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3D Warp is used with Motif Fill to create three dimensional effects. You can make shapes appear concave or convex using Globe In or Globe Out. You can also create distance effects using Perspective.
A salt or ester of acetic acid of cellulose made into a synthetic filament, yarn, or fabric.
A fixed point used when rotating, scaling, skewing or mirroring a design.
Decoration or trimming cut from one piece of fabric and stitched to another to add dimension and texture. Designs with appliqué can be more economical than embroidery alone, if appliqué occupies a significant amount of the design, thereby lowering stitch count. In Schiffli embroidery, appliqué refers to an embroidered motif, hand-cut or aetzed away from base fabric.
A device that can cut fabric along a line, somewhat like old pen plotters. It requires a vector file as input. In MS Windows® they can be set up as a type of printer device.
Bitmap image or vector graphic used as a digitizing template. See also Bitmap image and Vector graphic.
Auto Appliqué is an embroidery object associated with an appliqué which provides automatic stitching to place it, tack it down, and cover its edges.
Auto Center automatically centers the start and end points of a design.
Toolset used to create embroidery designs by automatically digitizing electronic images. Auto-digitizing tools convert vector outlines or bitmap images to fully digitized embroidery with little or no intervention. See also Auto-Digitizing.
The Auto Scroll feature automatically scrolls the screen while you are digitizing.
Auto Spacing only affects Satin stitch. It adjusts stitch spacing according to column width.
Auto Split only affects Satin stitch. When applied, it breaks any long Satin stitches into shorter ones. It also distributes needle penetrations in a random pattern so that they do not form a line in the middle of the shape. Used primarily to prevent long stitches in wide columns, it can also be used as an alternative to Tatami fill. Auto Split looks more Satin-like and works well with turning stitches, creating soft lines and a little more depth.
Before stitching, some embroidery machines require you to position the starting needle exactly above the first needle penetration point. Use Auto Start and End to connect the first and last stitches in the design. This makes it easy to position the needle before stitching, and reduces the chance of the needle hitting the side of the frame.
Sharp points in a shape may cause a bunching of stitches and needle penetrations which can create a hard spot in the embroidery and may damage the fabric or needle.
Embroidery stitches pull the fabric inwards where the needle penetrates. This can cause the fabric to pucker, and gaps to appear in the embroidery. Automatic pull compensation counters this effect by ‘overstitching’ outlines of filled shapes on the sides where the needle penetrates. This means the design can be optimized for different fabrics. See also Pull compensation.
Reduces stitch bunching at sharp corners. See also Stitch shortening.
An electronic image used as a guide for digitizing designs on screen. Two types are used – vector or bitmap. Insert them from various file sources, or copy and paste them via the MS Windows® clipboard.
Hatch Embroidery lets you change the background color of the design window to match the color of your fabric. Or you can select a background fabric for more realistic previews and presentations. The background is saved with the colorway.
Also known as ‘stabilizers’, backings are woven or non-woven materials placed beneath the item or fabric being embroidered for stability and support. A backing can be hooped with the item or placed between the machine throat plate and hooped garment. The more stitches a design has, the heavier the backing required. Backings are available in various weights and types such as cut-away, tear-away and wash-away (soluble). Professional embroiderers use tear-away stabilizers for woven fabrics and cut-away stabilizers for knits. See also Topping.
Backstitch is a stitch type which can be used for delicate outlines. This stitch follows intricate curves well. It is also is the term used for every second row of stitches in a tatami fill.
Use Backtrack and Repeat to reinforce outlines while specifying the direction of the stitching. Backtrack stitches in reverse direction to the original. It is typically used to make run stitch outlines thicker without creating unwanted connecting stitches. Repeat duplicates the original stitch direction and is typically used with closed shapes.
The copying of files onto floppy disk or other storage media in order to duplicate and secure data. Usually two copies are made and kept separately.
Also known as raster images, bitmaps are electronic images made up of dots or ‘pixels’, in contrast to vector ‘outlines’. Each pixel is mapped to a location in an image and has numerical color values. Typically created in paint programs, bitmaps have file extensions such as BMP, JPG, GIF, TIF and PCX. When enlarged or scaled down, vector drawings preserve image quality while bitmap images generally cause problems of pixelation and image degradation. See also Pixels.
Blackwork gets its name from the black silk thread traditionally used in this form of embroidery. It can be used to decorate articles such as hankies, table napkins, table clothes, and doilies.
Widely used for tacking down appliqués as a decorative border. The stitches form a comb pattern.
MS Windows® bitmap image format. See also Bitmap.
Spool or reel that holds the bobbin thread, which helps form stitches on the underside of the fabric.
This factor provides a simple mechanism for a more accurate bobbin thread length estimate. The default value (100%) is suitable for a design with a mixture of stitch types. If the design is all run stitches or all tatami, more bobbin thread will be used and the factor can be increased say to 125%. If the design is all satin stitch, the factor can be reduced to say 65%.
Single closed-curve object which can be optionally added to a monogram. Also, a strip of fabric that is joined to an inner quilt to enhance it.
The Branching feature lets you digitize like objects – e.g. the fingers of a hand – without having to think about the most efficient stitching sequence and joins.
A traditional white-on-white embroidery technique, usually done on white linen or cotton fabric with heavy cotton threads.
The object will be placed with its center at the needle position marker.
Center Run underlay places a row of stitches along the center of a column. It is used to stabilize narrow columns (e.g. 2-3 mm wide).
A small square box that appears in a dialog box and that can be selected or cleared. When selected, a tick or a cross appears. A checkbox represents an option that you can set.
Click to select, hold down the left mouse button, move the cursor and release.
A temporary storage area in PC memory for what was last cut or copied. Images on the clipboard can be pasted into designs any number of times.
Digitizing technique which creates interesting perspective, shading and color effects by blending colored layers. Two colors are merged smoothly from one to another using a mixture of dense and open fill.
