Making Designs FAQ

Making Designs FAQ

Q. Can I scan in a picture and make embroidery from it?

A. Yes you can if your software supports this function. Some software systems will allow you to "automatically" convert certain types of files (Tajima uses vector files) into embroidery. These software features have their place in the commercial embroidery industry but they do not replace digitizing. Normally images that are "automatically" changed into embroidery are very flat and do not have the dimension and artistic value of a digitized design. True, there are a wide variety of applications where this type of embroidery will be suitable, but many designs will not work well done in this method. More commonly you would use your scanner to bring in a background or backdrop to the computer screen for digitizing.

Q. What is digitizing?

A. Digitizing is the digital input to the embroidery software to create the embroidery stitches. The digitizer takes the artwork and plots the type of stitch, direction of the stitch and the various elements of the design either using a digitizing tablet or on screen. The embroidery software creates the stitches and outputs the stitches to a disk or directly to the embroidery machine. Sound simple? Read on….

Q. Do I need digitizing?

A. This depends on your business plan and target market. Will you have a large need for custom designs and logos? Or will you be offering combinations of stock designs and lettering? Who will do the digitizing? How much time will you have to devote to mastering digitizing and embroidery? Although you should be looking for a company that provided training with your software and machine, digitizing takes practice beyond what any class or seminar can provide. We feel that the average learning curve is six months of day to day practice to begin to master digitizing. Many embroiderers feel they can do both the embroidery and the digitizing, but seriously consider how great your need is before you make the decision to digitize or not to digitize.

Q. Why does it take so long to learn to digitize?

A. We feel it takes an average of six months to begin to master digitizing. While there are only 3 types of stitches used in embroidery, running (or walking) stitches, satin (or column) stitches and tatami (or fill) stitches and a limited number of combinations of these stitch types, there is still much more to creating good embroidery. Unlike other work designed on computers, in embroidery we deal with a medium that has a number of directions and dimensions to it. The embroidery machine sews right and left, forwards and backwards, but we also have a needle going in and out of fabric that is often shifting while it is being sewn. Not only do we learn the three types of stitches and the various combinations, we also learn about the movement of the fabric. Fabrics will pull in and push out depending on the direction and type of stitch, the amount of stretch in the fabric and how stable the fabric is while it is being sewn. In embroidery we are designing without lifting our "pencil". The thread is continuous; we learn how to move through the design "layers" or elements efficiently to keep the machine sewing. Stopping to change colors or trim threads is not desirable unless it is necessary in a design. We learn to make all the elements line up correctly or overlap as needed. We learn which elements to sew first, second, third and so on. Now toss is finished caps, the digitizer is creating a design to sew on a curved surface. Practice, practice! You should expect good; comprehensive training when you purchase your software, but you will still face a learning curve to put what you learned into practice. No two designs are exactly alike and no two digitizers produce the same design exactly alike. Embroidery is not only artistic it is also very technical. Look for training that goes beyond just "pushing the buttons" and gives you a good, solid base of knowledge in embroidery too.

Q. If I don't digitize, who will?

A. There are many digitizers that create designs for other embroiderers. Ask your machine or software supplier for a list of digitizers. You will find digitizing costs will vary greatly, cheaper may not always be better. How a design is digitized can greatly affect how well your machine runs. Too many stitches in a given spot can create problems like broken needles, broken threads, and more. A wide variety of machine problems can be direct results of a poorly digitized design. Good digitizers are always in demand. See a design you like, inquire about who did it. Ask other embroiderers for recommendations.

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