An element is an EDS IV term that describes the smallest component of a design that consists of multiple points. The design elements of EDS IV are Manual Stitch, Walk Stitch (normal, bean, and decorative), Column 1 and Column 2, Single line (center, left, and right), Complex Fill, and Lettering.
To create new embroidery elements click on the toolbar button for the element type that you want to create. There are several input sequences that are used for the various elements. Use the left mouse button to input straight points and the right mouse button for curve points. Straight points appear as a small triangle; curve points appear as a small circle. All elements start with a straight point and end with either the Enter key or the middle mouse button, if available.
While you are digitizing, you can change your current input element to the previous element type by pressing 'P' on your keyboard.
Manual and Walk elements are linear input methods that you create by entering the points in sequence from beginning to end. Manual stitches give you more control to digitize an exact outline. Where you place the points is where your needle penetrations will be without extra needle penetrations in between. This is very useful in digitizing very small items where you need to be very exact. This is located as a toolbar button, in the Insert Menu and also by right clicking in the View Window. Walk stitches are the equivalent to running stitches in EDS III and are typically generated in making underlay and outline stitching. Walk stitches are the simplest stitches to make when digitizing. They can be generated in two methods, straight lines or automatic curves. For example, If you are digitizing the outline of a square select walk stitch, then left click at the first corner of the square. Now, go to the second corner and left click, the third corner and left click, the forth corner and left click, back to the first corner and left click. It doesn't matter how big the square is when you are using walk stitch; needle penetrations will be inserted every 30 points along the way. The default setting is 30 points and can be changed under walk stitch properties. This is located as a toolbar button, in the Insert Menu and also by right clicking in the View Window.
Column 1 is used to generate parallel columns. The stitches are generated back and forth between two outside lines that are parallel (or nearly parallel) to each other. The simplest representation of a shape that would lend itself to a column 1 stitching is the letter l. You can find this function in three locations: the toolbar button, under the Insert Menu, or by right clicking in the View Window. Column 2 is used more often to generate column stitches for non-parallel columns. To obtain this, first digitize all of the outline stitches from the beginning on one side of an element, then from the beginning again on the other side of the element. You can find this function in three locations: the toolbar button, under the Insert Menu, or by right clicking in the View Window.
Single line is a method of producing columns that maintain an equal width throughout the column. Single line center, single line left, and single line right are the three different types of single line input. The difference between these three types is just the positioning of the stitch area surrounding the line that you create. You can find each of these three functions in three locations: the toolbar button, under the Insert Menu, or by right clicking in the View Window.
When creating a Single line center column you will first digitize the basic wireframe outline of the design. Then following the instructions located in the grey area below the View Window (the status line), input the first and second width points. The distance between these two points will determine the width of your column with your wireframe line in the center. This is the same procedure used to input a Single line left and a Single line right .
Single line automatically terminates after inputting the width of the second point.
Complex fill is the tool on the left with the red outline. To digitize a complex fill, select the complex fill tool by left clicking on it, or by right clicking inside the view window and selecting complex fill. Now input the wireframe outline of the complex fill. By inputting straight or curved points. The last point input should end up being close to the first point that you input, then press Enter or Return. This will connect the last point with the first point. Next, if there are any small holes or places that you do not want the fill to cover, digitize a wireframe outline around those just as you did the first outline and press Enter after each one. After you have finished digitizing the complex fill and any holes, press Enter again.
Now enter the entry point and exit points (where you would like the first and last needle penetrations to be). The final thing to do is to enter two points that will determine the direction of stitches.
If you have finished a complex fill and decide later that it should contain some empty spaces (holes), you can insert them without having to digitize the fill again. The toolbar button next to the complex fill button (with the black outline and the filled in hole) is the complex hole button. Select your design by right clicking on it, then select the complex hole tool. Now digitize the wireframe outline of the hole and press Enter.
Complex fill automatically terminates after the second direction point is put in.
You can get to complex fill and hole with the tools on the toolbar, through the Insert Menu, or by right clicking in the View Window.
If a point is entered incorrectly, pressing the Backspace key will remove the input points in reverse order.