Process images

The auto-digitizing tools provide everything necessary to automatically digitize shapes in electronic artwork without manual input methods. Even if your artwork looks ready to stitch when inserted into the software, however, it will need to be image-processed before conversion. The software will not let you apply automatic digitizing without it. It is important to use the correct preparation method for your image...

Image typePreparation
Non-outlined images
  • Reduce colors to a specified number
  • Reduce each block to a single color
  • Remove anti-aliasing, noise and dithering
  • Remove colors smaller than a specified area.
Outlined images
  • Adjust outline contrast
  • Blend each outlined block into a single color
  • Remove anti-aliasing, noise and dithering
  • Sharpens outlines.

Depending on the quality of the scanned image, you may need to touch it up manually before processing in your software You would normally do this in order to eliminate backgrounds, flood-fill solid areas with color, or add outlines, close gaps, or reinforce outlines. See also Edit artwork.


Use Artwork > Prepare Artwork for Embroidery to prepare bitmap images for automatic digitizing by reducing colors, removing image ‘noise’, and sharpening outlines.

Prepare non-outlined images

Use the Prepare Artwork tool to prepare non-outlined images for automatic digitizing. The tool automatically reduces color blocks in bitmap images to a single color, removing anti-aliasing and noise. You can let the software reduce the color count automatically or specify a precise number. The latter is useful if you want to match design colors to an exact number of thread colors. To prepare non-outlined images...

  • Scan or import the image to use.
  • Select the image and click the Prepare Artwork icon. The image appears in both ‘before’ and ‘after’ preview panels.
  • Check the number of colors in the processed bitmap. The software suggests a color count and shows a preview of the resulting image. If there appear to be too many, the image probably contains noise.
  • First try adjusting the color count up or down to match the number of threads you wish to use.
  • If the image still contains ‘noise’, try adjusting the filtering options:
    • Min color area: This defines the smallest area recognized in the conversion. The default is 0.5 by 0.5 square mm (about eight pixels). Increase this value if your image has a lot of ‘out-of-color’ pixels. The minimum color area should not exceed 1/16 of the total area.
    • Min line length: This defines the smallest line length recognized as an object. The default is 2 mm. The minimum line length should not exceed 25% of the smallest dimension.
  • Click Zoom In to view the image more closely. In addition to the zoom buttons, you can use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. You can also click and drag the image to pan it within the preview panel.
  • If necessary, manually locate and merge like colors as desired:
    • Holding the <Ctrl> key, click like-colors in the color palette to select.
    • Click and hold the Locate button to preview.
    • Click Merge to merge all like colors into a single composite color.
  • Experiment with settings to obtain the best result.

Use Artwork > Prepare Artwork for Embroidery to prepare bitmap images for automatic digitizing by reducing colors, removing image ‘noise’, and sharpening outlines.

Prepare outlined images

Use the Prepare Artwork tool to prepare outlined images for automatic digitizing. This function automatically sharpens outlines and reduces noise. Areas enclosed by a black outline are reduced to a single color. Outline sharpening makes it easier for the software to recognize distinct areas in the artwork. These areas then become the embroidery objects of the finished design. Use it particularly if the outlines are blurry, fuzzy or indistinct. To prepare outlined images...

  • Scan or import the image to use.
  • Select the image and click the Prepare Artwork tool. The image appears in both ‘before’ and ‘after’ preview panels. If the image contains noise, process as you would a non-outlined image.
  • Select the Cartoon processing option. The software suggests a color count and shows a preview of the resulting image. If there appear to be too many, the image probably contains noise.
  • Use the slider control to set the outline contrast tolerance.
  • If necessary, manually locate and merge like colors as desired:
    • Holding the <Ctrl> key, click like-colors in the color palette to select.
    • Click and hold the Locate button to preview.
    • Click Merge to merge like colors into a single composite color.