Posterization of Image

Studio provides a tool for posterization of raster images. It is accessible via the main menu > Image > Tools > Posterize command.

Instead of showing every subtle variation in color or brightness (like in a photo), a posterized image simplifies those variations into a few distinct levels - it is similar to turning a photo into a paint-by-number picture.

Image Preprocessing

A raster image placed in the background of the Work Area is typically used as a template to digitize an embroidery design from. Preprocessing the image can significantly speed up the digitizing process, especially for complex designs with many colors.

One possible approach is to flatten image colors using so-called posterization and thus get a clear idea of the final thread count and their layout.

Posterization merges adjacent pixels of similar color, which results in simplification of the image. The amount of posterization can be adjusted with the Amount control.

Original raster image - full color scale. We have to decide how many thread colors to use and how to place them.

Preprocessed raster image - posterized areas of similar colors.

Preview

Click the Preview button to check how posterization with the current settings will look. The preview will appear on a secondary work area on the main control panel. The preview area allows you to zoom in and out and scroll or pan the preview.

The preview area displays a mask until the Preview button is clicked for the first time. A mask is a black-and-white picture generated from selected vector objects. Black means areas to be processed. White means excluded areas.

Mask

It is not necessary to convert the whole image at once. Studio allows you to use common fill vector objects as a mask to mark areas of the image for posterization. If you want to convert only part of the image, first draw fill or column objects on top of the image and select them. Then launch the posterization tool. The image will be converted only underneath the selected objects, which serve as a temporary mask and may be deleted after the image conversion.

Posterization applied inside an area masked by a vector object. The rest of the image is untouched.

Note: you can use a Trace Tool to create complex mask objects easily.

Note: another way to simplify image colors is to use a Color Reduction tool.