How to Convert an Embroider in Photoshop

Use embroidery along with Photoshop for digital design work.

Considered one of the fiber arts, the fine-pointed work of embroidery doesn’t have to stay within its canvas and thread bounds. Instead, take embroidery to a digital level by using Adobe Photoshop to make or edit embroidery patterns and designs. With Photoshop, you can convert a photograph or drawing to an embroidery pattern by taking advantage of one of the program’s filters, or scan and use your existing embroidery as a Web page background or just convert it to an image, ready to show off via email.

Instructions

Picture to Pattern

1. Launch Photoshop, click the “File” menu and select “Open.” Browse to a digital picture to convert to an embroidery pattern and double-click the image file name.

2. Click the “Filter” menu at the top of the work area.

3. Click the “Texture” option. Click “Patchwork” from the fly-out menu.

4. Slide the “Square Size” slider to the left for the smallest embroidery boxes or to the right for larger embroidery boxes. Click “OK” when satisfied.

Embroidery to Digital Picture

1. Remove embroidery pattern from any frame or backing and press firmly thread-down onto a scanner.

2. Close scanner lid, follow the scanning process and save the resulting image to the desktop or an easily accessed place on your computer.

3. Launch Photoshop, click the “File” menu and select “Open.” Browse to the file you just scanned and double-click to open it in the Photoshop software to use as an image.

References

• University of Washington: Filters