6D™ Embroidery System

6D™ Software Newsletter - January 2014


Welcome to 2014! Let's start the year off with some creative inspiration to get you warmed up and stitching. Whether you are new to the newsletter as you just received your software or if you have been with us for years, there are some helpful tips and hints to guide you. Have fun!

Inspired Icons


Inspired Icons


Icon Index

Knowing when to use the Open Open command and when to use Insert Insert (or the Design Viewer Design Viewer ) can be confusing. The Open command is used to open an existing file. When the design opens into your work area it already has a name and is exactly as it was the last time you saved it.

When you save an opened design you will not be prompted to give the file a name or a new location, the originally opened file will be over-written in the same location on your computer. This is great for a work in progress where you don't want to have multiple files of the same thing on your computer.

If however you do not want to overwrite the original then you are better off using the Insert function. Insert allows you to open a copy of the file and it will no longer have a name as it comes into your work area as "untitled". When you save an inserted design for the first time you will be prompted to give the file a name and a new "save to" location on your computer. This is great if the design you want to use is going to be changed from the original configuration and you still want to have the original file for use in the future.

In addition the Insert function will insert your selected design into an existing work area with a design already loaded. The Open function will simply open the design into a new work area by itself. The Design Viewer Design Viewer function in all of the 6D™Embroidery modules is actually an Insert function. Any design loaded into the work area using this tool will load in as untitled.

Module Mystique


Module Mystique


Module Mystique

Do you find that you want to add texture to existing embroidery designs? What about designs you have created yourself using the ExpressDesign Wizard? Using the 6D™/5D™ Stitch Editor Plus 6D Stitch Editor Plus or 5D™/4D™ Stitch Editor 4D/5D Stitch Editor you can take these designs from OK to something WOW!

In the 6D™ or 5D™ Stitch Editor Plus modules you will find fully adjustable stamps to add to stitch areas on the Embossing Tab. You can even make your own stamps! In the 5D™ or 4D™ Stitch Editor modules you can use the Stamps provided on the PatternMake Tab. In all versions you also have tools that allow you to add lines of detail called Needle Points.

In the 6D™ or 5D™ Stitch Editor Plus modules you can alternatively use the Object Tab allowing you to change the Fill Area Properties (fill type, angle density etc). Using these tools to add interesting stitch effects will make your design one-of-a-kind.

The fish design was created using the ExpressDesign Wizard which had the fill patterns as the standard Pattern #3.

Using the 6D™ Stitch Editor Plus we changed the following:

  • White Eye from a fill to a satin Stitch (Remove Needle Points in Fill)
  • Relocated the white color change so it was in a preferred stitching order (2nd to last)
  • Changed the fill areas, one by one to different patterns with more interest (Object Tab and Stamps)
  • Added detail to the yellow tail. Changed the Fill to a Satin Stitch (remove Needle Points in Fill) then used the Needle Points tools to draw 6 lines of needle points creating an echoing satin stitch detail

Have fun experimenting with your own designs but watch the clock since this can get addictive!

Technique Tune-Up


Technique Tune-Up


Technique Tune-Up

Have you wanted a specific lettering style that was not available as a pre-digitized font? Even though lettering is one of the more advanced digitizing techniques, you can use the tools in the 6D™, 5D™ or 4D™ Design Creator 6D Design Creator modules to produce embroidery designs as words, using font styles available on your computer.

First open any word processing application and type in your word. Type the word as large as possible: Example = pt size of 100 or more. Save the word as an image which can then be used in the 6D™, 5D™ or 4D™ Design Creator as a background or with the ExpressDesign Wizard. There are many ways to do this: one way is to do a screen capture of a specific area on your screen. Use the Snipping Tool program from the Windows® Accessories area to do this. Save the image file to your desktop as a PNG image file.

Open the 6D™, 5D™ or 4D™ Design Creator module and use the ExpressDesign Wizard – Create Express Embroidery option to copy the image of the letters into stitches. Move through the steps in the ExpressDesign Wizard and adjust the settings as you desire. Use the Design Size page to set the height of the lettering, for example; 25mm or higher in height. Use the Reduce Colors page to simplify the recognized areas; selecting only two colors (the text and the background) and removing all Background Areas.

