Trace Tool

Using the Trace Tool involves the following operations:

1. Clicking a consistently colored area of a raster image to select those pixels.
2. Converting the selected raster regions into vector objects.
3. Generating stitch fills for the resulting vector objects.

How to Use the Trace Tool

This section provides a technical description of the Trace Tool controls. For a practical, step-by-step guide, please refer to the Trace Tool Tutorial.

The user defines the tolerance threshold for color selection and the simplicity level for the generated vector objects.

Selection is initiated by clicking directly on the image.

Once the selection of one or more raster regions is complete and all parameters are configured, click the Apply or Generate Stitches button in the top toolbar. Alternatively, you may right-click within the Work Area to access these options via the Pop-Up Menu. Raster elements are then converted into vector objects and optionally populated with stitches.

The resulting embroidery design can incorporate various styles, including outlines, fills, columns, and sfumato objects.

Following conversion, the new objects can be edited node-by-node, just like any other vector object in Studio. The Trace Tool can be used in conjunction with any other digitizing tool during the design process.

The Trace Tool is compatible with all Display Modes, including Normal, 3D, and Flat views.

High image resolution and minimal color gradation are recommended to achieve optimal results with the Trace Tool.

Main Features

• Automatic vectorization of individual objects from raster sources.
• Ability to select multiple raster regions for simultaneous conversion and stitch generation.
• Five selection modes: New, Add, Add Similar, Subtract, and Intersection.
• Support for auto-vectorizing outlines, columns, fills, sfumato, and carving objects.
• Adjustable vector simplicity and fidelity settings.
• "Ignore Openings" option for Fill objects to create solid boundaries without internal holes.
• Automatic color assignment based on the source image.
• Choice between curved or straight-line edge segments.
• Undo and redo functionality applicable to the selection process.

Trace Tool Styles

Prior to using the Trace Tool, select the desired embroidery style. To do this, hold the primary mouse button on the Trace Tool icon in the toolbar for approximately one second.

A panel displaying the available Trace Tool styles will appear.

If no style change is required, simply click the Trace Tool icon to activate the current mode.

Pop-up Panel with Trace Tool Styles

Each style is represented by a specific icon. Clicking an icon activates that specific tracing mode.

Carving objects must follow a Fill, Mesh, or Sfumato object, as they provide texture to those parent objects. Carvings are not independent entities; therefore, the Carving icon is disabled if no compatible parent object exists in the Work Area.

Common Options and Parameters

Parameters such as color, tolerance, simplicity, edge type, and selection mode are consistent across all styles.

The initial step is to select color regions from the raster image. Use the primary mouse button to select an area.

Selection options modify how the tool interacts with existing selections. Users can choose to create a new selection, append different colors, select all non-contiguous areas of the same color, subtract areas, or find the intersection.

The Selection options are defined as follows:

(Only one selection mode may be active at a time.)

Automatic Color - When enabled, the software automatically assigns colors to vector objects based on the source image. If disabled, users can manually select a color from the color mixer.

Tolerance - Determines the color similarity range for pixel selection, on a scale from 0 to 100. Lower values select only very similar pixels, while higher values include a broader range of colors.

Left: Selection with low color Tolerance. Right: Selection with high color Tolerance.

Simplicity - Balances the complexity and fidelity of the vectorized object, ranging from 0 to 15. Lower values result in high node density and greater accuracy but make manual editing more difficult. Higher values yield fewer nodes and a smoother path that is easier to refine. The default value is 7.

Left: Object vectorized with Simplicity=3. Right: Object vectorized with Simplicity=12.

Edges - Sets the segment type for the vector objects to either straight lines or curved paths.

Style-Specific Options

When the Trace Tool is active, style-specific parameters are displayed on the main control panel adjacent to the Studio window.

Fill, Mesh, Sfumato, and Column Parameters

Ignore Openings - If enabled, internal holes are omitted from the generated vector objects. This is useful when creating a solid base layer intended to be covered by other objects. Disable this to preserve openings.

Expand Objects - Overlay - Increases the object size slightly to compensate for fabric pull and prevent gaps between adjacent elements.

Outline Parameters

Outline objects include specific parameters for stitch generation. These mirror the settings in the Outline Parameters Window for convenient access.

Minimum Length of Stitch - Sets the shortest allowable stitch generated during compilation.

Maximum Length of Stitch - Sets the longest allowable stitch generated during compilation.

Width of the Outline Sample - Defines the width of the reference cells along the path. Note that the actual finished width depends on the specific stitch pattern applied.

Outline Sample - Determines the repeating stitch pattern, such as Single, Triple, or Redwork. Users may also select from a variety of provided samples or use up to five User Defined samples.

Other Parameters

Additional vector properties, such as stitch density, angle, and gradients, are configured after exiting Trace mode via the Parameters Window.