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Trace Tool - How to Use
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Trace Tool - Included in Studio 5.0 Plug-in for Embird
Digitizing Tools - Studio 5.0 includes Trace Tool for easy conversion of raster image into vector embroidery design. This tool is included in the Digitizing Tools 5.0 plugin for Embird and is not a standalone program or plug-in. You need to upgrade to Embird 2008 to use it. Click through to see a full list of the Trace Tool features.
Basic Steps for Using Trace Tool
| This tutorial demonstrates the use of trace tool to produce embroidery design from a raster image. For good results, image must be sufficiently clean. Input image can be in any file format supported by Studio. The most important factor is that edges of color areas are smooth, i.e. not jagged, which may be result of enlarging raster image.
1. Import image. Do not scale image to fit into the hoop, because if image is enlarged, it becomes more pixelated and the autotracing will not work well. It is recommended to resize the finished vector design, instead. In contrast to rasters, resizing of vectors does not affect the quality. |
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2. Let's start to digitize the Smiley design. Large filled areas should be digitized first. Select the Trace tool (the magic wand icon) from the tool bat at the left side of the screen with right mouse button. Then select the Fill style. |
| 3. Studio switches to trace mode. We are going to trace the large yellow area. The panel at the right side of the screen contains trace controls and selection options. As this is fairly simple object, set Simplicity to 10 to achieve lower number of nodes.
Each filled area with outline or neighbouring area of other color should have some overlay to compensate gaps between the areas of different colors and also pull effect of the fabric. However, the yellow area of Smiley is somewhat specific because of the thin black lines on the eyes and mouth. While leaving holes for main parts of eyes and mouth, we will not leave holes under all thin black lines, because it would split the yellow circle into too many regions and complicate the sewing. Moreover, overlay would completely cover the holes under the thin lines anyway. Therefore, we will leave Overlay=0 for now.
Selection is set to New. As we are going to select just one area now (yellow), it doesn't matter whether Selection is set to New or Add. Color Tolerance for selection is default 30. |
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4. Click anywhere on the yellow area. Selection is indicated by flashing dots. Click Apply button on the button bar at top of the screen to convert selected raster object into vector objects. 5 vector objects are created: main fill and 4 holes.
If Ignore Openings option is checked, program would create just the main fill. This option is usefull for creation of overall filled area when small holes are not wanted or the fill is used as an overall underlay. Anyway, this is not our case, so this option is unchecked. |
| 5. Parts Object Inspector (the one beneath the main Object Inspector) contains list of the 5 new vector objects. Because of reasons mentioned above, we will eliminate some holes that are too thin. Select object no. 5 (the hole under the chin) and simply delete it. The holes under eyes and mouth are more complicated because they contain both thin and thick parts. We want to preserve thick parts and erase the thin ones. |
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6. Select mouth hole in Parts Object Inspector and use right mouse button click on the selected object to open a pop-up menu. Select Edit from the pop-up menu to switch into editing mode.
It is necessarry to use Parts Object Inspector to select mouth objects, because openings (holes) cannot be selected directly in the work area. |
| 7. Delete nodes on the thin parts of the mouth to simplify the object. Select respective nodes one-by-one and hit DELETE button on your keyboard for each of them.
You can also select multiple nodes at once by holding SHIFT key depressed and draging selection box around the nodes. |
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Repeat steps 6 and 7 for eyes. When finished, all three holes should contain only the thick parts and all thin parts should be deleted. |
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8. Now trace all grey and white areas on the hat. Use the trace tool as in step 2 with few changes: set Overlay to 0.3 mm (for example) and Selection options to Add. Then select one-by-one all three grey areas and three white areas on the hat by clicking on them.
It doesn't matter that selected areas are of different colors because Auto Color options is set on. Therefore, each vector object will get proper color from the underlaying raster.
If you happen to select wrong area, use Undo/Redo commands from the main menu > Edit or CTRL+Z/CTRL+Y shortcuts. |
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9. Use Apply button or Generate Stitches button to convert selected objects to vector objects. All 6 new objects are simple objects and do not need any editing unless you want to change the stitches direction or pattern. In such case, use the Parameters window to set new parameters to the vector objects.
