Font Engine Plug-in

Embird Embroidery Software Tutorial

This tutorial explains how to use the Font Engine plug-in for Embird. This plug-in allows you to create lettering from TrueType and OpenType fonts, i.e., from fonts installed in your Windows system. You can even use fonts that are not installed (to save system resources); find more information in the Font Engine Plug-in - Using 'Not Installed' Fonts tutorial. In Font Engine, it is possible to create lettering with satin (auto-column), plain, and motif fills and with thin, satin, and applique outlines.

Note: If you want to use Font Engine, there is no special file to download and install. The Font Engine plug-in is installed together with Embird software. However, you must pay for it if you want to use it. In other words, the registration fee for Embird does not cover the registration of the Font Engine plug-in.

Note: There are no TrueType nor OpenType fonts included in Font Engine. Font Engine is just an engine that is capable of converting these fonts into stitches.

Read the following tutorial to find out how to create lettering in the Font Engine:

1 - Run Embird and click the "Editor" menu to switch to the Editor window.

2 - Select the "Insert > Font Engine Text" menu to create lettering from TrueType or OpenType fonts (Picture No. 1).

1. Select "Insert > Font Engine Text" menu

3 - The Font Engine dialog box will appear on the screen (Picture No. 2). In the "Fonts" box, you can choose the font that will be used for characters. The "Unicode" check box located above the "Fonts" box allows you to switch between "normal" character sets and "Unicode" character sets (usually used for Japanese and Chinese complex fonts). At the right side of the "Fonts" box, you can modify other font properties: Click "B" for bold font and/or "I " for italic effect. After choosing the font, you can type your text into the "Text" box at the bottom of the "Insert" tab.

2. Font Engine window - Insert tab

4 - Click the "Properties" tab to change the size, fill type, outline type, and other properties of the lettering (Picture No. 3). If you want to change more fill and outline parameters, click the "Parameters" button.

3. Font Engine window - Properties tab

5 - Click the "Layout" tab to change the layout parameters of your lettering (Picture No. 4). For example, you can change the baseline, place the text on the other side of the baseline, create a bridge effect by choosing an "Envelope" style, etc.

Note:

There are several points shown on the layout area, allowing you the following:

A. Use red points to move the character along the baseline.

Depress the CTRL key to move only the selected character; otherwise, all characters placed after the selected character will move.

B. Use green points to rotate the character.

Depress the CTRL key to change the angle by 15 degrees.

Depress the ALT key to set the angle to 0 degrees.

C. Use teal points to resize the character, either horizontally or vertically.

Depress the CTRL key to change the size in larger steps.

Depress the ALT key to maintain the aspect ratio of width and height.

D. Use purple points to skew or mirror the character, either horizontally or vertically.

Depress the CTRL key to skew in larger steps.

Depress the ALT key to mirror the selected letter.

Depress the SHIFT key while moving the point to apply the operation to all characters.

Please note that undo/redo/reset operations are available for changes in Layout; use the buttons located below the layout area.

4. Font Engine window - Layout tab

6 - Finally, click the "OK" button to create the lettering and insert it into the Editor window (Picture No. 5).

5. Inserted text

7 - Use the "File > Save As" command to save the whole design to a file on your disk. Specify the format and the file name of the new design in the dialog boxes that appear on the screen.

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