Embird Embroidery Software
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Tasks - How do I... ?

See also FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Q  Are there any tutorials available, explaining step-by-step different tasks in Embird?

A    You can download FREE tutorial plug-in for Embird at http://www.embird.net/sw/embird/videos.htm. See also Tutorial.

Q  How do I convert designs from one format to another?

A    Embird Manager lets you convert your design files from one design file format to another. You can convert a batch of design files at once. Select files you want to convert in Right Panel. Then choose Convert Files command in Right Panel Menu, specify target file format and press OK button finally. Conversion will start now. New (destination) files will be stored in the same folder as the source files. Filenames of new files are derived automatically. For example, if you convert SQUIRREL.DST file to Janome .SEW format, new file is SQUIRREL.SEW. See Properties file formats supported by current version of Embird.

Q  How do I write designs to a floppy disk?

A    Insert your floppy disk into 3.5-inch disk drive. If the disk was not formatted to a proper disk format yet, please format it now (read directions below). If your disk is already formatted and also contains some files, press List A: button (located on Left Panel) to let Embird Manager identify disk format. Select files you want to write to your floppy disk in Right Panel. Then choose Copy Files to Floppy Disk command in Right Panel Menu.

Q  How do I format floppy disk?

A    Every floppy disk must be formatted before it can be used for storing files. If floppy disk is a brand new one or if it was not formatted to proper format yet, you can format it in Embird Manager. Insert your floppy disk into 3.5-inch disk drive. Choose Format Floppy Disk command in Left Panel Menu. Then select desired disk format and press OK button. If floppy disk was used before formatting, please note that all data previously stored on disk will be lost after formatting.

Q  How do I assign a color palette to a design?

A    Display a single design in Embird Manager by double clicking on its filename, or by choosing View File in Right Panel. Boxes containing the colors used by design will be displayed near the bottom of screen. Double click on the color you want to change. You may choose a color from built-in thread catalog if you like. To display thread catalog, move your mouse cursor on any color box and then right click. Popup menu will appear. Select Choose Color from Catalog command in this menu. Your color palette settings can be saved into a palette file via Save As command in Color Palette Menu. Always save your color palette file to the same folder and with the same filename as corresponding design file but change extension of file to .EDR so that your color palette file will be auto-loaded anytime you view your design in Embird.

Q  How do I print out my collection of designs?

A    Suppose that you want to print out all your designs. Embird Manager lets you print all designs that are stored in the same folder at once. Select this folder in Right Panel and then select all files that you want to print. You may choose Select All Files command in Right Panel Menu if you want to print out all files in current folder. Finally, choose Print Thumbnails in Right Panel. Embird Manager also offers you other types of printed documentation: Design Snapshot, Single Documentation, Color Layers and Thread List.

Q  How do I split a design with Embird Editor?

A    Let's suppose that you want to split a design containing 4 colors. Open this design in Embird Editor. We will discuss three different cases next:

Case A. Suppose that you want to split your design into 2 parts: First part should contain colors 1 and 2, second part should contain colors 3 and 4. At top right of Editor screen you will see the Objects Order Bar with design thumbnail and the 4 colors. Move mouse cursor to color box 2 and right click on it. Popup menu appears. Choose Split After Color, because you want to split design at last stitch of 2nd color. Now look at Objects Order Bar. First part will contain colors 1 and 2; second part will contain colors 3 and 4. Now you can manipulate these Objects independently - for example, you can delete either part.

Case B. Suppose that you need to separate stitches of color 3 so you can delete them. Move mouse cursor to color 3 and right click; choose Separate Color in the popup menu which appears. Look at Objects Order Bar. There will now be three Objects: first Object will contain stitches of colors 1 and 2, second Object will contain stitches of color 3; and third Object will contain stitches of color 4. Now you can manipulate these Objects independently; i.e. you can select and then delete second Object. Finally, you may select two remaining Objects and join them back into one Object (see also Join in Edit Menu).

Case C. Suppose that you need to separate some part of design and this cannot be achieved by methods mentioned in Case A and Case B. First you must select the stitches you need to separate. There are two selection methods:

The first is to select stitches by freehand-defined polygon. Select Freehand Select Mode in Mode Menu to select stitches this way. When you close polygon, selection will be drawn in red color.

The other method of selection is to specify Initial and Ending stitch of a sequence. This is enabled in Select Mode only, and only if there is just one Object selected. There are two edit boxes at Main Toolbar of Embird Editor (at top of the screen) that will let you set values of Initial and Ending stitches. Of course, Ending stitch is always greater than or at least equal to Initial stitch. The Sew Simulator is useful for determining the Initial and Ending stitches. In addition, there are small buttons (at right side of each of edit boxes) that will let you set values of Initial and Ending stitches in a more comfortable way (see also Main Toolbar).

When you have selected stitches you want to separate (i.e., the part is now drawn in red color), press Split button, or choose Split command in Edit Menu.