Embroidery Software FAQ Results
How do I load a design?
First you need to know what type of file you are trying to load. If you don't
know you can go to your a: prompt and type DIR to get the directory of your file.
The 3-letter extention (the three letters after the dot) tells you what kind of
file it is.
DOS Files
.bdf = Brother file (outline)
.dst = Tajima file (stitch file)
.exp = Melco file (expanded)
.cnd = Melco file (outline)
.kwk = PG1 file (outline)
Non DOS Files
FMC = Barudan
FDR = Barudan
ZSK = ZSK
1. File--Open: to load Brother files.
File--Open Stitch File: to load stitch files.
File--Import: to load outline files.
2. Select drive (a:, C: or CD ROM) using "Look in:"
3. Click on filename listed.
a. Select files of type for various formats.
b. Click on non-DOS data for additional formats.
4. Click on "Open."
How do I insert a trim? (Editing and digitizing levels
only)
Trim between all letters.
When using fonts go to "Text Properties" box and under the command tab select "trim"
in the glyph connection box.
Trim just one letter.
First highlight your word with the move tool. Select "Shape" and deconstruct
text. Highlight the letter you want to trim after and press Shift+T on your
keyboard.
Trim shapes.
To insert a trim in the middle of a shape highlight your shape, select "Shape" and
"Convert To" and manual stitches. Then show your punchpoint by clicking your
reshape tool. Select the point you want to insert your trim and click "Punchpoints"
and split manual stitches. Then using your "Move" tool select the shape you
want the trim located, Press Shift+T.
How do I remove a trim? (Editing and digitizing levels
only)
Highlight the shape that you want to remove a trim from then press Shift+R to remove
the trim. Replace it with a run stitch connection (this will drop stitches
as it connects if the distance is longer than your set stitch length). Press
Shift+F to remove the trim and connect it with a feed stitch connection (this will
not put in stitches regardless of the distance). Cut and paste (before or
after) newly created connection stitch in the correct order.
How do I insert a color change?
When using fonts.
Highlight the lettering by using the move tool. Select "Shape" and deconstruct
text, or use shortcut at top of screen. Click outside the box to clear the
"dancing ants" and highlight the letter that you want to make another color.
Either click the needle color you want in your tool bar or pick needle 1 through
9 using the numbers on your keyboard. Use the same method for any shape.
To change within a shape.
Select "Shape" and convert to manual stitches. Pick the punchpoint you want
to change then select "Punchpoints" and split manual stitches. Highlight the
shape with the move tool and change color with your needle select on the tool bar
or the numbers 1 through 9 on your keyboard.
What causes invalid shapes when outputting some Great
Notions or Balboa Threads outline designs?
This is caused by improper placements in fill areas. To work around this bring
your design up on the screen and output the design (make sure your "outlines" box
is checked in "View" and show hide). It comes up with an error message saying,
"The design contains one or more valid shapes that must be fixed before the stitches
can be output." Click okay and the area(s) that need to be fixed are already highlighted.
First, press the "Enter" key on your keyboard. a "Shape properties" box comes
up. Under the General tab you will see a size and position box. Write
down the numbers in the X & Y location windows and be sute to include the minus
signs if they are in there. Then click OK. Now move the area(s) that
is still highlighted out from the design so it is easier to see. Now zoom
in real close and look at the shape for an area(s) where the lines are crossing
over each other. Now bring the punchpoints on the screen by clicking the reshape
tool. Simply move or delete the punchpoint(s) so they are not crossing over
each other. The shape will fill in with stitches when the proper punchpoint(s)
has been moved or deleted. Do this to each shape if there is more than one.
After you have stitches in all your invalid shapes select your move tool then click
and drag a box around all of the shapes then hit the "Enter" key. Type in
the numbers you wrote down in your X & Y windows and click OK. Your shapes
will move back to their original position. Save the design then add lettering
or output the design.
How do I change the underlayers? (Editing and digitizing
levels only)
When using fonts.
Highlight the lettering using the move tool. Then press the "Enter" key.
This brings up the text properties box. Click the stitch tab. In the
"underlay stitches" area put "Yes" in the "Density" window enter a new number from
0.005 to 0.400 in/stitch if your setup is in inches or 0.100 to 10.0 mm/stitch if
your setup is in millimeters. The lower the number you put in the more underlay
you will get. The higher the number you put in the less underlay you will
get. For the horizontal and vertical border windows the closer you get to
zero the closer to edge of you columns your underlayers will be. Entering
zero makes your underlayers the same width as your column.
When changing underlayers within a design.
Highlight the shape you want to change, press the "Enter" key and adjust the same
way in your region shapes properties box. To adjust the entire design go
to "Edit" and select all or CNTL+a. Press the "Enter" key and put in the
desired numbers under the stitches tab in the selection properties box. Make
sure you are editing the same type of shapes using view & show/hide, display
only same shapes.
How do I italicize? (All levels)
Highlight the text with your move tool then go to "Shape" and deconstruct text,
or use your deform text shortcut. Bring up your punchpoints by selecting the
reshape tool. Click and drag a box around all of the punchpoints along the
top (or the bottom) of the lettering. Simply grab one of the points and move
it to the desired slant.
How do I merge a design?
Bring the design (or part of a design) that you want to sew first onto the screen.
Then select "File" and merge. Double click the file you want and then move
it into position (make sure that you do not leave shapes behind: click on "Shape
& Group"). To merge parts of different designs easily, open all of the
files you want to use. Select "Window" and tile (this puts all of your designs
on the screen). Select the design you want by clicking on the name or in the
box. Select "Zoom" and "Fit to Window" in each design to see everything you
are working with. Highlight the shape(s) you want to merge then select "Edit"
and cut. Select the design you want to merge the shape into then select "Edit"
and paste. Move it to it's proper place.
Note: Remember to merge all your shapes in the order you want them to sew out (using
paste before & paste after in editing/digitizing levels).
