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Embird Cross Stitch - Design Toolbar

Embird Embroidery Software Tutorial

Design Toolbar is located at the left side of the screen (Picture No. 1). It contains tools for drawing on the Work Area. Each tool is explained below.

1. Design Toolbar

Marquee

Use Marquee tool to select a rectangular area of crosses. To select an area, click the left mouse button and drag the mouse until the flashing outline surrounds the area you want. Release the mouse button. Depress Shift and Alt keys simultaneously if you want to select only crosses and no back stitch lines. Clicking either mouse button outside the outline turns the area selection off. When you select an area, you can use Edit menu commands to cut, copy, paste, mirror, rotate, duplicate and delete the selected crosses. You can also hold the mouse button down to move the area.

Lasso

Use Lasso tool to select a free-form area of crosses. To select an area, click the left mouse button and drag the mouse to create a line around the area. When the line is a complete circle, release the mouse button. Depress Shift and Alt keys simultaneously if you want to select only crosses and no back stitch lines. Clicking either mouse button outside the outline turns the area selection off. When you select an area, you can use Edit menu commands to cut, copy, paste, mirror, rotate, duplicate and delete the selected crosses. You can also hold the mouse button down to move the area.

Magic wand for contiguous area

Use Magic wand for contiguous area tool to select contiguous area of the same color. Click on the color you want to select. The treshold control allows you to specify the tolerance setting (see below). Depress Shift key to add chosen area to current selection. Depress Alt key to remove chosen area from current selection. Depress Shift and Alt keys simultaneously if you want to select only crosses and no back stitch lines. Clicking either mouse button outside the outline turns the area selection off. When you select an area, you can use Edit menu commands to cut, copy, paste, mirror, rotate, duplicate and delete the selected crosses. You can also hold the mouse button down to move the area.

Magic wand for non-contiguous area

Use Magic wand for non-contiguous area tool to select the non-contiguous area of the same color. Otherwise this tool works the same way as Magic wand for contiguous area.

Actual size

Use Actual size tool to return the view to its natural size.

Zoom

Use Zoom tool to increase and decrease the zoom factor. Use left clicks to zoom in and right clicks to zoom out.

Pencil

Use Pencil tool to paint free-form lines and shapes using the current pen style. To sketch with the Pencil tool, click a mouse button and drag the pencil across work area. Release the mouse button when you finish sketching. Before you use the Pencil tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Eraser

Use Eraser tool to clear the crosses under the cursor. Before you start erasing, you might want to choose the width of eraser tool, and the cross type (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to clear the chosen cross type, use right mouse button to clear the complete cross.

Smooth

Use Smooth tool to smooth the edges under the cursor by adding 3/4 stitch. Click left mouse button and drag the cursor across work area. Release the mouse button when you finish smoothing. Before you start smoothing, you might want to choose the width of smooth tool and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar).

Clear isolated points

Use Clear isolated points tool to remove the isolated points under the cursor. Click left mouse button and drag the cursor across work area. Release the mouse button when you finish clearing. Before you start clearing, you might want to choose the width of this tool (see also Color Palette Bar).

Air-brush

Use Air-brush tool to paint free-form patterns similar to a real airbrush on work area.. To use the airbrush, you can either click a mouse button once and drag the airbrush, or you can click it repeatedly, as if you were repeatedly pressing the nozzle of a spray can. If you drag it slowly, it paints a thick pattern. If you drag it quickly, it paints a scattered, thinner pattern. Before you use the Air-brush tool, you might want to choose the brush type, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Brush

Use Brush tool to paint free-form patterns using the current brush pattern and shape. To paint, click a mouse button and drag the brush across work area. Release the mouse button when you finish painting. Before you use the Brush tool, you might want to choose the brush type, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Fill contiguous area

Use Fill contiguous area tool to fill contiguous area of your work area with the currently selected color. It fills in any area of work area that is a single color. If you use this tool on an area that's not entirely surrounded by other colors, the color leaks out into other parts of the work area that are the same color as the original area. Before you use the Fill contiguous area tool, you might want to choose the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to fill with cross color 1, use right mouse button to fill with cross color 2 (see below).