A color block or ‘element’ corresponds to a color change in the design. It may be comprised of one or more same-color objects. These may form a single group – e.g. ‘ropes’ – or more – e.g. ‘ropes and birds’. Each color block, or element, can be given a descriptive name for easy identification. These then appear on the production worksheet. The operator generally uses them to ensure correct colors are used during production. The Color-Object List provides a sequential list of objects as digitized, grouped by ‘color block’. This list shows a separate icon for all color blocks and objects used in the design. The Color Palette Editor also shows a list of color blocks.
Color depth, also called ‘pixel depth’, refers to the amount of color information available to each pixel in an image. An image with a color depth of 1-bit can display only two colors. As the color depth increases, more colors are available – 16 Colors (4 bit), 256 Colors (8 bit), High Color (16 bit), True Color (24 bit).
Narrow, long, curving shape.
An instruction issued to the software in order to carry out an action. It may be as simple as ‘paste an object’ or as complex as ‘regenerate stitches’. It is usually activated via a menu item, toolbar icon, or command button in a dialog.
A message displayed by the software asking you if you are sure you want to proceed – e.g. when you want to delete a design.
Connector stitches link objects in a design. They can be run stitches or jumps. You can use automatic settings to generate connectors, trims and tie-offs, or add them manually.
To place a copy of a selection onto the clipboard. See also Duplicate.
The panel on an embroidery machine by which the operator sets up the machine for embroidery production.
Control points are used to modify object shapes, stitch angles and entry and exit points. You can change the shape of an object by moving, adding or deleting control points on the outline. For most objects, you can also change control points from corner points to curves.
Contour is a curved fill stitch type – stitches follow the contours of a shape, creating a curved, light and shade effect. It only works on columnar shapes.
A right granted by the government or by international agreement giving the owner the exclusive privilege to publish and sell artistic work during the life of the creator plus 50 years.
Cover stitch is the border around an appliqué shape. You can control various settings including cover stitch type – Satin or E Stitch – width, stitch spacing, as well as the offset.
Current property settings override the template defaults. Unless you deliberately change them, these take the default values. You generally change them to save time when digitizing. For example, you may preset Tatami stitch spacing to use a specific density for all new Tatami objects you create. See also Object properties.
See Appliqué cutter.
A second line of run stitches that forms a guide when trimming the fabric of an appliqué patch.
predefined settings which determine object properties such as stitch spacing, as well as certain system settings. These are stored in the design template. They are automatically applied to any newly created objects. They remain ‘current’ unless you override them with new settings. See also Current property settings.
A ‘design’ is a file in the native embroidery format – e.g. EMB, JAN, ART – of embroidery digitizing software. The design source may be a stitch format design. The design contains stitching information such as fabric type in addition to stitched shapes.
The design colors toolbar contains a selection of thread colors tailored for each design. This color scheme, or ‘colorway’, represents the actual thread colors in which a design will be stitched. See also Thread chart.
The decorative design components that make up a monogram (including ornaments and borders).
Design files, also known as ‘all-in-one’ or ‘outline’ files, are high-level formats which contain object outlines, object properties and stitch data. Examples include CND and GNC. When you open a design file in Hatch Embroidery, corresponding stitch types, input methods and effects are applied. Design files can be scaled, transformed and reshaped without affecting stitch density or quality. See also Machine file.
Designs themselves have properties, some of which can be modified, others not. The most important design property is its source – Native Design, Imported Outlines, Processed Stitches, or Imported Stitches. Other properties include the software version number, stitch count, and so on. Colorways too are properties of the whole design.
While embroidery files are broadly classified as ‘design’ (outline) or ‘machine’ (stitch), Hatch Embroidery internally tags files as belonging to one of four types–Native Design, Imported Outlines, Processed Stitches, or Imported Stitches. See also Design information.
See Template.
The window where designs are displayed for viewing, creation or modification.
MS Windows® terminology for the screen background on which program icons are displayed.
The folder where you intend to copy or move one or more files.
An outline, a border, or a small area of the design you want to be stitched out last when using auto-digitizing tools.
An onscreen box that either requests or provides information. Many dialogs present options to choose among before a command is carried out. Some dialogs present warnings or explain why a command cannot be completed.
Usually refers to the person punching or digitizing the design. Digitizer can also refer to the digitizing tablet used by the digitizer. See also Digitizing tablet.
Process of encoding a design. Artwork is converted into a series of ‘embroidery objects’ to be read and manipulated by a specialist CAD/CAM application. Before outputting to embroidery machine, it is converted into ‘stitch data’.
Digitizing tools, sometimes referred to as ‘input methods’, are similar to drawing tools except that the end result is an embroidery object rather than a vector object. Different digitizing tools are suited to creating different shapes or design elements.
DTG is performed like most other printing from a PC. The print image is sent to the DTG printer through the MS Windows® print manager using a print driver. The image must have a transparent background for DTG printing. DTG printing requires heat fixing to make the images washable.
See Floppy disk.
Computers usually have three types of disk drive: a hard disk (or fixed disk) which usually supports the mass storage of information and applications, a floppy disk drive, and a CD ROM drive.
A screen used to display the output of a computer. Also known as the monitor.
A dialog which, while open, allows the user to select objects freely. Controls in the dialog change to conform to the values of selected objects, or show relevant system information when no object is selected. Changes made to settings in the dialog may be applied while it remains open. Other dialogs and commands may be opened and used while the modeless dialog remains open.
A measurement of screen or printer resolution, the number of dots in a line of 1".
Click the left mouse button twice without moving the mouse. Double-clicking carries out actions such as opening a program from an icon.
The process of transferring a copy of a file from a remote computer or the internet to a computer or other device such as an embroidery machine.
An operation of the mouse. Holding the (left) mouse button while moving the mouse. Typically used for moving something on the screen.
See Vector object.
