

To position the text on the other side of the path, check

4. Click OK to apply the settings.

the other side

check box.

a Note:

When text arrangement is specified, the text transformation is cancelled. Only one string of text can be arranged on a single path.

b Memo:

To change the position of text on the path, select the text, and then drag it.

“Memo” on page 37.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Horizontal Alignment

Vertical Alignment

Text Orientation

the other side Sets the side for arrangement.

Sets the distribution of characters along the path.

Sets the distance between the text and the path.

Sets the orientation of the characters relative to the path.

■ Canceling text arrangement

The text arrangement on a path can be cancelled.

Toolbar button:

1. Select text or small text that is arranged on a

path (Fit to Path).

2. Click , or click Text, then Release Text

from Path.

“Specifying text arrangement” on

page 87.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Specifying TrueType text attributes

Various character attributes, such as the style, can be specified for TrueType fonts converted to an embroidery pattern.

1. Select the TrueType text.

2. Click Text, then TrueType Font Attribute

Setting.

→ A dialog box appears. If any characters

converted from a TrueType font are selected, the attributes for the selected characters are displayed.

3. To change the font style, select the desired

style from the Font style list.

4. To change the character set for the font, select

the desired character set from the Script selector.

5. Click OK to set the attributes and to close the

dialog box.

→ The attribute settings are applied to all

text patterns that you will create from a TrueType font, until the setting is changed.

Converting text to outline pattern

Text in a TrueType font can be converted to an outline pattern.

1. Select text in a TrueType font.

2. Click Text, then Convert to Outline Object.

→ The selected text is converted to outlines.

No sewing attributes are specified for the converted outline; therefore, it appears as dotted lines. Specify the sewing attributes as necessary.

b Memo:

In order to prevent the pattern from losing its shape, group the outlines or specify hole sewing.

“Creating Outlined Characters (Using

Text Converted to Outline Object)” on page 240 in the Instruction Manual (PDF format).

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

a Note:

• The settings for differ depending on the TrueType font that is selected.

• If text created from multiple TrueType fonts is selected, this command is not available. In addition, if text of the same font but different font styles or scripts is selected, this dialog box appears with the attribute settings for the first letter in the text. In either case mentioned above, selecting only one character from within text displays a dialog box containing only that character’s attributes.

“Entering text/Small text” on page 80 and

“Specifying text attributes” on page 83.

Font style

and

Script

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Entering Monograms

The monogram function allows you to create monograms composed of one to three or less uppercase letters and arrange a decorative pattern around them.

1. Click on the Tool Box.

→ Three buttons appear: .

2. Click .

→ The Sewing Attributes bar appears.

b Memo:

•

Diamond

for monograms. You can also use other fonts.

• If a TrueType font was selected, the Sewing Attributes bar appears as shown below so the thread color and sew type for the line can be selected.

and

Script

are fonts exclusively

3. If necessary, change the font, text size, color

and sew type.

b Memo:

• You can change the font, text size, color, and sew type either before or after creating the monogram.

“Monogram font” on page 91,

“Monogram Size” on page 91, “Color” on page 95 and “Sew type” on page 96.

• You can also use the settings in the

Attribute Setting

attributes of the monogram.

dialog box to define other

“Specifying sewing attributes” on page 96.

4. Click in the Design Page.

Sewing

b Memo:

• You can also enter a character by selecting it in the character table, then clicking or simply by double-clicking it.

• You can enter up to three uppercase characters with the monogram function.

Insert

a Note:

You cannot insert multiple lines. If you press the key, the dialog closes and the

Enter

monogram pattern is displayed in the Design Page.

6. To add a decorative pattern around or at the

sides of the monogram, select Add Decorative Pattern check box, and then click Select Pattern.

7. Click a decorative pattern to select it, and then

click Select (or double-click the pattern) to close the Decorative Pattern dialog box and display the pattern in the preview box of the Edit Monogram Letters dialog box.

8. Click OK.

→ The monogram is displayed in the Design

Page with the selected decorative pattern.

5. Type the monogram text (uppercase

characters).

