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This is a sub-chapter of the Mesh Parameters chapter.
The Plant Mesh Fill is a generative stitch type that populates a vector shape with organic, botanical structures rather than standard geometric patterns. Instead of filling an area with solid rows of thread, the software uses algorithms to "grow" stems, branches, leaves, and flowers within the boundaries of the design.
This page details the Plant parameters within the Embird Studio NEXT Mesh tool, providing two distinct methods for generating botanical embroidery fills: Plain Branching and Curly Branching. Plain Branching is designed for fundamental plant structures such as roots and stems, with options to include flowers or leaves. Curly Branching offers advanced functionality for creating intricate, organic forms featuring curled stems and sprouts. This mode allows for extensive customization of sprout growth, the appearance of flowers and leaves, and the integration of a base or core for complex designs. This guide also covers parameters for symmetry, pseudo-randomization (Seed), and fill span.
Kind - Specifies the plant mesh mode: roots, bare stems, or stems featuring flowers, leaves, or a combination of both.
Average Cell Size - Flower, fruit, and leaf glyphs are rendered within cells along the stem. The actual size of these cells will vary above and below this specified value.
Plant Mesh - plain branching
Span - Defines the coverage of the fill relative to the object contours. Available options include Overflow, Cropped, and Interior. When using Overflow, object contours may be excluded via the Common Settings tab.
Overflow, with contours included
Interior, contours excluded
Kind - Select between character-based Font glyphs (letters, dingbats, or clipart) and shapes from the Library mode.
Scale - Adjusts the size of the glyphs within their allocated cells.
Font - When Font mode is active, this menu allows for font selection. Bold and Italic switches are available if supported by the typeface.
Text - When Font mode is active, use this field to input specific characters for the glyphs.
Glyphs from Library - When Library mode is active, select one or more predefined shapes.
Kind - Select between Font glyphs or Library shapes for leaf representation.
Scale - Controls the enlargement or reduction of leaf glyphs within their cells.
Font / Text / Library - These controls function identically to the Flower settings, allowing for customized leaf appearances.
This plant fill consists of curled stems and sprouts. Sprouts can be replaced with flowers, utilizing either pre-digitized shapes from the library or characters from any TrueType or OpenType font. Alternatively, sprouts can be widened to simulate a leaf-like appearance.
Curly plant with flowers and leaves
Curly plant ornament with symmetry
In addition to interior fills, curly branching can generate complex floral ornaments when symmetry and mirroring are applied.
The branching sequence begins at the Origin point of the object. If no Origin point is defined, branching commences as near to the object's center as possible, accounting for any internal holes. This starting point is critical when symmetry is applied, as the symmetry origin is mapped to the start point.
Growth Kind - Determines whether sprout growth is managed or autonomous. Managed growth is optimized for ornaments, while autonomous growth is designed for general fills.
Sprouts Growth - button icons: 1 from origin point (autonomous), 2 from core (font glyph, library glyphs, hole or carving), 3 from origin or from base, rotational symmetry, 4 from origin or from base, mirrored and rotated
Sprouts Growth Examples: 1 from origin point (autonomous), 2a from core (library glyph), 2b from core (font glyph), 3 from base with rotational symmetry, 4 from base, mirrored and rotated
Size Levels - Sprout dimensions can vary across a range. This control limits that range: a value of 8 represents the full spectrum of sizes, while a value of 1 generates only the smallest sprouts.
Maximum Sprout Generations - Sprouts develop from their platform (origin, core, base, or existing sprouts) in sequential layers known as generations. This control limits the number of generations before growth terminates. Growth is also bounded by the object's contours. Restricting generations when growing from a core or base helps maintain the plant's overall shape relative to its platform.
Core from font glyph, 1 sprout generation
Core from font glyph, 2 sprout generations
Overall Sprouts Scale - Adjusts the scale for all sprouts simultaneously. This parameter does not affect the base or core.
Span - Defines the fill extent relative to object contours. Options include Overflow, Cropped, and Interior. Settings for object contours can be found in the Common Settings tab.
Seed - Plant fills are generated using a pseudo-random process, ensuring consistent results for the same parameters. The Seed provides an efficient way to generate alternative layouts without modifying other settings. The Arrow buttons adjust the seed value and automatically regenerate the mesh, allowing for a real-time preview in the Work Area.
Source Sector for Symmetry - Symmetry utilizes a specific sector of the object as the source for cloning. This sector is defined by the origin point and an angle. Use this control to rotate the source sector around the origin, which is useful for rotated ornaments. The default position is -90 degrees (bottom-left of the origin). This control is applicable only to growth types using symmetry or mirroring.
Flower Kind - Choose between Font glyphs or Library shapes for the flowers.
Scale - Enlarges or reduces the flower glyphs.
Amount - Specifies the target ratio between flowers and leaf sprouts. Since generation is pseudo-random, the actual ratio may vary slightly.
Compression - Thins the base of the flowers, allowing them to fit more naturally within the inner curves of parent sprouts.
Glyphs from Library - Selects predefined shapes when in Library mode.
Font Glyphs - Input specific characters when in Font mode.
Font - Selects the typeface for character-based flowers.
Rotation - Rotates font glyphs relative to their attachment point on the stem.
Leaf Kind - Selects the geometric shape of the leaves.
Leaf Width - Adjusts the width of the leaves without altering the overall layout.
Leaf Length - Truncates or extends the leaf length.
Curliness - Determines the degree of winding applied to the leaf shapes.
Center Line Length - Adds a decorative center line within the leaves; this is only visible when the leaf width is greater than zero.
The Base is a pre-digitized foundation or "starting ring" used exclusively within the Curly Branching plant mesh. It serves as the physical platform from which the algorithmic sprouts and vines begin their growth.
While a standard fill grows from a single point, a Base allows the plant to grow from a specific structural shape, which is essential for creating symmetrical floral ornaments and wreaths.
Users can combine multiple different bases within a single mesh object. This allows for the creation of highly complex "nested" ornaments:
It is easy to confuse a Base with a Core, but they serve different roles:
Base Sample - Plants can grow from one or more pre-digitized bases. This control selects from available samples.
Bases are accessible only when Growth Kind is set to a rotation or mirror option (excluding core or origin point modes).
Base Size - Scales the pre-digitized base sample.
Base Width - Controls the width of the base ring arranged around the symmetry center (origin point).
Multiple bases can be combined within a single object, allowing for overlapping or intersecting structures.
Two bases combined in a single object.
Three bases combined in a single object.
The designs in this illustration are monochrome; the colors were added only to differentiate bases (red and green) and leaves (violet).
The Core is the central "seed" or starting shape used in Curly Branching plant mesh fills. When the Growth Kind is set to From Core, the software uses the contours of this specific shape as the platform from which all vines, sprouts, and flowers begin to grow.
Unlike a Base, which is typically used for symmetrical ornaments, a Core is used to populate the area around a specific central figure with decorative botanical elements.
The Core functionality is active only when Growth Kind is set to From Core.
Core Kind - Selects the core shape from Font, Library, Holes, or Carvings.
A Font core allows for the creation of ornamented letter glyphs. The Library provides shapes such as coats of arms or geometric figures.
Selecting Holes causes sprouts to grow from the inner contours of the parent mesh object. Carvings function similarly but are linear objects and do not possess an inner area.
Core Scale - Adjusts the size for Font and Library cores. This parameter does not apply to Holes or Carvings, which maintain their original dimensions.
Symmetrical Sprouts - When using a Library glyph core, sprouts can be mirrored horizontally for a symmetrical appearance.