Font Engine Plug-in - Parameters of Text

Embird Embroidery Software Tutorial

This tutorial explains how to adjust fill and outline parameters of Font Engine text.

1. Parameters of Lettering Fill

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 and OpenType fonts installed on your computer (Picture No. 1).

1. Select "Insert > Font Engine Text" menu

3 - Type your text into the "Text" box at the bottom of the "Insert" tab (Picture No. 2).

2. Type in your text

4 - Select the "Properties" tab and set the size of characters in the "Size" box (Picture No. 3).

Tip: Uncheck the "Keep ratio" box if you do not want to keep the aspect ratio, but want to set the width and height independently.

5 - Choose the fill type and outline type for lettering in the "Characters" box (Picture No. 3).

3. Choose fill and outline type

There are several fill and outline types available there, allowing you to create many lettering combinations:

Fill options:

No fill - The interior of each character is empty, so the lettering consists only of outlines.

Plain fill - The default plain fill is Fill 1, but different fill patterns can be selected by the user in the Parameters dialog box.

Auto Column - Characters are filled by columns of satin stitches.

Motif fill - Characters are filled with simple stitches forming a motif instead of dense parallel stitches.

Outline options:

No outline - Lettering is not outlined.

Sketch - The outline resembles very flat satin stitches. It can be used for outlines that are thicker than a running stitch outline and thinner than the narrowest possible satin stitch outline.

Sample - The chosen pattern is repeated along the outline.

Satin outline - A zig-zag outline of constant width similar to column objects.

Border - The outline is composed of pre-digitized objects. It can have outlines of a separate color.

Appliqué outline - The outline contains tack-down stitches of a separate color to stitch appliqué fabric to the underlying fabric.

Click the "Parameters" button; this will display a dialog box in which you can modify more settings (Picture No. 4). In this dialog box, the Fill icon (the left one below the "Parameters" button) shows the page containing the parameters of the fill, and the Outline icon (the right one below the "Parameters" button) shows the page containing the parameters of the outline.

Click the "Fill" icon and choose another type of fill (the default is "Fill 1"). For example, choose the "Cusped Lines" fill (Picture No. 4).

4. Select plain fill pattern

Note: The lettering size must be large enough; otherwise, the fill pattern might be indistinguishable. Choose a lettering height of at least 2.5 cm (or 1 inch) to make the fill pattern noticeable (Picture No. 5).

5. Lettering with "Cusped Lines" fill pattern

1.1 Plain Fill

The other parameters of the plain fill, such as pull compensation, density, angle of stitches, etc., are:

Pull Compensation is the extension of each stitch on the edge of an object to compensate for thread pull (on elastic fabric) or sinkage (on fleece). Thread pull and sinkage cause the object to be smaller (narrower) than intended. The normal value for pull compensation is 1 or 2. Use higher values (3, 4, or 5) for elastic fabric or fleece. These values are displayed in tenths of a millimeter (1/10 mm).

Density defines the distance between zig-zag stitches in tenths of a millimeter (i.e., a value of 4 means 0.4 mm). The higher the number you specify, the lower the density and the fewer stitches you obtain.

Angle of fill stitches is changed by clicking on the circular angle indicator.

Scale function is intended for enlarging or shrinking the pattern of the fill motif.

Gradient affects the distance between rows of stitches or motifs within an object. If the density is 4.0 and the gradient is 30.0, for example, the distance between rows will graduate from 0.2 mm to 15 mm according to the set Gradient Type (Gradient Type box).

Effect. Plain Fill and Motif Fill may be combined with additional effects like Wave, Contour fill, Radial fill, Square fill, and Rounded fill. Parameters of Wave can be adjusted by clicking on the wave control or by pressing the mouse button on parameter values. Wave parameters define the curve of fill rows. Radial, Square, and Rounded fill effects create stitches in a spiral starting from the 'Focus Point' of the object.

Random Broadening defines the maximum random prolongation of column stitches to the side. This creates a ragged edge effect on lettering.

Random Shift randomizes the pattern to allow the user to create fur-like effects, for example.

Edge Walk Underlay helps to create sharp edges for the fill.