9. Click on the Tool Box, select the

decorative pattern, and then adjust its size and position.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

b Memo:

• Drag the handle to adjust the selected pattern to the desired size.

“Scaling patterns” on page 53.

• The shape of the pointer changes to when the selected object can be moved.

10. If necessary, change the thread color and sew

type in the Sewing Attributes bar for the monogram.

Editing monograms

Attributes can be specified with the Monogram font selector and Monogram Size selector.

b Memo:

The

Monogram font

selector appear in the Sewing Attributes

Size

bar when on the Tool Box is selected. It

also appears when a monogram pattern in the Design Page has been selected.

selector and

Monogram

■ Monogram Size

1. Click in the Monogram Size selector.

2. Type the desired height and press the

Enter

→ The setting is applied to all monogram

→ If a monogram pattern was selected, the

key, or click the desired value.

patterns that you will create, until the setting is changed.

setting is also applied to the selected monogram.

■ Editing the monogram text

1. Select the monogram pattern.

a Note:

You cannot edit more than one monogram pattern at a time. If you select more than one monogram pattern, this menu command is not available.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Monogram font

1. Click in the Font selector.

→ A list of monogram fonts appears.

2. Click the desired font.

→ The setting is applied to all monogram

patterns that you will create, until the setting is changed.

→ If a monogram pattern was selected, the

setting is also applied to the selected monogram.

2. Click Text, then Edit Letters.

→ The Edit Monogram Letters dialog box

appears, where the characters of the selected monogram pattern are displayed in the text field.

3. Edit the text as needed.

b Memo:

• To change the decorative pattern, click

Select Pattern

pattern in the box that appeared. Then, select the old decorative pattern in the Design Page and delete it.

• To remove the decorative pattern, select it in the Design Page, and then delete it.

, and then select the new

Decorative Pattern

dialog

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

4. Click OK.

→ The edited monogram pattern is

displayed in the Design Page.

“Entering Monograms” on page 90.

■ Editing single characters

The thread color, character size, character spacing and vertical offset for each letter in a monogram can be specified in the same way that attributes are specified for text patterns. The characters cannot be rotated.

“Selecting characters” on page 85 and

“Easy changes to the character size and attributes” on page 85.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Applying Sewing Attributes to Lines and Regions

The Sewing Attributes bar allows you to set the following attributes:

• geometric attributes (rectangle edge radius, and path shape)

• text attributes (font, size)

• embroidery attributes (thread color and sew type, outline and inside region on/off)

The sewing attributes that are available depend on the tool selected in Tool Box, and the type of embroidery pattern selected.

Example 1: When a rectangle is selected

Example 2: When a text is selected

When the pointer is positioned over a button or selector in the Sewing Attributes bar, a label indicating the name of that element appears. In the following instructions, we will refer to the elements of the Sewing Attributes bar according to these labels.

As a general rule, the different characteristics available for a given pattern can be set either just before creating the pattern, or after the pattern is created. For example, when drawing a rectangle, you can set the colors and the corner radius just after starting the rectangle drawing mode. When the rectangle is created, you can select it and change its characteristics.

Geometric attributes

Edge radius

of rectangles.

Path shape: Opens and closes broken lines and curves.

Text attributes

Font: Selects a font for text.

Tex t Size: Selects the size for text.

Embroidery attributes

Line sew: Switches on/off sewing

for the line. When sewing for the outline is switched off, it is not sewn (and you cannot set its color or sew type).

Region sew: Switches on/off sewing for the region. When sewing for the inside region is switched off, it is not sewn (and you cannot set its color or sew type).

Line color, Region color, Text color, Punch color: Sets the thread

color for outlines, inside regions, text and manual punching patterns.

Special colors

Line sew type: Sets the sew type for the outlines.

Region sew type: Sets the sew type for an inside region, text and manual punching patterns.

: Sets the corner radius

“Rectangle with rounded corners” on page 70.

“Changing the attributes of line ends” on page 74.

“Font” on page 81.

“Text Size” on page 83.

“Line sew / Region sew” on page 94.

“Color” on page 95.

“Special colors” on page 95.