Fill non-contiguous area

Use Fill non-contiguous area tool to fill non-contiguous area of your work area with the currently selected color. Otherwise this tool works the same way as Fill contiguous area.

Clear contiguous area

Use Clear contiguous area tool to cancel the fill in contiguous area. It clears any area of work area that is a single color. If you use this tool on an area that's not entirely surrounded by other colors, it will clear areas that are the same color as the original area. Before you use the Fill contiguous area tool, you might want to choose the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to clear the chosen cross type, use right mouse button to clear the complete cross.

Clear non-contiguous area

Use Clear non-contiguous area tool to cancel the fill in non-contiguous area. Otherwise this tool works the same way as Clear contiguous area.

Text

Use Text tool to add text to work area. Click where you want the text to begin. A flashing cursor appears, and you can begin typing text. Before you use the Text tool, you might want to specify how and where you want the text displayed. Choose font and text alignment in Text menu.

Line

Use Line tool to paint straight lines. Press the mouse button and drag the Line tool across work area. Release the mouse button when you've finished drawing the line. If you want the lines you paint to be limited to 45-degree increments, hold down Shift as you draw the line. With Shift down, you can paint only a horizontal or vertical line or a line on a 45-degree angle. Before you use the Line tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see below). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Eye-dropper

Use Eye-dropper tool to select the color under the cursor as either cross color 1 or cross color 2. Use left clicks to select the cross color 1 and right clicks to select the cross color 2 (see below).

Simple Curve

Use Simple Curve tool to paint curves. Click and drag to draw a line of the appropriate length. Click the line you just created and drag it to create the arc you want. The point you select on the line determines the shape of the arc. To create a symmetrical arc, click the center of the line. If you want the lines you paint to be limited to 45-degree increments, hold down Shift as you draw the line. With Shift down, you can paint only a horizontal or vertical line or a line on a 45-degree angle. Before you use the Simple curve tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Rectangle

Use Rectangle tool to paint an empty rectangular frame in work area. This tool paints a line around the rectangle using the current line width. To paint a rectangle, place the cursor where you want the corner of the frame to start. Then click a mouse button and drag the tool until the frame outline surrounds the area you want. Release the mouse button. With Shift down, you can paint a square. Before you use the Rectangle tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Filled Rectangle

Use Filled Rectangle tool to paint a rectangular filled-in frame in work area. This tool paints a line around the rectangle using the current line width. To paint a filled rectangle, place the cursor where you want the corner of the frame to start. Then click a mouse button and drag the tool until the frame outline surrounds the area you want. Release the mouse button. With Shift down, you can paint a square. Before you use the Filled rectangle tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Round Rectangle

Use Round Rectangle tool to paint an empty frame shaped like a rounded rectangle in work area. This tool paints a line around the rounded rectangle using the current line width. To paint a rounded rectangle, place the cursor where you want the corner of the frame to start. Then click a mouse button and drag the tool until the frame outline surrounds the area you want. Release the mouse button. With Shift down, you can paint a square. Before you use the Round rectangle tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Filled round rectangle

Use Filled round rectangle tool to paint a filled-in frame, in the shape of a rounded rectangle, in work area. This tool paints a line around the rounded rectangle using the current line width. To paint a rounded rectangle, place the cursor where you want the corner of the frame to start. Then click a mouse button and drag the tool until the frame outline surrounds the area you want. Release the mouse button. With Shift down, you can paint a square. Before you use the Filled round rectangle tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Ellipse

Use Ellipse tool to paint an ellipse-shaped empty frame in work area. This tool paints a line around the ellipse using the current line width. To paint an ellipse, place the cursor where you want the corner of the frame to start. Then click a mouse button and drag the tool until the frame outline surrounds the area you want. Release the mouse button. With Shift down, you can paint a circle. Before you use the Ellipse tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Filled Ellipse