Zig-Zag Underlays stabilize the fabric with a grid of loose stitches before sewing the higher-density cover stitches.

The angles of underlays can be set here. To change the angle, click on the circular angle indicator or press the mouse button on the angle value.

Note 1: Click the "Parameters" button at the top of the window to switch ON the Show More Parameters option. The "Show More Parameters" option must be ON to allow the user to adjust the angles and densities of zig-zag underlays. If the "Show More Parameters" option is OFF, the angles of the zig-zag underlay are adjusted automatically according to the angle of the cover stitches.

6. Click "Parameters > Show More Parameters"

Note 2: The Edge and both Zig-Zag underlays can usually be turned ON for all Plain Fill objects because the Font Engine ignores these underlays on small letters. Turn them OFF if you need to decrease the stitch count and/or the fabric is firm and does not need stabilization.

7. Underlay parameters

Complete row if density above option defines the density below which the last point on each row of stitches is omitted. If the last point is not omitted, the result would be stitches that may be too small on the edge of the fill. This parameter is visible only if the "Show More Parameters" option is ON.

1.2 Auto Column

Auto Column - Characters are filled by columns of satin stitches (Picture No. 8).

8. Use auto-column fill type for narrow or smaller characters

Note: It is not recommended to use satin stitches (auto column) longer than 1.2 cm (12 mm) - the widest part of a letter should not be thicker than 12 mm. A satin stitch longer than 12 mm is replaced with a jump stitch and a short running stitch. Jump stitches are not shown in the 3D preview, so gaps appear in the text preview (Picture No. 9). The embroidery machine will sew these jump stitches, but they might be too loose. It is recommended to use plain fill in this case (Picture No. 10).

9. Auto-column fill type applied to large characters

10. Use plain fill type for thick or large characters

The other parameters of the auto-column fill type (see Picture No. 11 below) are:

Pull Compensation is the extension of each stitch on the edge of an object to compensate for thread pull (on elastic fabric) or sinkage (on fleece). Thread pull causes the ends of stitches to be pulled inwards, making the object smaller (narrower) than intended.

Density defines the distance between zig-zag stitches in tenths of a millimeter (i.e., a value of 4 means 0.4 mm). The higher the number you specify, the lower the density and the fewer stitches you obtain. If the column object forms a bend, the distance on the inner curve is lower.

Auto Select Column Underlay check box allows the user to switch off the automatic program decision on what type of underlay will be used for the object. Then the Center, Edge, and Zig-Zag check boxes allow the user to choose which underlays will be used for the object. The Density parameter indicates the density of the zig-zag underlay. These parameters are visible only if the "Show More Parameters" option is ON.

Use pattern option determines whether the Auto Column uses the pattern set in the Plain Fill pattern combo box or not. If it is switched OFF, the column stitches are without a pattern.

1.3 Motif Fill

Motif fill - Characters are filled with simple stitches forming a motif instead of dense parallel stitches (Picture No. 11).

11. Motif fill parameters

The other parameters of the motif fill type (see Picture No. 12 below) are:

Shift defines the movement of motifs in each row with respect to the previous row.

Scale parameter determines the size of the motif and consequently the length of the fill stitches.

Distant Motif Rows Jumps (if loose density) defines whether a jump (trim) or connection is inserted between distant rows of motifs or stitches.

This parameter is visible only if the "Show More Parameters" option is ON.

Density is the distance between motif rows measured in tenths of a millimeter (i.e., a density of 160 means 16 mm distance between 2 rows).

Pull Compensation is the extension of each stitch on the edge of an object to compensate for thread pull (on elastic fabric) or sinkage (on fleece). Thread pull and sinkage cause the object to be smaller (narrower) than intended. The normal value for pull compensation is 1 or 2. Use higher values (3, 4, or 5) for elastic fabric or fleece. These values are displayed in tenths of a millimeter (1/10 mm).

Angle of fill stitches is changed by clicking on the circular angle indicator.

Gradient affects the distance between rows of stitches or motifs within an object. If the density is 4.0 and the gradient is 30.0, for example, the distance between rows will graduate from 0.2 mm to 15 mm according to the set Gradient Type (Gradient Type box).