“Sew type” on page 96.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Setting the thread color and sew type

All patterns can be assigned at least one color and sew type. Patterns with an outline and an inside region can be assigned two different thread colors and sew types. If a gradation is applied to an area, an additional color can be specified to create a blending effect. (For details on gradations, refer to “Creating a gradation/blending” on page 115.) In addition, each character in a text pattern can be assigned individual thread colors and sew types.

Patterns with an outline and a inside region: text converted from TrueType fonts, circles, fan shapes, arcs & strings, rectangles, 24 shapes, closed broken lines, and closed curves. For these patterns, it is possible to switch on and off sewing for the outline and the regions.

Patterns with only an outline: arcs, open broken lines, and open curves. For these patterns, it is still possible to switch on and off sewing for the outline.

Patterns with only a region: text created with fonts provided with this application, text created with custom fonts and manual punching patterns. For these patterns, it is not possible to switch on and off sewing of the inside region.

Manual punching patterns: You can set a color and a sew type for manual punching patterns.

Off: The Line color/Region color button and the

Line sew type/Region sew type selector are not displayed.

Line sew

Line color

Line sewing on: Line sewing off:

Region color

Region sew

Region sewing on: Region sewing off:

Line sew type

Region sew type

b Memo:

• The color and sew type are applied to all patterns of the same type that you create, until the settings are changed. The color button of each category shows the current color for that category.

• If a pattern is selected, the color and sew type are applied to the selected pattern.

■ Line sew

switches on/off line sewing, switches on/

off region sewing.

Region sew

b Memo:

• When line sewing or region sewing is switched off, it is not sewn (and the color or sew type cannot be selected).

Clicking the button switches between the two settings.

On: The Line color/Region color button and the

Line sew type/Region sew type selector are displayed.

“Color” on page 95 and “Sew type” on

page 96.

a Note:

The Region sewing attribute cannot be set inside the closed path region in case a pattern outline across by itself although the pattern is drawn by the straight line or the curved line tool with closed path attribute.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Color

Click this button to set the thread color for outlines, inside regions, texts and manual punching patterns.

1. Click the Color button.

• Palette mode

• List mode

b Memo:

At the top of the TrueType font character patterns and outline data, you can select the type of stitching

Line, Region1

( being selected.

Line:

Line color

Region1: Region2:

Region 2

( with a blending effect is specified.)

For details on specifying a user thread

chart or for information on how machines handle thread colors, refer to “Editing user thread color lists” on page 110.

For details on changing thread colors for

stitch patterns, refer to “Changing colors” on page 118.

■ Special colors

Thread Color

Region2

Region color Additional color for blending

can only be selected if a gradation

“Creating a gradation/blending” on page 115.

) whose color is

dialog box for

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

b Memo:

• To view the details about the thread colors, click on left corner of the

• To view the colors without the details, click on left corner of the

2. From the Thread Chart selector, select a

thread brand or your user thread chart.

3. From the list of thread colors, select the

desired color.

To List mode

Thread Color

To Palette mode

Thread Color

button in the bottom

dialog.

button in the bottom

dialog.

NOT DEFINED

APPLIQUE MATERIAL

• NOT DEFINED: Embroidery machines that

feature automatic thread color display will automatically switch the display to the specified color. If you are using such a machine and if you want to be able to select manually the color for a monochrome pattern, you can select NOT DEFINED.

• Colors for creating appliqués: You can

create appliqués using the three special colors shown in the above illustration. APPLIQUE MATERIAL marks the outline of the region to cut from the appliqué material.

APPLIQUE

APPLIQUE POSITION

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

APPLIQUE POSITION marks the position on the backing material where the appliqué must be sewn. APPLIQUE sews the appliqué on the backing material.

b Memo:

By using the Applique Wizard, appliqués can easily be created.

“Creating appliqués (Applique

Wizard)” on page 137.

■ Sew type

Specifying sewing attributes

Various sewing attributes for lines and regions can be set in the Sewing Attribute Setting dialog box.

1. Select an embroidery stitch pattern, the Draw

tool or the Text tool.

2. Click Sew, then Sewing Attribute Setting.

“Layout & Editing Window” on page 47.

