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Auto-digitize with Color PhotoStitch ​

ImportGraphic.pngUse Standard > Import Graphic to import artwork into current design as a backdrop for manual or automatic digitizing.
ShowBitmaps.pngUse View > Show Bitmaps to toggle bitmap images on or off. Right-click for settings.
CropCurve00103.pngUse Auto-Digitizing > Crop Bitmap to crop bitmap artwork for use with auto-digitizing.
AdjustBitmap.pngUse Auto-Digitizing > Adjust Bitmap to adjust image lightness and contrast in preparation for auto-digitizing.
ColorPhotoStitch00104.pngUse Auto-Digitizing > Color PhotoStitch to automatically turn photographs and other bitmap artwork into multi-colored embroidery.

Use Color PhotoStitch to create embroidery from photographs and other images. While Photo Flash designs consist of rows of single-color satin stitching, Color PhotoStitch produces variegated stitching using multiple thread colors. The overall effect is like multi-colored stippling.

To process the image... ​

  1. Insert the bitmap image in your design and scale it to the required size.

ColorPhotoStitch1.png

  1. Crop the image as desired using the Crop Bitmap tools.

  2. With the image selected, click Color PhotoStitch.

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Note

Support is provided for transparent backgrounds in 24 bit and 32 bit images.

  1. Set the number of thread colors. There will be a point a diminishing returns where more colors do not always result in greater design clarity or stitchability. Usually 7 to 10 colors produce the best results.

  2. Use the zoom buttons to examine the previews in detail. You can also zoom in and out with the mouse wheel.

  3. Optionally, adjust stitching resolution to high, medium, or low. High resolution allows greater detail but with a higher stitch count.

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  1. Click Adjust Bitmap for further options:
  • Click Auto Adjust to allow the software to optimize image settings for automatic digitizing.
  • Use Brightness and Contrast settings to further differentiate darker and lighter areas of stitching.
  • Click Reset to return adjusted settings to default image settings.
  1. Choose between several image variations:
OptionFunction
SepiaIn photographic terms, ‘sepia’ refers to the dark-brown color of old-fashioned prints. Originally the process involved adding a pigment made from cuttlefish ink during development.
GrayGrayscale images are ones composed exclusively of shades of gray, varying from black at the weakest intensity to white at the strongest.
  1. Use Color Matching to assign image colors to the color palette for manual thread matching. This ensures the best representation. Alternatively, automatically match them to the current color palette or current thread chart. Select one or more available thread charts to match to.

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  1. Use Apply to generate temporary stitching without closing the dialog. Further adjust settings until you obtain the result you want and click OK to confirm.

automatic00114.png

To edit the result... ​

  • Check the results with TrueView™ on and off. Turn connector stitching on and off. For better visualization, set TrueView™ viewing options to thin thread.

If you are unsatisfied with the results, click Undo and try again. Try different settings and check the previews. You may need to touch up the image in PHOTO-PAINT if none of the results is good enough.

  • Edit the results and manually merge thread colors as necessary using the Color-Object List.

ColorPhotoStitch3.png

  • If you have added RGB colors to the color palette, open the Color-Object List and Threads dockers side-by-side, and select the thread charts you have available from the Select Thread Charts dialog.

Select each color block in turn, check the closest match in Threads docker, and manually choose a thread. Sometimes the closest match may not be the best or be unavailable. Choosing the correct thread is key to getting a good result.