Software application that creates or allows you to edit vector graphics made up of separate individual vector objects. Vector graphics can be scaled with no loss of sharpness. Examples of vector editing programs are Adobe Illustrator, MacroMedia Freehand and Corel Draw. See also Graphics application.
A single-line dialog box control that opens to display a list of choices.
When an object is duplicated, it is not copied to the clipboard. This leaves the clipboard free for you to cut or copy other objects.
Changing aspects of a design via a computerized editing program. Most programs allow you to scale designs up or down, edit stitch-by-stitch or block-by-block, merge lettering with the design, move aspects of the design around, combine designs and insert or edit machine commands.
There are two broad categories of artwork file, both of which can be imported into Hatch Embroidery for use as digitizing backdrops – vector and bitmap. To create good quality embroidery, you need to choose or create suitable artwork of either format.
An element, in software terms, is a color block consisting of sequential, same-color objects. You can assign names to elements which then appear on the production worksheet. The operator generally uses these to make sure colors are correct during production. See also Production worksheet.
Design file format native to Wilcom ES. EMB designs contain a complete set of design information in a single ‘all-in-one’ file – object outlines and properties, actual stitches and machine functions, thread colors, a picture icon, summary information, and more. Even the original design bitmap image can be included in EMB format. Only native EMB files provide 100% perfect scaling and transformation.
Decorative stitching on fabric. Generally involves non-lettering designs, but can also include lettering and/or monograms. Evidence of embroidery exists during the reign on Egyptian pharaohs, in the writings of Homer and from the Crusaders of the 12th century. Has evolved from hand-work to manual sewing machines and from hand-looms and Schiffli machines with hundreds of needles to high-speed, computerized multihead machines.
In embroidery design, you build designs from basic shapes or ‘embroidery objects’. They are called ‘objects’ because they are discrete entities which can be selected and manipulated independently of each other. They are like ordinary vector objects in that they have certain characteristics or ‘properties’ such as color, size, position, and so on. They also have properties unique to embroidery such as stitch type and density. See also Vector objects.
See Thread.
The entry point is the point where the thread enters the embroidery object. This should coincide with the exit point of the preceding object.
A standard file format for importing and exporting PostScript language files among applications in a variety of environments. An ESP file is a PostScript file which describes a single page, usually an illustration. In general, the purpose of the EPS file is to be included (encapsulated) in another PostScript file and can contain any combination of text, graphics and images. EPS files normally include a small, low-resolution TIFF, or vector-based MS Windows® metafile image preview, as it will appear on a printed page.
The exit point is the point where thread leaves the embroidery object. This should coincide with the entry point of the next object.
Fabrics have many properties, the main one being elasticity or ‘fabric stretch’. Surface texture, if present, is another property that requires different underlay types. When you choose a fabric for use with a particular design, the system pre-loads settings optimized for that fabric. These can be overridden on an object-by-object basis. See also Fabric settings.
predefined fabric settings include settings for all full-coverage stitch types. For each stitch type, spacing is preset. Additionally, the quality effects of pull compensation and underlay are also preset for each stitch type. Push, warping, and shearing are reduced by suitable underlay for the stitch type and fabric. Decorative effects such as Motif Fill are not affected when fabric settings are changed.
Embroidery stitches pull the fabric inwards where the needle penetrates. This can cause the fabric to pucker, and gaps to appear in the embroidery. Use automatic pull compensation to counter this effect by ‘overstitching’ outlines of filled shapes.
See Topping.
These are the initial system settings as installed. They are a standard known setting that you can return to. Some customers want to create custom settings tailored to the exact fabric they are using most frequently. The ‘My Fabric’ settings are those retained in the design and can be saved to the template file.
A named collection of specifically related information stored on a disk. Designs that have been saved are stored as files.
The dot and three letters at the end of a filename such as ‘.BMP’. The extension identifies the file as a certain type, readable by certain applications.
The name of a file, including the extension, e.g. Cat.BMP.
Series of running stitches commonly used to cover large areas. Different fill patterns can be created by altering the angle, length and repeat sequence of the stitches. Also known as Geflect stitch.
Processes done after embroidery is completed. Includes trimming loose threads, cutting or tearing away excess backing, removing facing or topping, cleaning any stains, pressing or steaming to remove wrinkles or hoop marks and packaging for sale or shipment.
Up and down motion of fabric under action of the needle, so named because of its resemblance to a waving flag. Often caused by improper framing of goods. Flagging may result in poor registration, unsatisfactory stitch formation and birdnesting.
Longer-than-normal Satin stitches that lay on top of a design, or the stitches made when the needle is disconnecting from the design, later removed.
With Florentine Effect you can curve Complex Fill along a digitized line to create flowing stitch effects. The stitches follow the digitized line but maintain uniform density and needle penetration patterns.
A collection of files and subfolders that are stored together on a disk. Part of structure for organizing files on a disk.
A set of characters, including letters, numbers and other typographic symbols, of the same design and style. Sometimes called ‘alphabet’, even if it includes non-letter characters. See also Lettering.
Holding device to secure fabric under an embroidery head for stitching. May employ a number of means to maintain stability during the embroidery process, including clamps, vacuum devices, magnets, or springs. See also Hoop.
When you stitch out appliqué objects, you can set a frame-out position. This shifts the hoop out from under the needle, making it easier to place and trim the appliqué shapes. The frame out settings determine the distance and direction of the hoop movement.
Free Line is the only type of baseline which does not have a fixed or pre-determined length. When you choose Free Line, the baseline will extend as long as you keep adding letters. You only need to mark its start point. See also Baseline.
Threads that are cut and hang loosely from the edge of a design.
See Machine Function.
Software application that creates or allows you to edit bitmap images and/or vector graphics. See also Paint package and Drawing package.
An operating mode in which the CorelDRAW software application is active.
An artistic stitch effect that gradually varies stitch spacing between dense and open fill along an embroidery object, producing shading and color effects which are difficult to achieve manually.
