Font Engine Plug-in - Parameters of Text

This tutorial explains how to adjust fill and outline parameters of Font Engine text.

1. Parameters of Lettering Fill

1 - Run Embird and click "Editor" menu to switch to Editor window.
2 - Select "Insert -> Font Engine Text" menu to create lettering from TrueType and OpenType fonts installed on your computer (Picture No. 1).

Picture No. 1

3 - Type your text into the "Text" box at the bottom of the "Insert" tab (Picture No. 2).

Picture No. 2

4 - Select the "Properties" tab and set the size of characters in the "Size" box (Picture No. 3).

Tip: Uncheck the "Keep ratio" box if you do not want to keep the aspect ratio, but you want to set the width and height independently.

5 - Choose the type of fill for lettering in the "Characters box" (Picture No. 3).

Picture No. 3

There are several fill and outlines types available there, allowing you to create a lot of lettering combination:

Fill options:

No fill - The interior of each character is empty, so the lettering consists only of outlines.

Plain fill - Default plain fill is Fill 1, but different fill patterns can be selected by user in Parameters dialog box. 

Auto Column - Characters are filled by columns of satin stitches.

Motif fill - Characters are filled with simple stitch forming some motif instead of dense parallel stitches.

Outline options:

No outline - Lettering is not outlined.

Sketch - The outline resembles a very flat satin stitches.  It can be used for outlines that are thicker than running stitch outline and thinner than narrowest possible satin stitch outline.

Sample -The chosen pattern is repeated along the outline.

Satin outline - The zig-zag outline of constant width similar to column objects.

Border - The outline is composed of pre-digitized objects. It can have outlines of separate color.

Appliqué outline - The outline contains tack-down stitches of separate color to stitch appliqué fabric to the underlying fabric.

Click the "Parameters" button, this will display a dialog box in which you can modify more settings (Picture No. 4). In this dialog box, the Fill icon (the left one below the "Parameters" button) shows the page containing the parameters of the fill, and the Outline icon (the right one below the "Parameters" button) shows the page containing the parameters of the outline.

Click the "Fill" icon and choose some other type of fill (default is "Fill 1"). For example, choose the "Cusped Lines" fill (Picture No. 4).

Picture No. 4

Note: The lettering size must be large enough, otherwise the fill pattern might be undistinguished (Picture No. 5). Choose the lettering height at least 2.5 cm (or 1 inch) to have the fill pattern noticeable (Picture No. 6).

Picture No. 5

Picture No. 6

1.1 Plain Fill

The other parameters of the plain fill such as pull compensation, density, angle of stitches, etc. are:

Pull Compensation is extension of each stitch on edge of object in order to compensate for thread pull (on elastic fabric) or sinkage (on fleece).  The thread pull and sinkage causes that object is smaller (narrower) than intended. Normal value for pull compensation is 1 or 2. Use higher values (3, 4 or 5) for elastic fabric or fleece. These values are displayed in tenths of millimeter (1/10 mm).

Density defines the distance between zig-zag stitches in tenths of millimeters (i.e. value 4 means 0.4 mm). The bigger number you specify the lower density and less stitches you obtain. 

Angle of fill stitches is changed by clicking on circular angle indicator.

Scale function is intended for enlarging or shrinking pattern of fill motif.

Gradient affects the distance between rows of stitches or motifs within object. If density is 4.0 and gradient is 30.0, for example, the distance of rows will gradate from 0.2 mm to 15 mm according to set Gradient Type (Gradient Type box).

Effect. Plain Fill and Motifs Fill may be combined with additional effects like Wave, Contour fill, Radial fill, Square fill and Rounded fill. Parameters of Wave can be adjusted by clicking on the wave control or by pressing mouse button on parameters values. Wave parameters define the curve of fill rows. Radial, Square and Rounded fill effects create stitches in a spiral starting from the 'Focus Point' of the object. 

Random Broadening defines maximum random prolongation of column stitches to side. This creates ragged edges effect on lettering.

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

Edge Walk Underlay helps to make sharp edges of fill.

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. To change the angle click on circular angle indicator or press mouse button on the angle value.

Note 1: Click the "Parameters" button at the top of the window to switch ON the Show More Parameters option. The "Show More Parameters" option must be ON to allow the user to adjust the angles and densities of zig-zag underlays. In case the "Show More Parameters" option is OFF the angles of zig-zag underlay are adjusted automatically according to angle of cover stitches. 

Note 2: The Edge and both Zig-Zag underlays can be usually turned ON on all Plain Fill objects because Font Engine ignores these underlays on small letters. Turn them OFF if you need to decrease the stitches number and/or the fabric is firm and does not need the stabilization.

Complete row if density above option defines the density under which the last point on each row of stitches is omitted. If the last point is not omitted, the result would be stitches that may be too small on the edge of fill. This parameter is visible only if " Show More Parameters" option is ON.

1.2 Auto Column

Auto Column - Characters are filled by columns of satin stitches (Picture No. 7).

Picture No. 7

Note: It is not recommended to use satin stitches (auto column) longer than 1.2 cm (12 mm) - the widest part of letter should not be thicker than 12 mm. Satin stitch longer than 12mm is replaced with jump stitch and short running stitch. Jump stitches are not shown in 3D preview so the gaps appear in text preview (Picture No. 8). Embroidery machine will sew these jump stitches, but they might be too loose. It is recommended to use plain fill in this case (Picture No. 9).

Picture No. 8

Picture No. 9

The other parameters of the auto-column fill type (see Picture No. 10 below) are:

Pull Compensation is extension of each stitch on edge of object in order to compensate for  thread pull (on elastic fabric) or sinkage (on fleece). The thread pull causes the ends of stitches are pulled inwards and object is smaller (narrower) than intended.

