Stitch Count Estimation

Commercial embroidery digitizers may need to estimate the approximate stitch count of a design they are going to digitize, because the price of custom digitizing is often based on the design's stitch count.

When the artwork supplied for digitizing is a crisp raster image or photo, Studio allows you to estimate the stitch count quickly using the Trace tool.

The idea behind using the Trace tool for embroidery stitch count estimation is to auto-vectorize a rough probe design with just a few clicks, generate the stitches, and use their number as an estimation.

1. Import Raster Image

Import the artwork in raster format into Studio, just as you would in the case of genuine digitizing. You may resize the artwork to its real size now, or you may resize the traced vector objects to the real size later. Either way, the estimation makes sense only when working with a real-size design.

To resize the raster image, please use the Edit Image window, which is accessible via main menu > Image > Tools > Edit Image Window.

Artwork on a raster image

2. Trace the Design

Use the Trace tool (the magic wand) to pick individual artwork areas and then convert them into objects filled with stitches. Repeat this step until all areas are stitched.

The Trace tool is located in the Tool Box panel.

Trace tool icon

Choose among the available tracing styles, like plain fill or column, to trace respective areas in a similar manner as you would digitize the genuine design.

Note: There is no need to produce a perfect embroidery design with all the small details, as this is only an estimation.

Traced vector objects filled with stitches

Note: When you are tracing an overall fill under the small lettering or other small objects, use the Ignore Openings setting to make the fill compact.

Traced vector objects filled with stitches. Objects (A) and (B) are traced as plain fills with the 'Ignore Openings' option. Objects (C) and (D) are traced as columns.

3. Set the Real Size

If you have not resized the image to the required size before tracing, resize the traced vector objects now. Otherwise, the estimation will be wrong.

4. Generate the Stitches

Select all the finished objects and generate the stitches.

The total stitch count of the design is displayed in the status bar of Studio. This value can be considered the estimated stitch count we are looking for.

Objects must be selected (1). The total stitch count of the selected objects is displayed in the status bar (2).

Note: Where appropriate, the Auto Outliner tool can be used to add a thin, double-layered stitch outline to the selected objects for better accuracy in the estimation process.