How to Size Images for Embroidery Digitizing
Embroidery designs can make any basic top, jeans or jacket into something extraordinary. Creating your own embroidery designs is now a realistic option for the home crafter or small business entrepreneur. By learning and practicing with embroidery digitizing software, you can size images you have designed onto your garments. The key factors will be your machine's existing sizing parameters, your hoop size and your embroidery placement area.
Things You'll Need
- Embroidery digitizing software
- Embroidery digitizing machine and hoops
- Embroidery thread
- Embroidery design/sketch
- Fabric scrap (optional)
- Garment for embroidery
Instructions
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Scan your image or freehand design into your embroidery digitizing software. The software must be downloaded onto your personal computer. It will then transfer the scanned or freehand image onto the software drawing tool area. You will be able to re-size your image according to your embroidery machine hoop-size specifications and make any changes directly onto the digitizing software. It will then convert your design into a digitized embroidery pattern. The converted pattern generally will be written on an embroidery digitized card. Insert this card into your embroidery digitizing machine, which will import your design and stitch the pattern out onto your hooped fabric.
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Pinpoint the location where the embroidery will be set. Measure the width and length of the area on your garment for your embroidery. Set your design approximately 1-1/2 to 2 inches away from bulky seams to avoid any puckering or skipped stitches. Your machine's hoop attachments will have specifics on how you can position your fabric onto your hoop to feed into your embroidery machine.
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View a visual of the design converted to embroidery stitches prior to writing your embroidery digitized pattern card. Make sure the digitized conversion is what you envisioned it to be. For example, an area which featured a contrast accent color can transform into a dominant thread color once the image is enlarged. This can affect your embroidery design and color scheme.
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Re-size your image. If your embroidery digitizing software does not have a resizing tool, you will have to manually resize your design. You can reduce or enlarge your image on a copier. It is important to note that certain images and type fonts can become distorted when enlarged or reduced. For re-sized freehand designs, you will have to re-scan your image directly into your digitizing software's drawing area and rewrite your embroidery digitized pattern.
If you presently work with a computer graphic software program, you will have to check if your design images can be read by your embroidery digitizing software. If it is not compatible, print out the re-sized image from your computer graphic program and re-scan it into your embroidery digitizing software.
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Print your design previews, stitch count and thread color selection. Check your previews against the garment area set for embroidery.You can also print and trace your preview on tracing paper or a transparency sheet. Set the sheet on your garment and check the sizing prior to setting your embroidery stitch.
If your machine allows you to stitch out a partial embroidery, it is best to preview a section of the newly sized image and embroider on a piece of fabric scrap. This will give you the opportunity to check any enlargement or reduction distortion and make any necessary adjustments.
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Tips & Warnings
Embroidery digitizing and re-sizing images is an acquired skill. Take tutorials and any training sessions which may be offered with your purchase.
It is important to note that if you are purchasing embroidery digitizing software, make sure the software has a built-in drawing tool, image pad and layout design area features. Normally, it will not be able to read any scanned or freehand designs without these features. In order for the software to run properly, your personal computer will have to meet specific system requirements. Your embroidery machine will also have to be compatible to the software. Check with your dealer prior to your purchase.
It is also important that your software package includes a separate reader-writer box for your embroidery cards.The box will be connected into your computer's USB port. Ask if the embroidery cards are reusable which will allow you to rewrite your patterns. If you already own an embroidery digitizing machine, it is best to take your model number with you when purchasing your software to be certain of compatibility.
When purchasing an embroidery digitizing machine, ask if it includes digitizing software. Make sure the included software has the conversion feature to digitize your own designs. You will not be able to convert scanned images or freehand designs to a digitized pattern without this feature. You can be locked into using pre-set embroidery patterns within the digitizing software and machine. Check if the machine has an image importing feature, auto-digitizing, and if it can give realistic stitch design previews and stitch counts. Check the hoop attachment embroidery parameters and specifications. This will be the key factor to your embroidery digitized pattern size. Your hoop specifications will limit the size you will be able to embroider.
