Embird Embroidery Software
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Font Engine

Lettering, Monogram and Clipart Plug-in
for Embird Embroidery Software

Embird Font Engine combines embroidery lettering tool and graphics in vector file format. It creates embroidery lettering from common Windows fonts in TrueType and OpenType format. It is also possible to use it with 3rd party ready-made embroidery alphabets. Because of its vector handling capabilities, Font Engine is capable to convert vector clipart or logos created with graphic programs into embroidery designs.

Font Engine has 3 main usage modes:

  1. Embroidery lettering from TrueType and OpenType fonts
  2. Lettering tool for ready-made embroidery alphabets
  3. Conversion of vector graphics into embroidery designs

Please note: Font Engine does not include any font or clipart. It is a conversion program.

Font Engine is not a stand-alone program. It is an add-on to basic Embird. Font Engine can also be used within digitizing Studio.

1. Embroidery Lettering from TrueType and OpenType Fonts

Font Engine lettering tool allows to create text with any TrueType or OpenType font and convert it into an embroidery lettering or monogram. TrueType and OpenType fonts are commonly used in Windows compatible programs and they are available from many sources for purchase or free download. Font Engine is capable to fill letters created with these fonts with various stitch styles, using number of controls and parameters to achieve desired look of the lettering.

When finished, lettering is compiled into stitches and put into Embird Editor for final adjustment and save in desired embroidery format. Font Engine is accessible also from Studio's interactive lettering. When used from Studio, Font Engine produces text in a vector (outline) form that can be further edited in Studio.

TrueType and OpenType fonts are scalable vector files, which allows Font Engine to produce lettering in a large size scale, from about 5 millimeters (1/5") up to 30 cm (12").

User interface allows access to adjustable parameters of lettering such as density, fill and outline patterns as well as characters layout and deformations. Following examples illustrate the most important controls and options.

Main panel allows to select TrueType or OpenType font and type the text you want to convert into embroidery. Next panel (Properties tab) serves to adjust size and other parameters of lettering.

Fill Exterior option allows to invert filled areas of text.

Font Engine allows user to place text on line, ellipse and other baselines and also to deform it with use of an envelope.

Each character in a text can be moved, rotated, skewed and scaled separately to create unique lettering effects. Use Symmetry options for easier adjustment of lettering envelope. Many predefined envelopes are included.

Font Engine can produce plain fill, auto column (satin stitch) and motif fills and sample, satin and appliqu?utlines for text.

Pattern, Wave, Gradient and other  effects like contour or circular fill can be applied to plain fill of text.

Lettering may have single stitch, sample, satin stitch or appliqu?utline.

Auto Column (satin stitches) fill of text produces lettering looking almost as if it was digitized by a human digitizer. Font Engine uses large base of digitizers knowledge and an artificial intelligence to convert fonts into satin stitches.

Satin stitches lettering of large size should be used with Pattern option on, to avoid too long stitches and to add texture to a large stitched areas.

Font Engine - tutorial

2. Lettering Tool for Ready-Made Alphabets

One of the most popular way of how to create embroidery lettering is to buy ready-made embroidery font (alphabet) and compose your lettering from characters in this font. This may be a tedious work if you want to align lettering on the circle or create a longer text. Ready-made fonts are delivered in stitch files, usually one letter per file. User has to import the stitch files one-by-one and put them together to create the text label.

Ready-Made Alphabets mode of Font Engine allows to use convenient lettering tool with 3rd party or custom letters. It is no longer needed to assemble such lettering manually. Simply import all letter files at once, index letters and use them in a similar way as common Windows fonts. Work with text and especially the lettering layout process becomes much easier.

Custom letters are not limited to a single color or style. You can use any number of colors, cross-stitch patterns or anything that stitch file supports and Embird can import.

There are couple of drawbacks, though. Some features like nearest-point connections or outlines are not applicable to the ready-made alphabets. Resizing is available, but not recommended as stitch files quality may decrease when the size changes.

Ready-made alphabets - tutorial

3. Vector Graphics

Font Engine functionality goes beyond the fonts. It can convert EMF, WMF and CMX vector graphics to an embroidery file. This function allows to import designs from drawing programs like Corel Draw or Adobe Illustrator. It is typically used for logos and clipart designs.

Embroidery process imposes additional requirements on the design, especially proper object order, connections, overlays and layers. Therefore, some editing of vector designs in Embird Studio is usually needed to produce good embroidery from these files.

Vector graphics - tutorial

Embird is modular software for computerized machine embroidery digitizing, quilting and customization

Developed by BALARAD, s.r.o. company since 1997

We accept following payment options: credit and debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay. All transactions for purchase of Embird products are made through safe payment gateways such as PayPal or Stripe that use SSL encryption. Your details are not stored during this process.

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