As we explore the process of design creation, we need to get some terminology out of the way. If a word stumps you while reading halfway down a page, your brain will get stuck there and not retain anything else you’ve read. So let’s do some vocabulary, and at the same time, learn a few things.
Objects are the building blocks of the design. There are different types of objects, and their order or “sequence” is the order in which the embroidery machine will sew them. Let’s look closer at what these really are.
Objects contain outlines, colors and stitch properties. As such we usually refer to the object by its stitch type, for example we may say it is a “Run object” or simply a “Run.”
When you have selected an object you may want to change its stitch type. You may at any time change any object from any stitch type to any other.
Some stitch types make use of the shape of the outline itself – for instance, the shape of a Run is where the run will be placed – along the outline. In contrast, a Fill would place stitches to cover the inside of the shape. When a stitch type is used that fills a shape, the outline will need to be “closed” and this happens automatically.
Objects have one stitch type. In StitchArtist, you are able to apply any stitch type on any object. Thus you could copy and paste an object and change its stitch type, thus having a ‘Fill’ and a ‘Satin Border’ around it. This allows you to adjust the outlines for each: In the real world of stitches on fabric, shape adjustment of the outline will need to happen in all but the most simplistic of designs.
When loading artwork for use as a backdrop for stitches, you may load as many images as you want. Each will be added to its own object. Ordinarily the first thing you would do when creating a design is to load the artwork, position it on the design page, perhaps select a destination hoop size, and then resize the image to that size. You can also rotate, stretch and mirror the image as needed. The image will display with a default transparency that can be adjusted using the “Bitmap” property page for the image.
Once you begin creating stitch objects on top of that image, the image will “lock” automatically in place. This is the same as if you lock it using the Object View toolbar buttons. A locked object means that it cannot be selected by clicking on it in the main view, if it isn’t already selected. Any locked object can be selected using the Object View. So it is possible to move or alter the transparency of the image even after you have begun to add stitches, if you care to do so.