A grayscale picture is made up of 254 different shades of gray, plus solid black and solid white for a total of 256 different tones. Black and white photographs are grayscale.
Grid lines provide visual cues to help you accurately place a design. When you start the software for the first time, grid lines appear by default.
A device for mass information storage. Usually the disk is fixed inside the system unit, and a second hard disk can be added. When you store information on the hard disk it will remain there until you delete it. As it has a finite capacity, file management is required.
Computer componentry, including monitor, keyboard, digitizing tablet, printer, scanner, sewing machine, etc.
Embroidered goods designed to be passed down from generation to generation.
Device made from wood, plastic or steel used to tightly grip fabric and stabilizer between an inner and outer ring. Designed to hold fabric taut against the machine bed for embroidering, it attaches to machine’s frame.
The process of placing the fabric and/or stabilizer into the embroidery hoop. One of the most common reasons for a poorly stitched design is improper hooping.
One shape taken by the PC pointer, it indicates that text can be input at the point selected. The shape is like the capital letter ‘I’.
Miniature picture used in the screen display instead of, or as well as, text. The file list can be displayed as icons with the filenames underneath. The toolboxes which appear in the left of the screen are composed of icons.
See Graphics application.
Cleaning up scanned images as input to embroidery digitizing. This may involve any one or a combination of the following techniques: reducing the number of colors, adding or emphasizing outlines, removing noise, dithering or anti-aliasing, eliminating unnecessary detail, cropping sections or eliminating backgrounds.
Designs read from non-EMB outline – CND or PCH – where stitches have been generated in Hatch Embroidery (or equivalent) from original outlines and stitching data.
Designs read from stitch or ‘expanded’ files, with or without outline recognition, but stitches have not been regenerated through stitch processing. Note that if you change a stitch design – e.g. add a lettering object – the status changes to ‘Processed Stitches’ even though the imported stitches may not have been regenerated.
See Digitizing tool.
Technique for creating rough edges, to create shading effects, or to imitate fur or other fluffy textures in your design.
JPEG file interchange bitmap image format.
A frame or hoop movement without a needle penetration, commonly used to get from one point in a design to another.
Jump(M) functions cause frame movements without needle penetrations and are used to move smoothly from one part of a design to another.
The position of lettering on the embroidery baseline.
The Keyboard Design Collection feature allows you to map embroidery character designs to keyboard characters for quick and easy use in Hatch Embroidery.
Lacework involves the use of threads to produce overall embroidery of full-length fabrics. Most often used to embellish women's apparel and home fashions. Such work typically uses boring. It is the most widely used application for Schiffli machines.
The space between adjacent letters.
Initials or name making up a monogram. Letters of a font.
Embroidery using letters or words. Lettering commonly called ‘keyboard lettering’ may be created from predefined font styles or fonts, allowing variance of size, height, spacing, density and other characteristics.
Special effects applied to lettering objects to make them bulge, stretch or compress.
A drawing with only two colors – usually black and white.
Name, symbol or trademark of a company or organization. Short for logotype.
Machine or ‘stitch’ files are low-level formats for direct use by embroidery machines. They contain only stitch coordinates and machine functions. Machine files are generally not suited to scaling because stitches are not regenerated during rescaling. See also Design file.
Different embroidery machines understand different languages. They have their own control commands for the various machine functions. Before you can stitch a design, it must be in a format which can be understood by the target machine. Common formats include Barudan, Brother, Fortran, Happy, Marco, Meistergram, Melco, Pfaff, Stellar, Tajima, Toyota, Ultramatic and ZSK.
Machine functions are commands for a specific embroidery machine. These include color changes, thread trims, jumps, machine stops, needles in/out, and boring begin/end. Schiffli makes a distinction between ‘logical’ and ‘physical’ machine functions. See also Logical machine functions and Physical machine functions.
Before you can send designs for stitching, you must configure the machine in Hatch Embroidery. You can add machines, change settings for machines already set up, or delete machines that are no longer required.
When you open a stitch format file without outline recognition, it becomes a single ‘manual’ object. This object consists of individual needle penetration points and has only general and connector properties. When you transform (scale, rotate, mirror) a manual object, the original stitch density does not change.
The minimum and maximum stitch lengths allowable in a design determine the outside limits as measured between needle penetration points. They are governed by the minimum and maximum frame movements that the machine can make.
For windows, the small box in the center of the group of three at the right of the title bar. Click the Maximize button to enlarge a window to its maximum size.
The place in the computer’s system unit that stores information while you are working with it. If you exit without saving information in memory, it will be lost.
The menu bar contains dropdown menus of commands. Some of the same commands are available on the toolbar.
The minimum movement of the hoop. It is measured between needle penetration points. See also Max/Min stitch.
Duplication of an object in the Y and/or X axis. The location and orientation of the mirrored stitches are determined by location and angle of the axis of reflection relative to the position of the original stitches.
Mirror-Merge Array can create multiple copies of designs, such as badges, spaced in rows and columns for faster stitchouts. Mirror-Merge Reflect can duplicate and mirror designs simultaneously. You can use it to quickly create borders or merge duplicates into a symmetrical object such as a heart. Mirror-Merge Wreath can duplicate objects around a center point. The Kaleidoscope tool works like Wreath but mirrors objects as well.
In computer terms, a device that accepts video signals from a computer and displays information. Monitors generally employ cathode-ray tubes or flat-panel displays to project images. In practice, the terms monitor and display are used interchangably. In digitizing terms, the monitor is where digitizing or stitching progress can be followed, stitch-by-stitch.
Embroidered design composed of one or more letters, usually the initials of a name. Can also consist of borders or designs to mark ownership of items such as clothing, caps, handkerchiefs, etc.
predefined design elements, such as hearts, leaves or border patterns, that can be quickly inserted into a design. Motifs generally consist of one or more simple objects, and are stored in a special motif set.
Motif Fill is a decorative fill stitch with which you can fill larger shapes. Depending on your software’s capabilities, you can also create special or three dimensional effects.
