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Sfumato Stitch is a specialized digitizing tool that generates embroidery designs directly from photos. It utilizes vector boundaries to define objects, which the software then fills with stitches based on the tonal values of the underlying image.
This tutorial details the Color Mask feature within Embird Studio NEXT. It covers advanced techniques for digitizing images with intricate color distributions by utilizing stacked layers and mask ranges. Additionally, it demonstrates how to use color masks to isolate subjects and eliminate backgrounds to create clean, single-color embroidery.
This photo contains multiple distinct color regions with complex shapes that are difficult to digitize individually.
While digitizing individual vector objects is effective for subjects like portraits, it is impractical for photos containing numerous small, interlocking color areas. The Color Mask feature is designed for these complex scenarios where drawing every detail manually is too time-consuming.
By creating a single large Sfumato object and applying a mask, you can isolate specific color ranges to be stitched. To cover the entire design, you simply stack identical object layers, assigning a different mask (color range) to each layer. This streamlined workflow eliminates the need for complex manual digitizing of small vector shapes.
A simple rectangular Sfumato object.
Sfumato tool
Select the Sfumato Tool to define the area for stitch generation. When utilizing masks, you may simply draw a large rectangle covering the entire target area.
Detailed descriptions of all Sfumato parameters are available in the Parameters-Sfumato chapter.
If you have already exited the digitizing mode, return to node editing mode. In this mode, the Main Control Panel displays the object parameters while the Work Area displays the object itself. This configuration is essential as it allows for real-time Shade Previews within the workspace.
Access mask controls via the tab featuring this icon.
For an image containing green background and orange and yellow flowers, three masks are required. Set the Mask Count to 3. Use the eyedropper tool to sample the colors directly from the photo: Mask Color 1 (orange), Mask Color 2 (yellow), and Mask Color 3 (green). The order of colors is up to your decision. Because of thread and fabric physics, it is better to sew from the center of the design outwards towards its edges, but the layout of colors in this picture does not allow for it.
Three masks defined with Mask no. 1 currently active.
When sampling mask colors, the software automatically generates corresponding thread shades. These can be manually overridden to match specific thread catalogs.
Note: The darkest shade (Shade 1 - black) is exclusive to the first mask; all subsequent masks share this common base shade.
Balance the interaction between masks using the Range controls. Use the Shade Preview to visualize exactly how the color boundaries shift as you adjust these values. Once satisfied, activate the switch for the first color range you intend to stitch.
Shade Preview shows the balance between orange, yellow, and green ranges. The orange section shows its 5 detailed shades because it is the active mask. Other colors appear flat as they are currently inactive in this specific object layer.
If a color region is small or uniform, you may deactivate specific shades to reduce the total thread count and production time.
Additionally, reducing the Fidelity setting will lower the stitch count. For floral or organic designs, lower fidelity often yields excellent results while significantly reducing short stitches.
The Style parameter controls the texture of the stitch coverage. For the flowers in this example, Style 3 is utilized to provide a richer, more saturated color through higher stitch density in the highlight areas.
Click the button. Only the portion of the object defined by the active mask will be filled with stitches.
The first layer containing the orange color range.
Select the object, then use Copy and Paste it two times to create a two duplicate layers. In the Object Inspector, you will now see multiple identical Sfumato objects stacked in the sequence.
Select the next object in the Object Inspector and enter node editing mode. In the parameters panel, activate Mask 2 (yellow) and generate stitches.
Mask 2 is activated.
The second layer containing the yellow color range.
Repeat this process for the third object, activating Mask 3 (green) and generating its stitches.
Mask 3 is activated.
The third layer containing the green color range.
Each object layer now operates with its own independent mask, resulting in a perfectly segmented multi-color design.
The three Sfumato layers combined to form the full design.
Final object sequence in the Object Inspector.
Once stitches are generated for all objects, save your work as a Studio *.EOF file. Use the Main Menu > Design > Compile and Put into Embird Modder command to transfer the design to the Modder for final export into your machine's specific format. Use the Main Menu > Design > Compile and Put into Embird Editor command to transfer the design to the Editor for final export into your machine's specific format.
The Color Mask can also be used to selectively exclude backgrounds, even when they occupy the same tonal space as the subject.
Original line art with a white background.
Background shifted to yellow to create chromatic contrast.
Sfumato Masks identify color based on chromatic components, ignoring brightness. Because pure black and white are both viewed as neutral/gray, they cannot always be separated by the mask alone.
To fix this, use Background Filters to shift the hue of the background. By adjusting the Yellow-Blue balance in the Highlights tab, a white background can be converted to yellow without affecting the black lines of the subject.
Note: Ensure you are applying filters to the correct tonal range (Shadows, Midtones, or Highlights) to achieve the intended effect.
Define two masks: Mask 1 (black) and Mask 2 (yellow). Set the active mask to Mask 1. To create a true single-color design, deactivate all thread shades except for the darkest black.
Upon generating stitches, the software will ignore the yellow background entirely, producing a crisp, single-color embroidery.
Mask 1 (black) activated while Mask 2 (yellow) is excluded.
Final single-color design with the background successfully eliminated.