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Studio includes the Trace Tool for the fast conversion of raster images into vector embroidery designs.
The Trace Tool works in a similar way to a selection tool - a magic wand - in graphic programs. It takes a raster image (made of pixels) as its input and performs tracing to convert it into a vector image (made of paths), which can then be used to create the stitch data for machine embroidery.
Using the Trace Tool involves these operations:
This chapter focuses primarily on the description of the Trace Tool controls. A more detailed chapter with a step-by-step tutorial how to use the Trace Tool is available further on.
The user specifies the tolerance threshold of color for the selection of raster pixels, and the simplicity of the created vector object.
Selection is performed by clicking on the picture.
When the selection of one or more raster objects is complete and all parameters and options are set, click the or button from the button bar at the top of the Studio screen, or click the secondary mouse button on the work area to open a pop-up menu with the same options. Raster objects are converted intto vector objects and optionally filled with stitches.
The result is an embroidery design that can include various embroidery styles such as outlines, fills, columns, and sfumato objects.
After conversion, the new objects can be edited like other vector objects in Studio (node by node). When creating an embroidery design, the Trace Tool can be combined with any other tool in Studio.
Like other creation tools in Studio, the Trace Tool can be used with various display modes (Normal, 3D, Flat, etc.).
High image resolution and low gradation of colors are required to create a quality design with the Trace Tool.
Before you start using the Trace Tool, you should choose the embroidery style you want to use. Hold the primary mouse button depressed for about 1 second on the Trace Tool icon (in the Tool Bar).
Icon of the Trace tool
A panel with Trace tool styles will appear.
If you do not need to switch the style, just click the primary mouse button on the Trace tool icon to start Trace mode.
Each style in the panel is represented by its icon. Click the icon of the desired style, and the tool will be activated.
Carving objects must follow after a fill, mesh or sfumato object, as they serve to add texture to those objects. Carvings are not stand-alone objects. The icon of the Carving (in the Trace Tool panel) is grayed out if there is no fill, mesh or sfumato object in the work area.
Most options and parameters, such as color, tolerance, simplicity, edge type, and selection options, are common to all styles.
The first step is to select color areas (objects) from the raster image in the work area of Studio. Click the primary mouse button to select an object.
Selection options allow you to change how the Trace Tool behaves with each selection. It is possible to define whether to make a new selection and discard any existing selection, or to add objects of a different color to the selection, select non-contiguous areas of the same color at once, subtract an object from the selection, or intersect the object with the selection.
The meaning of the Selection options is as follows:
(Only one of the above options can be active at once.)
Automatic Color - if turned ON, the color of the created vector objects is picked from the raster image automatically. You can uncheck this option and click the color box to choose the color from the palette or define your own color for the vector objects.
Tolerance - defines the color similarity range used for the selection of pixels from the raster image. The value of tolerance ranges from 0 to 100. Set a low value to select only pixels of a very similar color, or set a higher value to select pixels with more different colors.
Left side: selection made with lower color Tolerance. Right side: selection made with higher color Tolerance.
Simplicity - defines the complexity/fidelity ratio of the object(s) created with the Trace Tool. The value of simplicity ranges from 0 to 15. Set a lower value to get an object with a high number of nodes and better accuracy. Such an object, however, is harder to edit. For easier editing, set a higher value to obtain an object with lower accuracy and a low number of nodes. The default value of simplicity is 7.
Left side: object vectorized with Simplicity=3. Right side: object vectorized with Simplicity=12.
Edges - the type of edges of the created vector object(s), either straight lines or curves.
When the Trace Tool is active, specific parameters for the respective style are displayed on the main control panel on the side of the Studio window.
Ignore Openings - if the check box "Ignore Openings" is checked, openings (holes) are ignored in the created vector objects. This option is useful for creating an overall vector object without holes, assuming that there will be other objects digitized on top of this one instead of holes. Uncheck the option if you want to retain openings in objects.
Expand Objects - Overlay - enlargement of objects to prevent gaps between adjacent objects caused by the pull effects of the thread.
Besides common parameters and options, outline objects have several specific parameters. They are identical to the parameters accessible via the Outline Parameters window but are duplicated here for easier access.
Minimum Length of Stitch - defines the shortest stitches generated when compiling an Outline object into actual stitches.
Maximum Length of Stitch - defines the longest stitches generated when compiling an Outline object into actual stitches.
Width of the Outline Sample - the width of reference cells along the outline to which the stitches are projected. It is not necessarily the width of the finished outline because the projected stitch sample can be wider or narrower than the reference cells.
Outline Sample - outline samples are stitch patterns repeated along the outline. It is possible to set a Single stitch, Triple stitch, Redwork outline, or choose from several samples listed in the combo box. The user can even create and save up to five "User Defined" samples with the design.
Other parameters of vector objects created with the Trace Tool, such as density, angle of stitches, gradient, etc., can be accessed only after finishing Trace mode, using the Parameters window.