Density defines the distance between zig-zag stitches in tenths of millimeters (i.e. value 4 means 0.4 mm). The bigger number you specify the lower density and less stitches you obtain. If the column object forms a bend, the distance on the inner curve is lower.

Auto Select Column Underlay check box allows user to switch off the automatic program decision on what type of underlay will be used for the object. Then the Center, Edge and Zig-Zag check boxes allow user to choose which underlays will be used for the object. Density parameter indicates the density of the zig-zag underlay. These parameters are visible only if " Show More Parameters" option is ON.

Use pattern option determines whether the Auto Column uses pattern set in Plain Fill pattern combo box or not. If it is switched OFF, the column stitches are without pattern.

Picture No. 10

1.3 Motif Fill

Motif fill - Characters are filled with simple stitch forming some motif instead of dense parallel stitches (Picture No. 11).

Picture No. 11

The other parameters of the motif fill type (see Picture No. 12 below) are:

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

Scale parameter determines the size of the motif and consequently the length of fill stitches.

Distant Motif Rows Jumps (if loose density) defines whether the jump (trim) or connection is inserted between distant rows of motifs or stitches. This parameter is visible only if " Show More Parameters" option is ON.

Density is distance between motif rows measured in tenths of millimeters (i.e. density 160 means 16 mm distance between 2 rows).

Pull Compensation is extension of each stitch on edge of object in order to compensate for thread pull (on elastic fabric) or sinkage (on fleece).  The thread pull and sinkage causes that object is smaller (narrower) than intended. Normal value for pull compensation is 1 or 2. Use higher values (3, 4 or 5) for elastic fabric or fleece. These values are displayed in tenths of millimeter (1/10 mm).

Angle of fill stitches is changed by clicking on circular angle indicator.

Gradient  affects the distance between rows of stitches or motifs within object. If density is 4.0 and gradient is 30.0, for example, the distance of rows will gradate from 0.2 mm to 15 mm according to set Gradient Type (Gradient Type box).

Effect.  Plain Fill and Motifs Fill may be combined with additional effects like Wave, Contour fill, Radial fill, Square fill and Rounded fill. Parameters of Wave can be adjusted by clicking on the wave control or by pressing mouse button on parameters values. Wave parameters define the curve of fill rows. Radial, Square and Rounded fill effects create stitches in a spiral starting from the 'Focus Point' of the object. 

Picture No. 12

2. Parameters of Lettering Outline

6 - Choose outline type for lettering in the "Characters box" (Picture No. 3 above). Default setting is "Sample" outline, Single Stitch.

Click the " Parameters" button, this will display a dialog box in which you can modify more settings (Picture No. 13). In this dialog box, the Fill icon (the left one below the "Parameters" button) shows the page containing the parameters of the fill, and the Outline icon (the right one below the "Parameters" button) shows the page containing the parameters of the outline.

Click the "Outline" icon to switch to the page containing the parameters of outlines (Picture No. 13).

Picture No. 13

2.1 Sketch Outline

Sketch - This outline resembles a very flat satin stitches.  It can be used for outlines that are thicker than running stitch outline and thinner than narrowest possible satin stitch outline (Picture No. 14, Picture No. 15).

Picture No. 14

Picture No. 15

2.2 Samples Outline

Samples - The chosen pattern is repeated along the outline (Picture No. 16, Picture No. 17).

Picture No. 16

Picture No. 17

The other parameters of Sketch and Samples outline are:

Width - This parameter is common for all five outline types. Width is the width of reference cells along the outline to which the stitches are projected. It is not necessarily the width of finished outline, because projected stitch sample can be wider or narrower than reference cells. The bigger value you adjust the thicker outline you get.

Min. Length and Max. Length - When user changes the sample, program automatically sets these two parameters together with width to values default for this sample. However, user can change these parameters.

2.3 Satin Outline

Satin outline can be used to create zig-zag outline of constant width similar to column objects (Picture No. 18).

Picture No. 18

2.4 Border Outline

Border is composed of pre-digitized objects. It can have outlines of separate color (Picture No. 19, Picture No. 20).

Picture No. 19

Picture No. 20

2.5 Appliqué Outline

Appliqué outline contains tack-down stitches of separate color to stitch appliqué fabric to the underlying fabric. Program automatically sets "No fill" option when user selects Appliqué outline (Picture No. 21, Picture No. 22).

Picture No. 21

Picture No. 22

The other parameters of Satin, Border and Appliqué outlines are:

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

Pull Compensation is extension of each stitch on edge of object in order to compensate for thread pull (on elastic fabric) or sinkage (on fleece). The thread pull causes the ends of stitches are pulled inwards and object is smaller (narrower) than intended.

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. The Center, Edge and Zig-Zag check boxes allow user to choose which underlays will be used for the object. Density parameter indicates the density of the zig-zag underlay.

Border sample length defines the size of samples along the outline. 

Tip: You can save the adjusted fill and outline parameters as default. Click "Parameters" button located at the top of parameters dialog box and select "Save as Default" menu. Parameters are saved as default separately for fill (Picture No. 23) and for outline (Picture No.  24). The "Reset Default" function serves for erasing setting saved as default and returning to original setting (plain fill-fill1, sample outline-single stitch).

Picture No. 23

Picture No. 24

7 - The "Fill exterior" option allows to create empty characters surrounded with fill (Picture No. 25). Adjustable border of exterior fill  is measured in tenth of millimeters. Fill is outlined  with selected outline (Picture No. 26, Picture No. 27).

Picture No. 25

Picture No. 26

Lettering created with "Fill exterior" option and "Floating stitches" connection type (see "Insert" tab in Picture no. 2)

Picture No. 27

Lettering created with "Fill exterior" option and "Floating stitches (solid)" connection type (see "Insert" tab in Picture no. 2)

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