Embird Studio Digitizing Plugin
Studio allows digitizing of embroidery designs up to 60 x 60 centimeters (23.6 x 23.6") large with up to 250 000 stitches. Design is digitized so that user creates outline (vector) objects either on a blank background or on an image (template). When the vector design is finished, it is compiled into stitches and put into Embird Editor for final adjustment and saved in the desired embroidery stitch file format.
Designs (patterns) are digitized as outline (vector) objects in Studio and are optionally filled with simulated "stitches". There are no stitches in Embird EOF files, but it's convenient to simulate where the stitches would be placed, so the simulated stitches can be viewed. The finished design is compiled and put into Embird Editor for final adjustment and saved in an appropriate embroidery stitch format, where real stitches exist in the file. Compilation involves generation of stitches for all vector objects, including those that were not filled with stitches by user.
Studio is a very powerful, flexible program which gives you complete control over your design. Most users who have also tried other digitizing programs find Studio the easiest to use. Like all software, there is a learning curve but Digitizing Studio is relatively easy to learn and use. This is the program that will digitize the designs that most people will use.
Digitizing Studio is a vector based program used to manually draw the outline of objects. Then by choosing various types of stitches and by setting the parameters, the program will compute the stitches. For example, if you wish to digitize an apple, you might choose the fill stitch tool, and draw the outline of the body of the apple. You can then select the column stitch tool and draw the outline of the stem. For all objects, Studio will perform the stitch computation - you can use the default settings or change the various parameters such as density, direction of stitching, patterns, underlay, patterns, etc., to achieve the desired appearance. Studio allows you to import an image and trace your outlines over that image - like putting a piece of tracing paper over an picture and then tracing that image to the paper. Except easier, as you'll agree after some trial and error.
A skilled Embird digitizer will accurately "trace" designs using as few nodes as possible. Experience will dictate where you need to place nodes, where you simply adjust existing nodes, or when you should convert node types. For a regular rectangle, that means only 5 clicks (with straight nodes) one for each corner and one that goes back to the first one. Learn to deal with the Bezier tools (those are the little handles that let you change the shape of a line of stitching). Digitizing Studio allows you to choose either "Straight" nodes or "Curve" nodes, either before placing the nodes or when modifying the design. More about this soon.
An Object Inspector window assists in fast and easy management of Studio's objects. The color or order of stitching of an object can be changed by simple drag-and-drop operations. Objects can be grouped or split to make manipulations easier. Each object has adjustable creative and technical parameters such as stitch density, random broadening, fill pattern, color, type of underlay, etc., to allow user create special effects and adjust design for sewing on a particular fabric.
Studio includes many predefined fill patterns, envelopes, borders, fill motifs and outline samples. Users can create their own fill patterns, outline samples, border samples and fill motifs. Digitizing Tools create not only cover stitches for each object, but also various types of underlay: center walk, edge walk, and zig-zag underlay to stabilize embroidered objects. Digitizing Tools perform many editing operations automatically. Connection paths are rearranged when user moves objects, sharp corners of columns are automatically split or folded when converted to stitches, fill overlays are adjusted according to the object's size. So much to learn... But most people do quite well without an in-depth knowledge of Studio.
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