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Custom Outline Borders

Border is an outline object which is composed of pre-digitized objects (border fragments) instead of common single stitches. Border can have outline of a separate color. There are several pre-defined border fragments available in Studio and user can also define his/her own border fragments. This tutorial will guide you through process of creation of your own border fragments and their use in your embroidery designs.

Outline Borders - examples

Various borders: simple border with 1 column object, complex leaf border with columns and connections, rope border with outline.

How to Digitize Border Sample

Border elements (fragments) are small designs, which are like any other designs created in Studio. Therefore, we will use Studio's main Work Area for creation of border fragments and not some editor window as it is in case of fill pattern or motif creation. Border fragments have some limitations, though, and some Studio controls are disabled during creation of border fragment, therefore.

To start creation of a new border fragment, click on main menu > Design > Border > New Border . Special template for borders will appear in the Work Area and some Studio controls will be disabled.

Please note that border fragment can contain only Column, Column with Pattern, Outline and Connection objects. Tools for creation of other objects are disabled.

Example 1 - Single Column Object

The first border example contains only one column object. Note that object fits into Border Cell window and it begins on left side and ends on right side of the cell. Parallel direction of stitches on beginning and end of fragment ensures contiguous stitching of border and connections between border fragments are not needed in this case.

Template for digitizing of border fragment

Template for digitizing of border fragment

A
Border Strip . Border fragment may exceed edges of Border Cell (B) left or right into the strip area. In such a case, border fragments will overlap.
B
Border Cell . The main body of border fragment is draw here.
C
Start side of border . Exact place of start point or edge of the border fragment. Important to ensure contiguous sewing.
D
End side of border . Exact place of end point or edge of the border fragment. Important to ensure contiguous sewing.
E
Preview of how border fragments fit together
Border fragment in Object Inspector - single column object

Border fragment in Object Inspector - single column object

To set name and default width and height of border fragment, select any object in the Work Area and then use secondary mouse button click to access Parameters Window. Set Comment , Reference Width and Reference Height parameters on the Whole Design Parameters tab.

When creation of border fragment is finished, use main menu > Design > Border > Save Border As to save border to disc. Border is saved as a normal EOF file in compact format without image. If you want to edit border, use main menu > Design > Border > Open Border . Do not use common Design > Open command, because there will be no template for border drawing.

Example 2 - Column Object with Outline

This border fragment contains column object and outline of another color. When compiling to stitches, Studio reorders border objects so that outlines are sewn after all columns and connections. Therefore, it is useful to draw border fragment so that columns sew without a trim and outlines sew without a trim too. Of course, there will be a trim between columns and outlines, because outlines are of different color.

Outline - short rope border

Short rope border.

Elements of rope border in Object Inspector

Elements of rope border in Object Inspector. Colors are sorted. There is a trim before outlines.

Column object is drawn so that it exceeds the boundaries of the cell on left and right side. This is because the elements of rope should overlap to prevent gaps in stitching. Because of the overlap, there must be connection object before column object to ensure contiguous stitching of columns. Place beginning of connection anywhere, Studio will align it to previous column when compiling all border fragments. End of connection must be connected to column object.

Rope border fragment is composed of connection, column and outline

Rope fragment is composed of connection, column and outline

Rope border fragment in Object Inspector

Rope fragment in Object Inspector

Contour is drawn so that its beginning is aligned to end of previous border fragment contour, if you imagine several border fragments lined up one after another. See below picture how the the contour is drawn to make two or three layers of stitches and to position beginning and end properly.

Outline of rope border fragment allows contiguous connection

Contour of rope fragment allows contiguous connection. Start point is (S) and end point is (E).

Part of rope border contour has 3 layers of stitches and the rest has 2 layers.

Part of contour has 3 layers of stitches and the rest has 2 layers.

Example 3 - Column Objects with Connections

In this example the border fragment contains columns and connections . The most important is placement of first and last connection, because they allow contiguous stitching of border. First connection begins on left side of the cell and last connection ends on the opposite side of the cell. The rest of connections serve only for normal connection of column objects within the fragment.

Border fragment with columns and connections Border fragment with columns and connections in Object Inspector

How to Utilize Border Samples

If Studio is still in creation of border fragment mode, save border to disc and start a normal new design with use of main menu > Design > New or open any of your existing designs.

To make custom border fragments available in Parameters window when digitizing design, you have to assign them to User Borders list in Fragment Editors window.

Use main menu > Gadgets > Fragment Editors command and select User Borders . Click to focus any of 5 user defined border samples and load your own sample from the disc. Close the Fragment Editors window .

User Borders Palette
A
List of Editors . Select User Borders Item
B
Buttons to Reset, Cancel or Apply changes.
C
Focused Border . Open Border and Reset Border commands from pop-up menu are applied to the focused border.
D
Pop-up Menu Button . Use pop-up menu to access Load Border and Reset Border commands.
E
Splitter

Now your border fragments are linked to design file and they are available in borders list of Outline Parameters window . You can use them for Outline objects in your design.

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