Motifs which are linked together along a digitized line. You can create decorative outlines using any motif from the list.
Motifs are stored in ‘motif sets’ similar to fonts. There are two predefined motif sets. One contains single motifs for fills which use the same pattern in both forward and backward rows. The other set is intended for use with two-part motifs which use complementary patterns for forward and backward rows. You can also define your own ‘motif sets’ to organize and classify motifs of your own creation.
A device, equipped with control buttons and designed to roll about on the table next to the keyboard. As the mouse moves, its circuits relay signals that move a pointer on the screen.
A design saved in the original format of the application you are working with is said to be the ‘native’ file format. It can also refer to the machine file format required by a specific embroidery machine. When saved to another format, it is known as a non-native format.
You can view needle points in a design to check density or, for instance, to select stitches for editing.
Needle spacing is the distance between adjacent needles of a Schiffli embroidery machine. Typical values are 27.07 mm and 27.04mm. The software lets you set up and adjust this value to suit the type of machine which will stitch the design.
Noise filtering means restoring the solid color blocks of original artwork in scanned images. This is achieved by merging different shades into one solid color. Noise filtering is important for automatic digitizing because it makes it easier for the software to identify solid color blocks which become embroidery objects in the resulting design. It also cleans up blurred or mottled areas of color.
In computer science, ‘objects’ are regarded as any discrete item that can be selected and manipulated, such as an onscreen graphic. In object-oriented programming, objects include data and the procedures necessary to operate on that data. See also Embroidery objects.
All embroidery objects in Hatch Embroidery contain defining settings or ‘values’. The values stored with an object become its ‘properties’. All objects have certain properties in common such as size and position. There are other, more specific properties of objects which depend on the object type. The most important property of all embroidery objects is stitch type.
See Outline recognition.
An object has a type, shape, thread type and color, stitching settings and a position in the stitching order. The object type may or may not determine the intended final appearance of the stitching.
Software function used to create new outlines from the outlines of selected objects.
A grouped embroidery design which may consist of one or more objects of any type and one or more colors. Ornaments may be placed in up to eight positions around letters, or centered behind letters.
Options provide software with extra functionality that can be purchased by registered owners of the product.
See Design file.
When you convert a machine file to outline format, Hatch Embroidery reads the data stitch-by-stitch according to the needle penetration points. The software then ‘recognizes’ stitch types, spacing and length values, stitch effects, and can determine object outlines.
Stitch such as Run or Satin used to outline an embroidery object.
Use Pan to view parts of a design which are not currently visible in the design window.
Technique to create appliqué objects with partial cover stitching to create an overlapping effect without doubling-up borders.
To insert an object, which has previously been placed on the clipboard by cutting or copying selected objects, into a design. You can paste from the clipboard as many times as you like.
Portable Document Format. Used to view the Online Manual in Acrobat Reader.
The composite of pieces sewn together to form a large piece, such as a quilt.
Low-cost way of producing an embroidery design sample. Consists literally of a piece of tracing paper placed over a stitchout and rubbed lightly with a pencil to produce an impression of the embroidery.
A dot. For example, dots of light that make up the image on a computer screen. The more pixels in a given area – that is, the smaller and closer together they are – the higher the resolution.
An effect which occurs when a bitmap image is enlarged so that the individual pixels are obvious to the eye.
Series of stitches used to align embroideries in multi-hooping situations or to assist in fabric placement for appliqué. It is the first appliqué layer stitched and is used to position the pre-cut appliqué patches on the background material. See also Appliqué.
A part of the screen display, the pointer can take various shapes. It is moved by moving the mouse and can be used to point to anything on the screen to make selections and indicate points for input. It also indicates when the computer is working and no input is possible.
A connection on a computer where you plug in the cable that carries data to another device. Ports which are used to attach peripherals have names like COM1 or LPT1 so that you can specify where the peripherals are attached.
The Position indicator shows position of the design (X, Y) in the design window.
Use to preview design and design information before printing a Production Worksheet. The design is displayed as it will be printed.
Designs read from stitch or ‘expanded’ files where stitches have been regenerated by processing.
A computer program or ‘application’ is generally used for a particular kind of work, such as word processing or database management.
See Object properties.
The communications protocol depends on the connection type between the computer and the embroidery machine. This will be one of: standard serial, parallel, serial to parallel converted (DCi), or interface card.
Postscript vector format.
Result of the fabric being gathered by the stitches. Many possible causes include incorrect density, loose hooping, lack of backing, incorrect tension or dull needle.
Digitizing technique that takes into account the distortion of a design that will occur because of the interaction of thread with fabric. ‘Push and pull’ will cause a circle digitized perfectly round to sew with the sides pushed out, resulting in an egg shape. Generally, it is necessary to extend horizontal elements and reduce vertical elements. See also Automatic pull compensation.
When any stitch is sewn into fabric, the tension in the thread between needle penetrations can build up and result in a ‘push-pull’ effect. This can cause distortions in your sewn designs, poor stitch registration and even the bunching of the fabric. The degree of distortion can be affected by the following factors: stitch density, fabric type, underlay, backing type, thread type and garment orientation. See also Stitch-Pull.
The stitching of patterns into the quilt layers to add strength and decoration to a quilt – top, batting and backing – to form decorative patterns on the surface of the quilt and to hold the layers together.
To open a design which has been written on a design card or to an embroidery machine.
See Outline recognition.
See Image preparation.
A point that can be aligned with the grid. For example, you can set the grid reference point to the design center. This is easier and faster than moving the whole design.
The screen display is refreshed. This is useful when parts of the display have become obscured in the course of editing.
Correct registration is achieved when all stitches and design elements line up correctly.
Layout used for making emblems or designs on a fabric span that are repeated at regular intervals. The design repeat is defined by the distance between needles – the point at which the design repeats itself.
