This exercise will demonstrate how to digitize a column 1 and a column 2. When digitizing columns, you should always begin and end your columns with straight points.
To digitize a column 1 using straight points:
Insert a graphic (example, melco_tutor.tif). Zoom in on the area that you would like to digitize first. Keep in mind that the stitch list order is the same order that the machine will sew the design. Select the column 1 element .
Input your first point by left clicking in the View Window over the graphic, which will input a straight point.
Now input the second point parallel to the first input point.
Input the third point on the same side of the column as your first input point.
Input the forth point parallel to the third point. These steps are illustrated below in red numbers. Now click the Enter key to complete your wireframe column and generate stitches. This is the simplest type of column.
When digitizing something like a capital "M", you will want to plan ahead on what column goes first. For example you may want to stitch out the V area of the capital "M" before the straight column on the sides of the capital "M". By digitizing in that order, the V area columns will lay under the straight columns.
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The end result after stitching these two columns (and pressing the "view stitches in 3D" button ) will look like this:
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To digitize a column 1 using curved and straight points:
A simple example of this would be to digitize the letter "c".
Input your first straight point (by left clicking).
Input your second straight point parallel to the first (left click).
Input the third point half way around the "c" on the same side of the column as your first input point, this point will be a curved point that you input by right clicking.
Input another curved point (right click) on the opposite side of the column, parallel to the third point.
Input the fifth point at the end of the "c" on the same side of the column as the first and third. This will be a straight point that you will input by left clicking.
Input the final point on the opposite side of the column, parallel to the the fifth point. This will be another straight point that you will get by left clicking. Press the Enter key when you are finished. This example is illustrated below with the steps labeled with red numbers:
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The end result after pressing the "view stitches in 3D" button , looks like this: |
To digitize a column 2 using curved and straight points:
Select the column 2 element . A column 2 is digitized by inputting the curved and straight points on one side of the column first, then press the Enter key. Now input the curved and straight points on the opposite side of the column. When finished, press the Enter key to complete the column 2. In the same graphic that was used for the above columns, there is a stem of a flower. It is a good idea to think about the sewing order of things before beginning this column.
To determine proper sewing order of elements: When digitizing, always keep in mind that you want the embroidery peripheral to be able to sew from one element to another with very little movement in between the elements.
In this example, you will probably want to sew the flower stem from the bottom up so that you can go into the next element easier. Left click to input straight points, right click to input curved points.
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1 - straight 2 - curved 3 - straight 4 - curved 5 - straight 6 - straight 7 - straight 8 - curved 9 - straight 10 - straight 11 - curved 12 - straight 13 - curved 14 - straight 15 - straight 16 - curved 17 - straight |
Remember that straight input points are represented by a small triangle and curved input points are represented by a small circle.
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The end result after pressing the "view stitches in 3D" button , looks like this: |
Digitizing with a column 2 is especially useful in comparison to a column 1 when you want to digitize a column that isn't parallel.
You can always refer to the status line below the View Window to give direction for the next step while digitizing an element.