Stitch Era - vector graphics

Draft

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Introduction

This is a beginner's tutorial for the Stitch Era embroidery software. It explains how create and edit vector graphics that later could be translated to embroidery objects (stitch sections).

There are three reasons for learning how to use vector graphics

• Repair/adjust vectorized bitmap (raster) images
• Work with imported vector graphics (as opposed to use the original source program)
• Draw vector art with Stitch Era

Of course, these three use cases can be combined in a project.

The Interface

When you start a new empty project you will find yourself automatically in the Artwork tool, i.e. the vector graphics environment as shown in the following picture.

Artwork tool - empty design

At this point you now either can import artwork, e.g. like discussed in Stitch Era - simple digitizing or start drawing.

Let's insert an ellipse 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.

Artwork tool - creating a circle

If you aim to create a circle, you could watch the dimensions at the bottom of the Stitch Era screen. However, we suggest to draw an approximate object and then edit it's properties later.

After you inserted a first vector object or when you select one, the the interface will change and display the full tool set.

Firstly, you may want to change colors. Play with "fill color" and "border color". 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.

Artwork tool - vector object created or selected

Vector object properties

Fills and borders

Firstly, you must understand that vector objects like circles are made of two parts:

• The border (also called outline, stroke or line)
• The fill, i.e. the inside

In the format tab, by selecting one of the rectangles (see fig. below) you can select whether you want

• a fill-only object (Vectors-only body), i.e. the border is made invisible
• a stroke-only object (Vectors-only outline), i.e. the shape is made invisible
• an object that has both (Vectors outline + body).

Three kinds of shapes: Fill-only, stroke-only, fill+stroke

For embroidery (as well as for other multi-media projects) you will work with all three.

Shape of vector objects

The shape of an object is defined by its border, 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 and can be moved and curves connecting to the next nodes can be changed through handles represented as small little pink points.

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.

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:

1. Straight / curved sides. A straight node (point) will have a straight line to the nodes before and after the path defining the outline or simple stroke. Curved nodes have curved lines to the nodes before and after (unless one of these nodes is a straight node). Straight nodes show as rectangles.
2. Normal nodes / corner node. Normal nodes are white. Corner nodes are shown as filled cyan nodes.
3. Symmetric / uniform nodes. Symmetric and uniformed nodes are not visually distinguishable. However handles of uniform nodes may be handled independently.

The following screen capture shows a mushroom being designed. It's hat is modelled with normal nodes, the stem with corner nodes and the bottom with straight nodes.

In order to change the curves connecting to a node, click on the node then move the pink curve controls in and out (for amplitude) and turn around the point for direction.

Vector nodes (controls) and curve control handles

Size and rotation

In addition, a vector object is defined by its width, height, rotation and position. All of these can be manipulated through the eight grey rectangular controls that sit on the bounding box rectangle.

• Resizing an object uniformly: Drag one of the four corner points
• Resizing an object's height or width: Drag one of the four grey points in the middle
• Rotation: Hold down the CTRL key and drag clockwise or counter-clock wise a grey point in one of the corners
• Changing the rotation point: Hold down the CTRL key and move the light grey little circle that originally may be in the center.

Rotation around a center point that is at the bottom

Tip:

• Size (both direction) or height and width also can be changed using the Layout tool, i.e. change values to the left.