You can change the position of a selected object by cutting it, then pasting it somewhere else in the stitching sequence, or by using the Resequence command. You can also resequence objects by color or using the Color-Object List.
See Scaling.
Resolution determines the number of dots per inch (dpi) used to create an image. The higher the value, the clearer the image, but the more storage space required. A resolution of 75 dpi generally produces good results.
RGB stands for red, green, and blue. It is the system used by computer monitors to create color.
To press and release the right mouse button. See also Click.
Ripple stitch creates a single, continuous line of stitching that spirals around to fill the shape. Typically, it is used for rings and borders, but it is also suitable for other closed shapes. See also Contour stitch.
The point at which the fabric is shifted – loosened and reset – vertically to continue stitching. Common on long fabric Schiffli machines.
When you select an object, selection handles display at its extremities. If you click the object again, rotation and skew handles appear around the object. Rotation handles appear at the corners of the object and an anchor point displays at the object’s center. Skew handles are diamond-shaped and appear at the center-top and bottom of the object. See also Selection handles.
Run stitch, also known as ‘Walk stitch’, places a single row of stitches along a digitized line. The needle penetrations are placed in consecutive order. Run is generally used for stitching outlines and connector stitches. Run stitch length can be set to automatically vary in order to follow tight curves.
Type of fill stitch. Formed by closely arranged zigzag stitches, it can be stitched at any angle and with varying lengths. The thread is laid across a shape with a zigzag sewing action where two stitches form a column. Hence it is only suitable for small or narrow shapes. As the stitches are almost parallel, Satin provides good coverage. It is often used for lettering, outlining, and details. Because there are generally no needle penetrations breaking up the fill, Satin stitch creates a glossy effect.
To store (design) information in a file. Each time you save a design, you replace the previous version using the filename. You should save your design frequently.
Ability to enlarge or reduce a design. In expanded format, most scaling is limited to 10 to 20%, because the stitch count remains constant despite final design size. In condensed formats, on the other hand, scale changes may be more dramatic, because stitch count and density may be varied.
This option allows you to automatically scale CND designs as you load them. For example, to scale the imported design to 120% of the original, you would enter a scale factor of 1.2.
Ability to enlarge or reduce a design in size. In stitch or ‘expanded’ format, most scaling is limited to ±5% because the stitch count remains constant despite final design size. In design or ‘outline’ formats, scale changes may be more dramatic because stitch count and density are recalculated.
A device that converts physical images into digital form so that they can be stored and manipulated by computer. Scanning allows you to take scanned images as a basis for embroidery design.
Most scanners require you to enter scanning resolution information. Resolution determines the number of dots per inch (dpi) used to create a drawing. The higher the value, the clearer the image but larger the file. For digitizing purposes, use a maximum resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch). A resolution of 72 dpi (screen resolution) will usually be sufficient. Generally speaking, the smaller the source image and/or more detail it contains, the higher the resolution needs to be.
You need to calibrate your monitor so that designs at 1:1 scale appear at real size. Do this when you first install Hatch Embroidery, whenever you change your monitor, or adjust your monitor’s horizontal or vertical controls.
Screen printing is a more complex process than direct-to-garment, requiring the creation of a screen for each of the spot colors (Pantone) that make up the design. There may be multiple screens for each spot color, depending on how the design is layered. See also Direct-to-garment printing.
See Pixels.
The bar at the bottom and right edge of a window whose contents are not entirely visible. Each scroll bar contains a small box, called a scroll box, and two scroll arrows to allow different types of scrolling.
Filled embroidery objects are generally built as several discrete ‘segments’. Travel runs are typically used to connect them. All segments, however, form part of the same object. Where they meet, the push-pull effect on the fabric during stitchout may cause gaps to appear.
To highlight an object or group of objects for the purpose of editing. Only selected items can be edited.
Eight small squares that appear symmetrically at the corners and edges of a selected object. Use them to position and resize objects. See also Rotation handles.
The dotted rectangle that appears when you select a range of items.
See Stitching Sequence.
In typography, serifs are semi-structural elements on the ends of strokes that make up letters and symbols. A typeface that has serifs is called a serif typeface. A typeface without serifs is called sans-serif.
A key stroke or a series of keystrokes you can use to perform a task instead of using the mouse. For example, Ctrl+C actions the Copy command.
See Selection handles.
See Rotation handles.
Use to redraw your design slowly. Slow Redraw lets you view the stitching and color sequence of a design in slow motion.
Use the Small Stitch Filter to remove unwanted small stitches from a design automatically.
Programs, such as MS Windows® and Hatch Embroidery, which run your computer.
See Sequins.
Threads designed for effects such as shine, glitter, iridescence or thickness. The threads often are made from synthetic materials including rayon, mercerized cotton, metallics and textured nylon.
You can split embroidery objects that were created with the Spalte A, Column B, and Column C tools, if Satin or Tatami, or Program Split is the selected stitch type.
See Backing.
The rows are approximately parallel, with every backstitch row slightly shorter than the forward row. Because the rows are different lengths, there are fewer small stitches at the edge of the shape, reducing possible damage to the fabric. Standard backstitch is suitable for high density fills. See also Backstitch.
Standard Contour creates rows of stitches across the shape, perpendicular to the digitized stitch angle. The number of stitch lines is constant, so the stitching is denser where the shape is narrower, and more open where the shape is wider. See also Contour stitch.
Provides information about the whole design: number of stitches, position of the design (X, Y), number of colors (C), number of stops (S), etc.
A detail stitch that can be used to outline items or fill in areas. It is used for stems and vines with other decorative stitches, or as an outline for Satin or Motif fills.
A method of creating a fill made of run stitches which meander around within a border. Often used in quilting.
A stitch is one needle penetration. It also refers to the thread laid down from one needle penetration to the next.
The stitch angle is the angle the overall stitching follows within a shape. The shape may have a fixed stitch angle – e.g. 45° to the horizontal – or multiple stitch angles.
