Parameters

Select objects on the Working Area or in Object Inspector window. Right click to access a drop down menu and select Parameters. A window with multiple tabs will open. Some will be unavailable if the functions do not apply to the objects selected but these tabs are always displayed: Whole Design, All Selected, User's Patterns.

Access the parameters window by right mouse button click on object (objects) selected either on working area or in Inspector window. Please note: you can change parameters of several objects at once.

Whole Design Tab

On the left side of this page are Comment, Icon, and Character intended for user to describe designs in Embird Designs Library (see Design Menu in Help Chapter on Main Menu). The icon has 32x32 pixels size and can be either loaded from disc in bmp format or generated from design.

On the right side of this window, Studio provides information about the objects selected.

Tie-Up Stitches: These are small stitches that Studio automatically adds before and after jump stitches to anchor the thread. (The only exceptions are jump stitches inside a column that is wider than about 1.2 cm.)

Minimum Stitch Length: This is a global parameter (unlike maximum length of stitches, which can be adjusted separately for each object).

Fills Pull Compensation: This defines prolongation of each row of fill stitches that compensates pull effect of thread while sewing. 1 means 0.1 mm.

Columns Pull Compensation: This figure represents expansion of both sides of a column to compensate for the pull effect of thread while sewing. 1 means 0.1 mm. This parameter works in exactly the same way as Fill Pull Compensation, but usually column objects need other value of pull compensation because of larger maximum length of stitches.

Columns Start/End Gap: This number defines the size of the small gap at beginning and end of column-like objects. The stitches seen on screen are just the axis of real stitches that are wider, in fact. This gap prevents the thread bulging at ends of columns, and columns with pattern.

To change any of these parameters, press the left mouse button on the parameter value to increase it, or press the right mouse button on the parameter value to decrease it.

All Selected Tab

There is only one local parameter common for all types of objects, currently. This parameter is Color of objects. It can be changed either here or in Object Inspector window by dragging the color from palette and dropping it onto selected object (objects).

User's Patterns Tab

Although Studio has many predefined patterns, the user can create up to five patterns that will be saved with a design. Patterns are pictures that define splitting of fill stitches. All fill stitches are automatically rotated to horizontal position before splitting. The red dots or lines define place, where the horizontal fill stitch will be split. Two splits are allowed for each row in pattern. These splits are marked as light and dark red dots.  

Select the pattern to be edited first. Then adjust Width and Height of pattern. The default height is 1 pixel (to minimize file size). However, the usual size of user-defined pattern is 20-80 pixels.  

Place light red dots with left button clicks. The dark red dots are placed with right button clicks. The meaning of light and dark red dots is exactly the same; they are different colors just to indicate which dots can be adjusted with left and which with right  button. Avoid placing red dots too near each other in the same row because the stitches will be too short. However, if one red dot is placed over the second red dot, there will be no short stitch. While creating pattern, watch the Shortest Stitch label. Pattern should not produce stitches shorter than 5 (0.5 mm).  

The image below demonstrates how dark red dots are placed over light red dots where lines intersect to prevent too short stitches.

Use the button with dark and light red squares when creating a simple pattern not needing two splits in each row. This button saves having to place both dots on the same place, so place only  light red dots where desired and then click this button.

Fill Tab

These parameters apply only to Fill objects.

Density At Top and Add At Bottom define the density gradient of stitches. If Add At Bottom is zero, the density is constant in whole object. Density At Top 4.0 indicates that there will be 0.2 mm distance between rows of stitches. Default value of density is derived from Default Thread Weight (see Preferences).

Pattern defines the texture of cover stitches of the fill. User can define up to five own patterns.

Motif  is simple stitch design that can be used to fill object instead of dense parallel stitches. Object can be filled either with parallel stitches with pattern or with motifs, but not with both.

Random Pattern Shift randomizes pattern to allow user to create fur-like effects, for example.

Motif Shift defines movement of motifs in each row with respect to previous row.

Motif Length is length of each motif in fill. The width of motif is defined by Density At Top and Add At Bottom parameters.

Fill Angle can be set here or in editing mode with P key depressed while moving the mouse.

Wave parameters define the curve of fill rows. 

Overlay indicates extra rows of stitches added automatically before and after each fill part (if fill is not sewn in a single draw) to compensate push effect. Overlay is needed because the area filled with stitches pushes fabric when sewing. This pushing may cause gaps between fill areas if there is no overlay.

