This is a beginner's tutorial for the Stitch Era embroidery software. It explains how edit and/or create vector graphics that later could be translated to embroidery objects (stitch sections).
Prerequisites:
Concurrent steps:
Next steps:
There are four reasons for learning how to use vector graphics:
Vector graphics are translated fairly easily into embroidery objects (stitch sections), e.g. through the To embroidery / Art to Stitch auto-digitizer and this is why we favor the "vector drawing first" route as opposed to directly drawing stitch objects. Of course, the various design use cases can be combined in a project (also read the corresponding chapter in the Stitch Era embroidery software##Some_use_cases_of_Stitch_Era introductory article.
Let us insist that same logic applies if you want to manipulate or directly create embroidery objects (stitch sections). The difference between vector graphics (as it exists in more advanced form in programs like Illustrator, Corel Draw, or the free Inkscape) and "stitch object graphics" is that the latter is much less visual and much more complex, since it includes visualization of stitch patterns, stitches, etc. I believe that embroidery specialists probably don't do much vector graphics, i.e. they probably can "see" how stitch sections will render. I can't (for now). Top notch professionals actually sometimes don't even seem to work with high-level embroidery objects, i.e. they create embroidery sections stitch by stitch on high expense projects. A beginner just should be able to adjust stitch sections, i.e. be able to understand how to manipulate nodes and curves a bit. These operations are easier to learn with "normal" vector graphics.
When you start a new empty project you will find yourself automatically in the HOME section. In order to import or draw vector graphics, select the ARTWORK tab as shown in the following picture.
At this point, you either can import artwork, e.g. like discussed in Stitch Era - creating embroidery from vector images or start drawing. Several kinds of drawings can be created an in different ways, for example:
Let's insert an ellipse, i.e. a close shape, as shown below. Select the ellipse icon from the Closed shapes pull down menu, then move the mouse into the work area below and drag it.
If you aim to create a circle, there are three solutions:
After you inserted a first vector object or when you select vector object, the interface will change and display the full tool set.
Firstly, you may want to change colors. Play with "Fill color" and "Border color" that you should see in the menu on top, as you can see in the figure below. You also may notice the "Layout" tab in the top menu. It would allow you to change the size, position and rotation of the object and align/distribute several objects. More about this later.
If you open the Artwork / Layout tab, you can change things like position and size.
In older version, the interface was different, e.g. there was only one vector tab as you can see in the following screen shot.
Now let's have look at basic properties of vector objects, i.e. fill and border
Vector objects like circles are made of two parts:
In the format tab, by selecting one of the rectangles (see fig. below) you can select whether you want
In embroidery (as well as in other multi-media projects) you will work with all three.
Each vector object is defined by global size and position, i.e. the so-called envelope.
The grey envelope controls (little square dots) define the size of the object and allow to change it's height and width. Move your mouse precisely over one of the squares in a corder or in between and drag with the mouse (press and hold). Play with that a bit, it should be easy to understand.
Then click on the Layout tab and observe the changes in the the Size ribbon panel.
Warning: As you shall learn just below, the vector object itself is defined by other control points and sometimes it's difficult to select the envelope points. Read on....
We now shall systematically introduce the most frequent vector shape manipulation procedures. I.e. we will look at what is inside the envelope.
Since borders are not defined by pixels but by control points, vector objects are scalable upwards or downwards. A drawing will remain the same whether it has the size of a bed linen or a shirt pocket or a football field.
The shape of a vector object is defined by its outline (border/stroke/etc), or more precisely by so-called control points or nodes that will define the exact path of the border. Control points are either white or cyan.
In order to change the shape of an object, there are two methods as we shall explain in more details later:
Important tip:
In Stitch Era, there are different kinds of vector nodes. The way they connect to neighboring nodes are defined by three properties (parameters) that one can change in the Nodes ribbon panel or through the context menu (right-click) of a node.
The following screen capture shows a mushroom being designed. Its hat is modeled with normal nodes, the stem with corner nodes and the bottom with straight nodes.
Changing the curves
In order to change the curves connecting to a node, click on the node first. Then play with the following:
As explained above, you also may want to change the node type. I.e. if you only wish to change the curve on one side of a node, the node must be a uniform node and not a symmetrical one.
1) Deleting a single node
For deleting a single node:
Warning, before you decide to use the quicker delete key method, you should be aware that sometimes you will fail to select a node. Instead you may have selected the whole vector object instead and then kill the whole object. Hit CTRL-Z to get it back.
After deleting a node, you probably will have to adjust the curves.
2) Mass deletion of nodes
That kind of operation is often required after vectorizing a bitmap image. The following picture shows to the left a kind of ragged rectangle that in reality should be stitched as smooth rectangle. Of course, you just could delete this one and draw your own, but this may not be the easiest option for a path that would represent a person for example.