Standard stitch spacing is calculated at the outside edge of a shape. With sharp curves, spacing which provides adequate coverage on the outside edge may cause bunching along the inside edge. This may cause thread breakage when stitching out.
Stitch count refers to the number of stitches in a design. In Hatch Embroidery one stitch is considered one machine revolution. See also Design information.
The number of stitches per given area (or stitch lines per distance in a fill).
Digitizing feature that allows one or more stitches in a pattern to be deleted or altered.
See Machine file.
The distance between two needle penetration points. For maximum stitch length, the length is measured according to the X and Y co-ordinates, whichever is greater. Run stitch length can be set to automatically vary in order to follow tight curves. See also Max/Min stitch length.
The calculation of stitch information by means of specialized software, allowing scaling of expanded format designs with density compensation.
See Push-Pull.
Three basic stitch types are available with lockstitch machines – Run, Satin and Tatami (Weave). Hatch Embroidery provides many variants of these.
When a shape takes a sharp turn, the spacing of stitches on the inside of the shape decreases rapidly. This results in bunching on the inside and gaps on the outside of the shape. The longer the stitch, the worse the problem. Automatic Stitch Shortening solves this problem by eliminating thread bunching. The embroidery has smooth, even stitch spacing throughout. It also reduces thread breakages during production.
Spacing between two consecutive needle penetrations on the same side of a column. The smaller the value, the greater the stitch density. For more open stitching, use larger values.
Stitching defects may appear in the form of gaps between filled areas, fabric show-through and thread breaks. These are often caused by incorrect stitching settings – e.g. setting pull compensation too small for the fabric stretchiness.
The software may send a design for stitching directly to embroidery machine if connected to your computer. Not all machines can connect to Hatch Embroidery.
Stitching direction can affect embroidery quality because of the Push-Pull effect. Only closed embroidery objects can be reversed.
The embroidery objects in a design form a stitching sequence. Initially, objects are stitched in the order in which they were created or the design assembled. You can change the position of a selected object by cutting it, then pasting it somewhere else in the sequence, or by using the Resequence command. You can also resequence objects by color or with the Color-Object List.
Embroidery designs readily available on disk or proprietary embroidery card. Digitized embroidery designs that are commercially available for general use by embroiderers.
Stop codes are interpreted as ‘explicit stops’. The machine stops stitching.
If you want the embroidery machine to stop for any special reason while stitching a design, you need to insert a Stop function in the stitching sequence. If there are Stops in a design, these can be read into Hatch Embroidery as either a Color-change function or a Stop function.
A machine is ‘supported’ by the software either via a direct implementation in the software for a specific machine or via the MS Windows® operating system – e.g. a MS Windows® supported printer or MS Windows® supported cutter.
Satin stitch embroidery. Also recalls the origins of automated embroidery in Switzerland, where the Schiffli embroidery machine was developed in the 1800s by Isaak Groebli. Embroidery remains a government-supported industry in Switzerland today.
The System Administrator is responsible for the entire Enterprise Network and security. In smaller enterprises, the System Administrator is also usually responsible for database administrations.
What your computer’s hardware and software, operating together, can support. System requirements are printed on software packages, design disk cards and packs, CDs and other computer accessories. You need to know what your system can and cannot support, as sometimes a system is not capable of handling new software without adding memory or disk space.
Zigzag stitch, placed after placement and cutting lines, and used to fix appliqué patches to the background fabric before cover stitching is applied.
Series of run stitches, commonly used to cover large, irregular shapes. Stitches are laid in rows traversing back and forth across the shape. These can be parallel or slightly turning. Different fill patterns can be created by varying the stitch length, angle or sequence. Also known as Weave stitch.
Tatami underlay is used to stabilize large, filled shapes. It resembles an extremely open Tatami fill stitch, where rows of stitches are placed across the object to create the underlay.
Templates are special files used for storing styles and default property settings. The default template packaged with the software provides a selection of preset styles. You can modify these as required and save them back to the default template or to your own custom templates. Use these when digitizing frequently-used design types to save time re-adjusting the current property settings. For example, a custom template may include standard objects and sample lettering. It may simply have preferred stitch settings, lettering font and size, and colors set as current settings. Or it may have special density, pull compensation or underlay settings to suit different fabrics.
Tautness of thread when forming stitches. Top thread tension, as well as bobbin thread tension, need to be correctly set. Proper thread tension is achieved when about one third of the thread showing on the underside of the fabric on a column stitch is bobbin thread.
Use Textured Edge to create rough edges, to create shading effects, or to imitate fur or other fluffy textures in your design.
Fine cord or natural or synthetic material made from two or more filaments twisted together and used for stitching. Machine embroidery threads come in rayon (high sheen), cotton (duller finish), polyester (strong and colorfast), metallics (synthetic core wrapped with metal foil or thin slivers of metal foil) and acrylic (sheen similar to rayon).
Thread charts are lists of predefined thread colors. They may be based on commercially available thread charts, or charts you define yourself. You can copy colors between different thread charts to create your own charts from existing colors. See also Color palette.
Code is the identification number of a thread color in a brand.
Different thread density systems are used by different thread manufacturers. Density A is normal embroidery thread (density 120/2, or 40). Density B is thicker, Density C is finer, and Density D is very fine.
See Thread density.
Embroidery thread varies in thickness. Types are A, B, C and D. Stitch density should be set according to the thread type. See also Thread thickness.
Tie-in stitches are inserted at the start of objects to prevent stitches from unraveling. They are inserted inside the shape on the second stitch. You generally use them when the previous connector is trimmed.
Tie-offs are generally placed before trims to prevent stitches from unraveling. You can adjust connector settings to automatically add tie-offs under certain conditions, or add them manually. You can also include trim functions so machines with trimmers cut the thread automatically.
The horizontal bar located at the top of a window and containing the title of the window. On many windows, the title bar also contains the Control menu box and Maximize and Minimize buttons.