Use Filled Ellipse tool to paint an ellipse-shaped filled-in frame in work area. This tool paints a line around the ellipse using the current line width. With Shift down, you can paint a circle. Before you use the Filled ellipse tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2 (see below). Depress the ALT key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Regular Polygon

Use Regular Polygon tool to paint a regular polygon-shaped empty frame in work area. This tool paints a line around the regular polygon using the current line width. To paint a regular polygon, place the cursor where you want the corner of the frame to start. Then click a mouse button and drag the tool until the frame outline surrounds the area you want. Release the mouse button. With Shift down, you can paint a symmetrical regular polygon. Before you use this tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2. Depress the Alt key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Filled Regular Polygon

Use Filled Regular Polygon tool to paint filled regular polygon in work area. This tool paints a line around the polygon using the current line width. With Shift down, you can paint symmetrical polygon. Before you use this tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2. Depress the Alt key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Star

Use Star tool to paint a star-shaped empty frame in work area. This tool paints a line around the star using the current line width. To paint a star, place the cursor where you want the corner of the frame to start. Then click a mouse button and drag the tool until the frame outline surrounds the area you want. Release the mouse button. With Shift down, you can paint a symmetrical star. Before you use this tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2. Depress the Alt key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Filled Star

Use Filled Star tool to paint filled star in work area. This tool paints a line around the star using the current line width. With Shift down, you can paint symmetrical star. Before you use this tool, you might want to choose the width of pen, the cross type and cross layers (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1 and right mouse button to paint with cross color 2. Depress the Alt key while painting to clear the crosses under the cursor.

Back Stitch

Use Back Stitch tool to paint straight back stitch lines. Press the mouse button and drag the Back Stitch tool across work area. Release the mouse button when you've finished drawing the line. If you want the lines you paint to be limited to 45-degree increments, hold down Shift as you draw the line. With Shift down, you can paint only a horizontal or vertical line or a line on a 45-degree angle. Before you use the Back Stitch tool, you might want to choose the strands of thread to use for outline (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1, use right mouse button to paint with cross color 2.

Back Stitch Draw

Use Back Stitch Draw tool to draw back stitch lines by freehand. Press the mouse button and drag the Back Stitch Draw tool across work area. Release the mouse button when you finish sketching. Before you use the Back Stitch Draw tool, you might want to choose the strands of thread to use for outline (see also Color Palette Bar). Use left mouse button to paint with cross color 1, use right mouse button to paint with cross color 2.

Back Stitch 1/2

Use Back Stitch 1/2 tool to paint straight back stitch lines. Use this tool if you want to position back stitches to a half stitch position. Otherwise this tool works the same way as Back Stitch.

Back Stitch Draw 1/2

Use Back Stitch Draw 1/2 tool to draw back stitch lines by freehand. Use this tool if you want to position back stitches to a half stitch position. Otherwise this tool works the same way as Back Stitch Draw.

Erase Back Stitch

Use Erase Back Stitch tool to delete the back stitch line. Move mouse pointer over the back stitch line. Then click either left or right mouse button anywhere over the length of back stitch line to delete it. Depress Shift key while clicking to delete all back stitch lines having the same color as the chosen one. Depress Alt key while clicking to delete all back stitch lines connected with the chosen one. Depress Shift and Alt keys simultaneously while clicking to delete all back stitch lines.

Back Stitch Color

Use Back Stitch Color tool to change the color of back stitch line. Move mouse pointer over the back stitch line. Then click either left or right mouse button anywhere over the length of back stitch line to change its color to either cross color 1 or cross color 2. Depress Shift key while clicking to change color of all back stitch lines having the same color as the chosen one. Depress Alt key while clicking to change colors of all back stitch lines connected with the chosen one. Depress Shift and Alt keys simultaneously while clicking to change color of all back stitch lines.