Effect. Plain Fill and Motif Fill may be combined with additional effects like Wave, Contour fill, Radial fill, Square fill, and Rounded fill. Parameters of Wave can be adjusted by clicking on the wave control or by pressing the mouse button on parameter values. Wave parameters define the curve of fill rows. Radial, Square, and Rounded fill effects create stitches in a spiral starting from the 'Focus Point' of the object.

12. Lettering with motif fill pattern

2. Parameters of Lettering Outline

6 - Choose the outline type for lettering in the "Characters" box (Picture No. 3 above). The default setting is "Sample" outline, Single Stitch.

Click the "Parameters" button; this will display a dialog box in which you can modify more settings (Picture No. 13). In this dialog box, the Fill icon (the left one below the "Parameters" button) shows the page containing the parameters of the fill, and the Outline icon (the right one below the "Parameters" button) shows the page containing the parameters of the outline.

Click the "Outline" icon to switch to the page containing the parameters of outlines (Picture No. 13).

13. Click "Parameters" button, then "Outline" icon

2.1 Sketch Outline

Sketch - This outline resembles very flat satin stitches. It can be used for outlines that are thicker than a running stitch outline and thinner than the narrowest possible satin stitch outline (Picture No. 14, Picture No. 15).

14. Select "Sketch" outline

15. Lettering with "Sketch" outline

2.2 Samples Outline

Samples - The chosen pattern is repeated along the outline (Picture No. 16, Picture No. 17).

16. Select "Sample" outline

17. Lettering with "Sample > Greek 1" outline

The other parameters of Sketch and Samples outline are:

Width - This parameter is common for all five outline types. Width is 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. The higher the value you adjust, the thicker the outline you get.

Min. Length and Max. Length - When the user changes the sample, the program automatically sets these two parameters together with the width to the default values for this sample. However, the user can change these parameters.

2.3 Satin Outline

Satin outline can be used to create a zig-zag outline of constant width similar to column objects (Picture No. 18).

18. Lettering with "Satin" outline

2.4 Border Outline

Border is composed of pre-digitized objects. It can have outlines of a separate color (Picture No. 19, Picture No. 20).

19. Select "Border" outline

20. Lettering with "Border > Rope 1" outline

2.5 Applique outline

Applique outline contains tack-down stitches of a separate color to stitch applique fabric to the underlying fabric. The program automatically sets the "No fill" option when the user selects the Applique outline (Picture No. 21, Picture No. 22).

21. Select "Applique" outline

22. Lettering with "Applique" outline

The other parameters of Satin, Border and Applique outlines are:

Density parameter defines the maximum distance between stitch samples. If the Outline object forms a bend, the distance on the inner side is lower.

Pull Compensation is the extension of each stitch on the edge of the object in order to compensate for thread pull (on elastic fabric) or sinkage (on fleece). The thread pull causes the ends of stitches to be pulled inwards, making the object smaller (narrower) than intended.

Auto Select Underlay check box allows the user to switch off the automatic program decision on what type of underlay will be used for the object. The Center, Edge and Zig-Zag check boxes allow the user to choose which underlays will be used for the object. The Density parameter indicates the density of the zig-zag underlay.

Border sample length defines the size of samples along the outline.

Tip: You can save the adjusted fill and outline parameters as default. Click the "Parameters" button located at the top of the parameters dialog box and select the "Save as Default" menu. Parameters are saved as default separately for fill (Picture No. 23) and for outline (Picture No. 24). The "Reset Default" function serves to erase settings saved as default and return to the original settings (plain fill-fill1, sample outline-single stitch).

23. Save as default - Fill parameters

24. Save as default - Outline parameters

7 - The "Fill exterior" option allows you to create empty characters surrounded with fill (Picture No. 25). The adjustable border of the exterior fill is measured in tenths of millimeters. The fill is outlined with the selected outline (Picture No. 26, Picture No. 27).

25. Fill exterior

Lettering created with "Fill exterior" option and "Floating stitches" connection type (see "Insert" tab in Picture no. 2)

26. Fill exterior, Floating stitches

Lettering created with "Fill exterior" option and "Floating stitches (solid)" connection type (see "Insert" tab in Picture no. 2)

27. Fill exterior, Floating stitches (solid)

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