Parameters - Mesh

This chapter provides a comprehensive guide to the parameters for Mesh objects within Embird Studio NEXT. It details how to control the appearance of loosely stitched mesh fills, suitable for stippling and ornamental designs. The chapter explains various settings including range of mesh fill types such as Stippling and Tiles, common settings like layer control and stitch length, artistic effects, and geometric transformations. Furthermore, it discusses the Single Layer setting and its impact on the stitching process and potential for conversion onto the outline objects.

These parameters apply only to Mesh objects .

A Mesh object is similar to a Fill object, but it is stitched very loosely to allow the fabric to show through stitches. Mesh is suitable for stippling and other low-density ornamental fills.

A Mesh object has one outer edge. Node (A) is the starting node of the edge. (B) is the end of the outer edge with an angle direction line. The angle here refers to the transformation angle. The symbol in the middle indicates the focus point (C) for special effects. Holes in the fill mesh are created separately using the Opening tool.

Fill Span

Some types of mesh allow setting the fill Span.

The Span defines the extent of the fill with respect to the object contours. Possible values are Overflow, Cropped, and Interior.

In the case of Overflow fill, you may want to exclude object contours from the mesh. This can be done in the Common Settings tab.

Depending on the fill type, the Overflow and Interior spans may use an origin point as the start point. If an origin point is not defined, or if it is outside of the object's contour, or if it is inside a hole, the fill may not be generated. In such a case, place the origin point inside the object.

In the case of the Overflow and Interior spans, the fill may not be generated if the gap between mesh paths or the cell size is too large, and the path elements do not fit inside the object. In such a case, decrease the gap value (or cell size) or enlarge the object.

The Span setting is ignored if the fill has a Single Layer switch that is turned on.

Overflow

Cropped

Interior

The Mesh object can be filled with stitches in one of these ways:

Mesh Options

1. Stippling - fill based on stitch meanders.
2. Tiles - tiled blackwork and tessellation patterns.
3. Net - lacy fills made from line and curve elements, shapes, fractals, and labyrinth paths.
4. Knots - Celtic knot fill.
5. Crosses - simple cross stitch fill.
6. Glyphs - fills based on font glyphs and pre-defined library glyphs.
7. Plant - plain and curly branching fills.

Stippling - Necklace

Stippling - Maze

Tiles - Blackwork

Tiles - Tessellation

Plants - Plain Mode

Plants - Curly Mode

Glyphs

Net from elements

Net from shape

Net - fractal

Celtic Knots

Crosses

Common Settings

The settings in this tab apply to all mesh modes.

Include Outer Contours and Include Inner Contours: If switched ON, the object's contours are treated as part of the mesh fill. This means that the contours are stitched just like the fill. When using Crosses or Celtic Knots fill that exceeds the object's boundaries, it is usually desirable not to include contours. These settings are ignored in the case of a single-layer fill; they work with multi-layer fills only.

Layers (for multi-layer fills only): Each path of a multi-layer mesh fill is sewn at least twice: forward and backward, which means two passes of each path. The Layers control allows you to duplicate forward and backward passes to achieve thicker paths. This setting is ignored for single-layer fills.

Min. Stitch: Defines the smallest stitch length of the mesh fill. Stitches are generated so that their length is between the minimum and maximum allowed length.

Max. Stitch: Defines the largest stitch length of the mesh fill. Stitches are generated so that their length is between the minimum and maximum allowed length.

Effect

Mesh fill may be combined with additional effects like fish eye, black hole, swirl, ripple, and saw. Most effects use the Focus Point of the object as a starting point. The user can adjust the Focus Point position in the node editing mode.

Effect's Kind control allows you to select the desired effect or switch off the effect by selecting 'None'.

None

Fish Eye

Black Hole

Swirl

Ripple

Saw

Varying Ripple

Random Ripple

Varying Saw

Intensity controls the strength of the fish eye, black hole, and swirl effects.

Distance, Count, and Angle control the ripple and saw effects.

Even simple mesh fills like straight lines (blackwork sample #47) can create interesting textures when an effect is applied to them.

Ripple applied to a simple blackwork sample (horizontal lines)

Transformations

Mesh fill

Mesh fill rotated 45 degrees

In node editing mode, the mesh transformation angle is also displayed on the objec's contour as a direction line (B).

Skewing, rotation, and perspective projection use the Focus Point of the object as a pivot. The user can adjust the Focus Point position in the node editing mode.

Remarks

Single Layer Setting

Single Layer is available for some mesh fill types. If this setting is switched on, the inner part of the mesh fill is stitched with a single run of thread. Connections between fill elements are forced to the edges of the object. If connecting along the edges is not possible, a jump (trim) is inserted between the fill elements. Some common settings, like Layers Count and Include Contours, are not applicable to the fill when the Single Layer switch is on. While the inner fill is single-layered, connections on the edges may overlap one another. The edge of the object with connections is supposed to be covered by other objects or physically removed after the stitch-out.

Single-layer mesh fill can be used as is (single stitching), or it can be converted to outlines, and then any outline style can be applied, for example, satin stitch, triple bean stitch, etc. Use the Convert command from the main menu.

Single-layer Blackwork mesh

Converted outlines, satin mode

If the Single Layer setting is switched off, the mesh fill is stitched with an even number of layers (2, 4, or more).