Please note overlay on all 6 objects that covers part of the black outline. It will help to embroider design without gaps between respective objects. |
| 10. Next step is to trace the white and red areas on eyes and mouth. We have intentionally omitted white area on eyes in step 8, because they will look better as columns than fills. Click with right mouse button on the Trace tool icon. Then select the Column style. |
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11. Select white areas on eyes and mouth. Then select also the red area on the mouth. Use the Add selection option all the time to add respective areas to selection. Click Generate Stitches button to create vector objects and to fill them with stitches.
Please note that new objects are columns and they also have an overlay. |
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12. Now let's trace all black outlines at once. Select Add Similar selection option to allow program select all areas of the same (similar) color at once. Then click anywhere on the black outline in the work area. Click Generate Stitches button to create vector objects. As the column style was selected in step 10, new objects are all of the column style. Actually, they are fill objects with Autocolumn option set on.
Thin outlines expanded with overlay may need little editing on some places. In this case, few nodes in the right corner of the mouth were edited to remove intersecting edges. |
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13. Design is finished. Please note the difference between the the plain yellow fill and the column-style of eyes and mouth. Previously made steps allowed us to create objects with an overlay and appropriate openings (holes) where needed.
One more thing that needs to be checked is sewing order of the objects to minimize the color changes. When making grey, white and red objects, it is possible that newly created vector objects are not sorted properly. Therefore, re-order these objects in the Object Inspector window to minimize the color changes, while leaving black outlines at the very top and yellow fill at the very bottom of the design.
As all objects in our design are separate areas, we do not need to insert connections between the objects. Trims are automatically added between all objects. In other cases, however, it might be suitable to insert connections between some objects (letters, for example) to reduce the trims. | | |
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Reviews
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Carolyn, I just bought your tutuorials for studio of embird, I have to say without a doubt it should be the bible of ditigizing. I have learned so much, was looking for a way to make outline stitches for my designs, and bingo it was there, and so so much more. I can't wait to get started on creating my own designs. There was a lot i had already figured out, but believe you me I would recommend this tutorial to anyone who has embird, because it is the BOOM as the young people would say. Again thank you for working on these and getting us the newbies a chance to enter your world if only for a while. Again thank you. Heidi
Your tutorials are very highly recommended on the Janome internet forum. We just purchased a Janome 11,000, and have chosen the Embird software suite. We are about to take an extended camping trip, and my wife got the insane notion that she wanted to take her machine with her. She had hoped to get some kind of hard copy, but given the limited time left, we will just have to download your tutorial from the net. I didn't realize that all this software was sourced offshore. Given the tremendous popularity of your tutorial, I am highly surprised that it is not offered by Amazon.com. It would surely be a "best seller". Kindest regards, Harley L. Mullen
I have had Embird for a couple of years. I knew it was a great value but had used it only for design conversion...with no clue as to what it was capable of doing. Recently I purchased a design which required that I "personalize" it with lettering and the Embird alpha plug ins were recommended. Naturally, I purchased the alpha and got it installed. NOW what was I to do with it???? I figured I better get a clue...and a fast clue since this design is something I wanted to stitch out on a baby gift. So I figured I would search out tutorials. As Providence would have it, that day I received the Secrets Of newsletter advertising your new tutorial. Off I went to purchase it. I downloaded and printed it (so I would actually use it as a reference). I just feel compelled to write. I am at page 36 and have learned a TON from the tutorial already! What a joy....and your documentation is very easy to follow. I am a software engineer by profession. One would think I would just be able to sit down to click and do. I am not patient enough for the trial and error guessing method unless the tool to help you is so circular that it does not help anyway. Your tutorial is a blessing. I can zoom through it picking up valuable hints/tips and usage that I had not considered as inherent to the tool. THANK YOU for an extremely well written document. The progression of the instruction is logical and informative....and above all else CLEAR. It was truly money well spent!
Robin Smallen, Independent Longaberger Consultant
I just wanted to tell you I have spent the entire day with "you by my side". I have worked my way through your entire video and it is absolutely delightful and totally educational. What a fun day I have had. There is just so much that Embird can do and to have such excellent lessons - with a rewind button - is wonderful. Congratulations on an outstanding cd. Thank you so very much.