Toolbars provide quick and easy access to Hatch Embroidery commands. Click a toolbar button to activate a command or, where applicable, right-click to view and adjust its settings.
Material hooped or placed on top of fabrics that have definable nap or surface texture, such as corduroy and terry cloth, prior to embroidery. The topping compacts the wale or nap and holds the stitches above it. It includes a variety of substances, such as plastic wrap, water-soluble plastic ‘foil’ and open-weave fabric that has been chemically treated to disintegrate with the application of heat. Also known as ‘facing’. See also Stabilizer.
Trapunto is a general term for very open fill stitching, often used as a background or for filling large shapes. In Hatch Embroidery, Trapunto effect forces travel runs to the edges of objects so they do not show through open or loose stitching.
Travel runs are typically used to connect segments of complex shapes. They can also connect adjacent objects. Because runs are not trimmed, they may be visible in the final embroidery. For this reason, they are less commonly used as connectors between objects than jumps. If objects are adjacent and connectors will be hidden, they can be used.
You generally check a design’s stitching sequence by ‘traveling’ through it by stitches, segments, functions or objects.
If you are using a machine with an automatic trimmer, the trim code causes the thread to be cut after a tie-off. In the software, trims are represented by a triangle with a small circle at the point where stitching starts again. The trimmed connector appears as a dotted line. You can adjust connector settings to automatically add trims, or add them yourself.
Devices built into an embroidery machine to automatically trim or cut remaining thread when the design jumps from one area to another or performs a color change.
Action of cutting loose thread, removing backing, etc, from the final embroidered product.
Triple Run repeats each Run stitch three (or more) times for a thick line. Typically used to add borders and pickout runs to designs.
Triple Satin is often used for folk designs to mimic handmade embroidery that uses thicker thread. If you require thicker stitches, set the Satin stitch to repeat itself multiple times.
Digital font technology designed by Apple Computer and now used by both Apple and Microsoft in their operating systems.
TrueView provides you with a preview of how your embroidery will look when stitched out. It gives the screen image a three dimensional look.
Embroidery objects can be filled with parallel or turning stitching. Turning stitches are columns of stitches which turn to follow the path defined by the object outline. By contrast, parallel stitching traverses the shape in one direction only – e.g. at 90° to the horizontal, 45°, or whatever is set. Objects can be created with turning stitching already applying, or multiple stitch angles can be added later. Turning stitches are best used with designs containing complicated, turning shapes such as trees, animals, or large filled areas. Turns generally occur at points where a shape changes significantly in direction or width.
Stitches sewn before other design elements to help stabilize fabrics. The stitching action that will attach the backing to the fabric being embroidered. It also supports the top embroidery for a more lofty, dimensional look. Underlay stitches are made up of a series of single run stitches, usually with a very short stitch length, and are digitized manually or placed automatically under the column (satin) or fill stitch areas of your embroidery design.
An embroidery machine which has a standard USB port built into the machine or machine control panel.
Standard USB memory stick or simply ‘USB stick’ used for storing and transporting files.
Universal Serial Bus Connector – a connection on a computer where you plug in the dongle.
The actual settings – letters and numbers – that you enter into dialogs. See also Object Properties.
Ability to scale a design to different sizes.
The software can automatically calculate the best length for each stitch with the Variable Run Length option. A chord gap value controls how closely the stitches follow the digitized lines.
Unlike raster images, vector graphics contain vector data. This is a collection of geometric shapes and lines that combine to make an image. Rather than pixels, such data is recorded as a set of mathematical formulas defining shapes such as rectangles, ellipses, curves, polygon stars, etc. These are created using vector graphics programs such as CorelDRAW software. Vector graphics are scalable without distortion, and are usually much smaller than bitmap images. See also Bitmap image.
Vector objects are derived from vector graphics and can be created in Hatch Embroidery or imported. In Hatch Embroidery they can be converted to and from embroidery objects. You can set general properties such as size and position, and arrange and transform them in the same way as other objects. See also Vector graphics.
A text object created using the CorelDRAW software Text tool.
When referring to T-shirts, the three standard weight divisions are mid-weight/value, heavyweight/premium, and super heavyweight.
Device capable of connecting to a WiFi Router or wireless access point.
Service Set Identifier (SSID) – the unique identifier attached to the information which is sent over a wireless local area network.
Password, passphrase or key (depending on the WiFi security type) that allows connection to the WiFi router or access point.
Device that provides basic network infrastructure for a home or small office network. Provides a wireless access point for many wireless devices to connect to each other for access to the Internet as well as for file sharing and printing. Sometimes referred to simply as a Wireless Router.
A network of wirelessly connected, USB enabled embroidery machines and PCs.
a network of Windows PCs, also known as ‘network domain’, in which computers rely on a centralized authentication database. Users log into the domain and the access privileges are served from the central database which is controlled by a network administrator.
‘Workgroup’ is Microsoft’s term for a peer-to-peer local area network. Computers running Microsoft operating systems in the same workgroup may share files, printers, or Internet connection.
A wireless access point or ‘WAP’ is a hardware device on a local area network (LAN) that allows wireless capable devices and wired networks to connect.
Wireless Local Area Network or WiFi network.
MS Windows® Metafile vector format.
The worksheet is the link between design and embroidery machine. It contains a design preview as well as essential production information, including the design size, the color sequence and any special instructions.
To send design information to an embroidery disk, design card or embroidery machine for immediate stitchout or storage.
The horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) distances on a graph or computer screen. Use X values to measure width, and Y values to measure height.
Zigzag stitch is similar to Satin but is generally used where fewer stitches are required. The needle penetrates each side of the column, laying the thread across in an open zigzag pattern. The density is determined by the stitch spacing setting. The settings for Zigzag fill stitches are stored separately from Zigzag and Double Zigzag underlay settings.
Zigzag and Double Zigzag underlay stitching is used to support wide columns.
The scale at which the design is currently displayed.
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