Make Cover Stitches allows user to switch off cover stitches. Check the box when one large underlay under the whole design is needed to provide stabilization.

Edge, Zig-Zag 1 and Zig-Zag 2 allows user to switch off automatic underlays by checking the boxes.

Threshold Density to Omit Last Point on Line defines the density under which the last point on each row of stitches is omitted (see the left picture). If the last point is not omitted, the result would be stitches that may be too small on the edge of fill. The pointed ends of rows are not visible on actual embroidery if default density is used. If distance between rows is higher than this threshold, last point on row is not omitted (see the right picture).

Edge Walk Underlay parameters define the offset (distance from boundary) and maximum length of this underlay. Edge walk underlay helps to make sharp edges of fill.

Zig-Zag Underlays parameters define the offset (distance from boundary), maximum length and angles of these underlays. Zig-Zag underlays stabilize the fabric with a grid of loose stitches before sewing the higher density cover stitches. The angles of underlays can be set here as well as in the editing mode (press I or O key while moving the mouse in editing mode).

Column Tab

These parameters apply only to selected objects that are Column objects.

Density parameter defines the maximum distance between stitch samples. If the Column object forms a bend, the distance on the inner curve is lower.

Overlay indicates extra stitch samples added to end of column only when it is a closed-loop object (ellipse or rectangle, for example). Overlay stitches sew over beginning of the object to make sure that the two ends of column meet and there is no gap caused by move of fabric.

Envelope shortens some column stitches to create special effects. When using Envelope, turn off all underlays.

Max. Random Broadening defines maximum random prolongation of column stitches to side. #1 parameter applies to first edge of column and #2 to second.

Auto Select Underlay check box allows user to switch off the automatic program decision on what type of underlay will be used for the object.

Center, Edge and Zig-Zag check boxes allow user to choose which underlays will be used for the object.

Auto Shortening is function that shortens some stitches on inner side of bend object to prevent too high density (see below picture).

Column with Pattern Tab

These parameters apply only to selected objects that are moreover the Column with Pattern objects. 

All parameters are the same as on Column object except the following three:

1. Pattern - the texture of cover stitches (same meaning as on Fill object).

2. Random Pattern Shift (same meaning as on Fill object).

3. Continuous Pattern. When checked, program stretches pattern of closed-loop objects (like borders, for example) to make pattern continuous on place where beginning meets the end. However, if there are sharp corners on the object that are automatically turned to folded or split corners, the pattern will be not continuous in these corners.

Outline Tab

These parameters apply only to selected objects that are moreover the Outline objects.

Sample is a series of stitches that are repeated along the outline. When you change the sample, program automatically sets the Width, Minimum Length and Maximum Length parameters to values default for this sample. However, you can change these parameters if you wish.

Width is width of windows along the outline to which the sample is projected. It is not necessarily also the width of outline. 10=1 mm.

Overlay has the same meaning as on the column object. It is active only if outline forms a closed loop.

Crisp Corners function forces the stitch sample to fit into corner of outline (object at left side). If not active, stitch sample may not fit into corner (picture at right). In the most case, it is desirable to let this box checked. However, program often has to decrease length of samples to get last sample into corner. Such deformation may be very visible on a short parts of outline.

In curves, program automatically decreases the length of samples for better approximation of curve. If you want to have all samples of the same length even in the curves, set the Minimum Length equal to Maximum Length.

Manual Stitches Tab

These parameters apply only to selected objects that are Manual Stitches objects.

The Maximum Length defines the longest stitches generated when compiling Manual Stitches object into actual stitches. Each Manual Stitch longer than Maximum Length + Minimum Length is divided into one or more stitches of maximum length one (or none) shorter stitch, but not shorter than Minimum length.

Connection Tab

These parameters apply only to selected objects that are Connection objects.

Maximum and Minimum Length have same meaning as on Manual Stitches object.

Crisp Corner has the same meaning as on Outline object.

Appliqué Tab

These parameters apply only to selected objects that are Appliqué objects.

Appliqué parameters have the same meaning as on Column object, except the three new parameters:

1. Mark-Up Stitches Length is the length of stitches on a running-stitch outline that sews first on the fashion fabric to indicate where appliqué fabric is to be placed.

2. Tack-Down Stitches Density defines density of a very loose and narrow zig-zag that tacks the appliqué fabric to the fashion fabric.

3. Tack-Down Stitches Color is color of the tack down zig-zag. The color change is inserted before and after tack down to stop the machine.