Beginner mode:

Use these to set the sew type for outlines, inside regions, text, and manual punching patterns.

1. Click in a sew type selector.

→ The available settings that appear differ

depending on the object that is selected.

Object

type

Te xt (built-in fonts, custom fonts)

Te xt (TrueType fonts)

Te xt (Small font)

Manual punching pattern

Others

Line sew type

settings

None

Zigzag, Running, Triple, Motif,

and E/V Stitch

None None

None

Zigzag, Running, Triple, Motif, and E/V Stitch

Region sew type

Satin, Fill, and Prog. Fill (programmable fill) Stitch

Satin, Fill, Prog. Fill

(programmable fill stitch),

Piping, and Motif Stitch

Satin, Fill, Prog. Fill (programmable fill), Piping, Motif, Cross, Concentric Circle, Radial, Spiral, and Stippling Stitch

settings

Adjust with slider.

3 4 2

Expert mode:

Enter a value.

2. Click the desired sew type.

“Line sew / Region sew” on page 94 and

“Specifying sewing attributes” below.

3 4 2

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

1 Click to return to the default setting.

2 Click to switch the mode.

3 Click to load/save the sewing settings.

4 Click to switch between displaying and

hiding the hint view.

5Hint view

With each change in the settings, a preview of the stitching can be checked here.

b Memo:

The sewing attributes displayed in the dialog box depend on the selected sew type.

3. To display only basic sewing attributes and

simpler settings, click To Beginner mode. To display all of the sewing attributes and settings available for the selected sew type, click To Expert mode.

b Memo:

Settings that cannot be selected in Beginner mode are retained from the previous setting in Expert mode.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

4. If necessary, change the sewing attributes

displayed under Line sew or Region sew.

→ The settings are applied to the

embroidery pattern each time the settings are changed.

For details on the different sewing

attributes and settings, refer to “Line sewing attributes” on page 98 and “Region sewing attributes” on page 101. In addition, frequently used sewing attributes can be saved. For details, refer to “Saving the settings in a list” on page 109.

a Note:

• All settings made in the dialog box are retained and will be applied regardless of the mode, until they are changed.

• The sew type cannot be selected for small text.

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

■ Line sewing attributes

The available attributes differ depending on the selected sew type.

Zigzag stitch

To specify underlay stitching, select the check box.

Under sewing

Zigzag width Specify the width of the satin stitching.

Density

Half Stitch

Sharp Corners Specify how pointed corners are sewn.

Use underlay stitching to prevent shrinking during stitching.

Specify the stitch density as the number of threads per millimeter.

To specify half stitching, select the check box. If one side of the zigzag stitching is dense, half stitches will be sewn automatically to provide a more even stitch density. Available for text and objects created with the drawing tools.

Running stitch

Off On

Narrow Wide

Coarse Fine

Off

The inside stitching is dense.

The stitching is adjusted to a more even density.

Run pitch Specify the run pitch (length of one stitch).

Run time(s) Specify the number of times the outline is sewn.

Triple stitch

Run pitch Specify the run pitch (length of one stitch).

Short Long

1 time 5 times

Short Long

Brother PE-DESIGN 8 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Turn Any Design Into Original Embroidery With PE-DESIGN

What You Can Do With PE-DESIGN

Sew Types

Basic Operation Map

New Features of Version 8

Table of Contents

How To Use Manuals

Support/Service

Online Registration

Checking for the Latest Version of the Program

Tutorial

1. Importing Embroidery Patterns

2. Automatically Converting an Image to an Embroidery Design

3. Drawing Shapes to Create an Embroidery Design

4. Entering Text

5. Combining Embroidery Patterns

6. Print and Stitch

Arranging Embroidery Designs (Layout & Editing)

Layout & Editing Window

Opening/Importing Embroidery Designs

Checking Embroidery Patterns

Editing Embroidery Designs

Reshaping Embroidery Patterns

Editing a Stitch Pattern

Specifying the Design Page Size and Color

Changing Application Settings

Drawing Shapes

Manually Creating Professional-Level Embroidery Patterns (Manual Punching)

Adding Text

Entering Monograms

Applying Sewing Attributes to Lines and Regions