Lettering

Once finished, you can adjust the style of Fill pattern, angle and density settings for the entire word (using Global Properties) or by individual letter (properties). Use the Copy and Paste feature to add layers and get creative!

Properties

When ready to sew remember to save the EDO file in case you want to tweak the design or change the size. Export your design in the format needed by your embroidery machine.

Lettering

Depending on the lettering style, it may be fun to make each letter in your word a different color as this will keep each section separate.

Some helpful tips:

  • Use Fonts that have a larger or thicker defined area and not really thin areas.
  • Use with fonts that have a smooth edge.
  • Use this technique for larger lettering with Fill Areas or appliqué with borders for best results. If you desire a Satin Stitch Font try using Fill Pattern # 36 as this will give you a close result.
  • This technique is not for creating tiny letters - leave this up to the expert digitizers!
  • To create a whole font or alphabet that you can use to create lettering in 6D™, 5D™ or 4D™ Embroidery, use the advanced 6D™, 5D™ or 4D™ Font Digitizing module.

QuiltDesign Creator QuiltDesign Creator


QuiltDesign Creator QuiltDesign Creator


Technique Tune-Up

Do you want to create your own quilt designs from paper patterns you may already own? You don't need to free-motion quilt it - you can have your embroidery machine or automated quilter do the work for you!

Simply take a photograph or scan of the paper pattern and save it as an image. Open the QuiltDesign creator software and use the New Design Wizard to load the image as a background.

Wizard

Once you have cropped and decided on the design size you can use the Freehand Draw and Polygon Draw tools Polygon tools to trace over the image. Don't forget to use the CTRL key (control) to place sharp points when you want an angular change in direction otherwise you will get curves everywhere. If your pattern is complex don't feel you need to trace over every line or detail. When you have stitched it out nobody will know you didn't trace it exactly as the original pattern. You can use the Edit Nodes Edit Nodes tools tools to adjust any lines then save the file as a .4QB so you can use it again later.

Export options

Export as your embroidery machine Export or quilting system Export file. If you are exporting to an embroidery format don't forget to review the settings in the Preferences Preferences area first. The Export function looks to the setting here to know what type of stitches to produce for you. This will get your preferred stitch length and type of stitch.

Fun Facts to Know and Tell


Did you know that the number of Fill Patterns in the 6D™, 5D™ and 4D™ Design Creator modules are unlimited? You can create your own and save them for use in the future! See your help system and search on Manage My Fills for more information.

Best wishes from 6D™

Vantage Software Support
Vantage Software Support

VANTAGE™ Embroidery Software Support is a membership program which provides education and support of the HUSQVARNA VIKING® & PFAFF 6D™, 5D™ and 4D™ Embroidery Systems, QuiltDesign Creator and TruEmbroidery™ Software for Mac® computers. The VANTAGE™ program is currently available in the US, Canada, and Australia. Please visit your authorized HUSQVARNA VIKING® or PFAFF® dealer to learn more and sign up today.

This month with VANTAGE™ Embroidery Software Support features Mastering Your Embroidery Software: "More Font Options". In the Technology Corner, VANTAGE™ members will explore "Adding Fonts".

HUSQVARNA VIKING® Collection

#270 Vintage Postcard (920396096)

Reminisce about the days of letter writing! This new HUSQVARNA VIKING® embroidery design collection (available from next month) includes lovely postcards and stamps in a printed vintage style. Create wonderful home décor with a romantic vintage look. When embroidering, use hoop sizes between 80x80 / 3"x3" and 360x200mm / 14.2"x7.9".

PFAFF® Collection

#471 Playtime (821066096)

It's playtime! This PFAFF® collection (available from next month) includes appliqué and popup designs. Create fun and playful gifts for kids! You'll also get tips & hints for a gorgeous playmat/bag. Use the creative™ MASTER HOOP 240x150mm / 9.6"x6", creative™ DELUXE HOOP 360x200mm / 14.2"x7.9" or creative™ PETITE SQUARE HOOP 80x80mm / 3"x3".