Jean E. Smith
Hi Carolyn, I received your Embird CD in the mail yesterday. I haven't gone through half yet and can't believe how much I didn't know. I thought I was such a smarty pants and was sure I knew...if not everything, then enough! What an idiot! Thank you for doing the video tutorials! Although, I thought I went through your written tutorial well enough, I can see that videos are they way to go.....I learn a lot more with them. Can't wait to get you Studio video tutorial....and see how much I don't know in that area!! :-) Thanks a bunch,
Brenda
I need to tell you how helpful and informative your Cd's are, I have both the Embird and PED/Palette. I am learning so much from both of them. You are a very talented lady and make it so easy to follow your lessons. Thanks again and keep up the good work.
Therese Roux
I recently purchased your Step-by-Step Guide to Embird and wanted to write to thank you for such a terrific product. I never imagined that you could do so much in Embird--I downloaded it simply to convert designs. And, it's so easy to use--thanks to your handy-dandy guide. I was able to sit down with your guide and a few hours later I'm feeling pretty confident with the program. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I certainly got my money's worth out of this one!!!
Crystal Zagnoli Littleton, Colorado, USA
Just wanted to thank you for the update on the Embird tutorial. I have downloaded it with no problems as well as ordering and downloading "Splitting and Rejoining Designs with Embird". Since Janome has still held us to a total of 32,000 stitches per design, it is necessary to split some of them. Even for the Gigahoop. Thanks so much for taking the time to do these wonderful tutorials.
Madeline E. Ashby
I just want to take a moment to let you know how much I've enjoyed your Step-by-Step Guide to Embird. You have made it very easy to read and understand!!! Thank you!!!
Diana
I have found the videos on the CD. Fantastic, brilliant, please e-mail me if you have any more. In the UK I would have had to pay ?60 for one day tuition and would not have got a quarter of the information I have got from your Cd plus I can always refer back to something I haven t done for some time were my memory would not do this, thanks so much, I lost my husband to the dreaded Big C end of August and I thought this was the end of my life. Your CD has given me something to get stuck into. Use up many lonely hours and given me the push I need. Now I can make that family quilt that I have been putting off doing and with my very own embroidery. Thank you so much
Rose Swann
I have all of Carolyn's tutorials, even the ones on Embird. They are wonderful. I would love to have the downloads you mentioned. Please let me know how to get them. Thank you.
Kim Sawatzky
I just purchased Carolyn's Step by Step Guide for PEDesign/Pallette. I'm so excited to learn that these new lessons and videos free of charge. I'll look forward to hearing from you. Carolyn is wonderful!
Diana Gates, Port Orchard, WA
Hello Carolyn, first must say I love your Embird tutorial I purchased yesterday! I won a digitizing contest from designstitch.com and it was the prize and have been looking forward to learning how to use it. After looking a several tutorials I chose yours. Linda
Hi Carolyn, I did the Embird class in Townsville with you recently and I loved every bit of it. You are a great teacher and I wish you well with your classes. I also need Embird Studio classes now. LOL . Yvonne
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed our classes with you in Townsville, you are a wonderful teacher, and I had a great time! Mary
I just made my way through your very enjoyable fur tutorial and wanted to thank you for your clear and concise explanations. I am slowly - with your help! - teaching myself to digitize and having a wonderful time doing so.
Just wanted to know I really liked your first tutorial for Embird 2006. It was really helpful and I felt your voice was very encouraging and pleasant. I am already modifying designs and making gifts. Thanks for your help. Can't wait to try Studio.
I want to tell you what I think -- YOU ARE TOO WONDERFUL!! Thanks very much.
Thanks so much for your tutorials. They really are marvelous.
I received my tutorial Saturday. They are wonderful, thank you.
I want to thank you for the Embird Studio Tutorial I bought from you. Its down to earth and easy to understand!
You are a star, yes it's worked. Always the little things it seems that cause these hiccups. Many thanks.
I have to tell you, you are the best teacher. Keep up the good work. Thank you.
I just wanted to let you know that after purchasing your Redwork tutorial this evening that I sat right down and was able to digitize the Santa with great results. I am so excited. I was determined to learn Redwork and this first lesson when so well and quickly that now I am determined to move forward with my learning. Thanks so much for providing these lessons for us.
Keep up the in depth videos for those of us that are not very good at manuals as we really need them.
Keep up your wonderful teaching cds as the are invaluable to oldies like me trying to learn something new and creative.
Thank you again for your inspiration and encouragement.
I want to take this time to tell you how much I enjoy all of your books that I have gotten from you ? you?re a great teacher!
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