Get Back Stitch Layers

Use Get Back Stitch Layers tool to get the number of strands of thread to use for back stitch line. Move mouse pointer over the back stitch line. Then click either left or right mouse button anywhere over the length of back stitch line to get the number of strands of thread (see also Color Palette Bar).

Set Back Stitch Layers

Use Set Back Stitch Layers tool to set the number of strands of thread to use for back stitch line. Move mouse pointer over the back stitch line. Then click either left or right mouse button anywhere over the length of back stitch line to change its number of strands of thread setting. Depress Shift key while clicking to change the setting of all back stitch lines having the same color as the chosen one. Depress Alt key while clicking to change the setting of all back stitch lines connected with the chosen one. Depress Shift and Alt keys simultaneously while clicking to change the setting of all back stitch lines.

Get Back Stitch Division Option

Get status of thread division option to use for back stitch line.

Set Back Stitch Division Option

Set status of thread division option to use for back stitch line.

Insert French Knot

Use Insert French Knot tool to insert French knots in work area. Use left mouse button to insert French knots of cross color 1, use right mouse button to insert French knots of cross color 2. Before you use this tool, you might want to choose the Diameter and Thickness of French knot (see also Color Palette Bar). Depress the Alt key while clicking left or right mouse button to remove the French Knot.

Erase French Knot

Use Erase French Knot tool to remove French knots from work area. Move mouse pointer to the center of French knot and click left or right mouse button to remove it.

Get French Knot Diameter

Use Get French Knot Diameter tool to read the diameter setting of French knot located on the work area. Move mouse pointer to the center of French knot. Then click either left or right mouse button to read its diameter setting (see also Color Palette Bar).

Set French Knot Diameter

Use Set French Knot Diameter tool to set the diameter setting of French knot located on the work area. Move mouse pointer to the center of French knot. Then click either left or right mouse button to change its diameter setting. Depress Shift key while clicking to change the setting of all French knots having the same color as the chosen one. Depress Shift and Alt keys simultaneously while clicking to change the setting of all French knots.

Get French Knot Thickness

Use Get French Knot Thickness tool to read the thickness setting of French knot located on the work area. Move mouse pointer to the center of French knot. Then click either left or right mouse button to read its thickness setting (see also Color Palette Bar).

Set French Knot Thickness

Use Set French Knot Thickness tool to set the thickness setting of French knot located on the work area. Move mouse pointer to the center of French knot. Then click either left or right mouse button to change its thickness setting. Depress Shift key while clicking to change the setting of all French knots having the same color as the chosen one. Depress Shift and Alt keys simultaneously while clicking to change the setting of all French knots.

Cross color 1

Choose cross color 1. Left mouse button will draw with this color (see Tools above). Double-click on the box to change the color. Right click on the box to display a popup menu - this allows to choose the color from the thread catalogs. You can also drag the color from Color Palette Bar and drop it on the box to set the color.

Cross color 2

Choose cross color 2. Right mouse button will draw with this color (see Tools above). Double-click on the box to change the color. Right click on the box to display a popup menu - this allows to choose the color from the thread catalogs. You can also drag the color from Color Palette Bar and drop it on the box to set the color.

Outline color

Choose outline color. This color will be used for outlines in case the outlines are ON on Color Palette Bar. In such a case the outlines will be created automatically when compiling cross stitch design. Double-click on the box to change the color. Right click on the box to display a popup menu - this allows to choose the color from the thread catalogs. You can also drag the color from Color Palette Bar and drop it on the box to set the color.

Background color (Transparent)

Choose background color (transparent). This is the color of the Work Area. Double-click on the box to change the color. Right click on the box to display a popup menu - this allows to choose the color from the thread catalogs. You can also drag the color from Color Palette Bar and drop it on the box to set the color.

Tolerance

Specify the tolerance setting for Magic Wand tool (see Tools above). Bigger number means bigger tolerance. Right click on the box to display the dialog box with preset values.

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

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