In order to smooth out vector graphics, you should follow and adapt a procedure like this:
In the example below we transformed four nodes near the corners into straight nodes and then fixed the left side by selecting all the in-between nodes (SHIFT key) and hitting DEL.
If you want to delete a sequence of nodes you also can just hit delete several times in a row. Deletion will happen in the direction of the more recent added node.
By the way:
There is an auto-smoothing procedure available in the Combine Vectors ribbon panel.
Warning: Trimming a lot of shapes takes a lot resources and Stitch Era (even version 17) may crash. Therefore we suggest selecting smaller of groups of vectors for trimming. E.g. all of the same color.
In SEU, inserting a node means adding a node within a curve between the currently selected node and the prior node.
Adding a node is different operation (see below)
To insert a node:
In a corner, it may be difficult to select a shape control node. You are likely to select an envelope node that defines the overall size and rotation of the object. You may have to click twice. If you still can't select your corner node, then just drag the node inwards/upwards so that it won't fit into the corner. Drag it back later.
Once you added nodes, you then can:
Tip: Adding less nodes is better. E.g. to draw a simple "hill" you only need to nodes. Use the curve controls to draw the hill.
Adding a node refers to a process where you can add and place nodes. The principle is similar as for inserting a node.
Since I never know in which direction the node will be inserted (i.e. it's possible to tell what is "before" or "after", I often have to change the selected node. Just hit ESC and then get the other one when you see that adding is done in the wrong direction...
A vector object is globally defined by its width, height, rotation and position. All of these can be manipulated through the eight grey rectangular controls that sit on the so-called bounding box or envelope rectangle.
Changing size
Changing rotation
Change size using the layout tool:
Let's have a look at an example. Let's assume that you have an ellipse that you would like to transform into perfect circle.
The FreeHand tool allows to create all four vector object types:
To create a free hand object:
Closed vs. open pathes (i.e. shapes vs. lines): A figure becomes closed when the end point (where you release the mouse) is very close to the starting point
The Create Perfect Figures option:
The following screen capture shows a perfect cloud (well, with respect to my drawing skills) made with the FreeHand tool and the following options:
Of course, you now could make adjustments in several ways:
The Bezier tool allows to create technical drawings, i.e. both vector objects with fills and simple vector path. Below, we shortly will introduce the basics. At some point we should expand this section and explain more ....
Common principle:
If you don't get the shape right, don't worry. You always can change it by changing the node types and by adjusting the curves, as explained prior in this tutorial...
Principle:
The first mouse-down+drag was positioned on top in the middle between the two first points.
CTRL-click will insert corner nodes instead of normal nodes
By holding down the CTRL key, you can create corner nodes, i.e. produce new curves that start off in a different direction that the prior curve. A corner node (unlike the normal) does not sit in the middle of a curve.
Anyhow if this too much for starters, you always can just focus on normal (on-curve) vs. corner nodes, insert either straight lines or curves by dragging and then adjust/change some node types and curves/lines later. In other words, just go click, click, click and fix the result later and that includes changing node types.
In order to apply the various node and curve transformations, you first must convert the object to curves.
Then, apply the recipes explained above, i.e. move nodes, change node types, delete nodes, add nodes, insert nodes and change curves.
Sometimes you wish to cut vectors apart. Typically you would like to change colors in various parts.
Splitting vectors procedure:
You now will have two objects instead of one, and you can apply for instance a different fill color.
The remove holes button in the Reshape panel allows to remove holes in a vector shape.
Warning: This will remove all holes, i.e. be careful when you apply this to larger areas that you created when vectorizing a bitmap for example!
“Constructive solid geometry (CSG) is a technique used in solid modeling. Constructive solid geometry allows a modeler to create a complex surface or object by using Boolean operators to combine objects. Often CSG presents a model or surface that appears visually complex, but is actually little more than cleverly combined or decombined objects.” (wikipedia, March 2011)
This technique is quite popular in Computer-aided design and manufacturing. E.g. we used it through the OpenScad program in order to create 3D duplo-compatible bricks.
CSG is available through the Combine vectors panel
Basic procedure:
Additional examples are discussed in tutorials like Stitch Era - digitizing complex bitmap images.
You could draw a nice moon with the Bezier tool, but I find it easier to draw two overlapping circles and then subtract the second one from the first one ...
The following example shows how to create a dumbbell for working out a bit after sitting down a few days learning Stitch Era.
The following shows how to create flower petals from circles.
Now autodigitize:
The fill patterns are not glorious, but working on these requires some extra work including some work with direction lines I think.
Morale: Sometimes using clever combination techniques makes life easier than drawing. All depends on your drawing skills. Personally I don't have much ....