Create lettering

The software lets you add lettering to designs quickly and easily using the built-in library of embroidery fonts. Select from the supplied alphabets or convert TrueType or OpenType fonts. If you are embroidering on a child’s outfit you might use a simple alphabet like Curly. If you are embroidering on a ladies nightdress you might use an elegant script alphabet like Royale. Apply formatting to lettering objects in the same way as a word processor, including italics.

Add lettering

Place lettering on horizontal or vertical baselines, curve it around a circle or arc, or digitize your own baseline curves. Apply formatting to lettering objects in the same way as a word processor, including italics, bolding, and right/left justification. The software provides a font range suitable for many applications.

• Click the Lettering tool, click the design window and start typing.

• Alternatively, enter the text you want to embroider in the Lettering tab. To start a new line of lettering, press <Enter>.

• Select a font from the Font list. You can use both native embroidery fonts or any TrueType font installed on your system. Native fonts generally offer better results.
• You can modify lettering objects directly on-screen to achieve various artistic effects. Appearance and layout depend on current settings.

• Embroidery and TrueType fonts generally contain many more characters than are available via your keyboard. Click Insert Character to add special characters and symbols via the dialog.

• Select a lettering baseline. You can place lettering on a straight horizontal or vertical baseline, curve lettering around a circle or arc baseline, or digitize your own. See also Lettering layouts.

  

• The Lettering tab contains a number of preset 'lettering art' styles which can be applied to lettering to make it bulge or arch, stretch or compress. The effect is best used with a fixed line baseline. See also Lettering layouts.

  

• Adjust lettering height as preferred. Consider the font before changing letter size. Some fonts look best in a smaller size. Others can be stitched at a larger size.

• Select an alignment setting. Alignment governs the way lettering aligns itself along a baseline. Full alignment spreads letters out to fill the length of the baseline.

  

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Advanced settings

Adjust lettering Width and Italic settings in the Advanced panel.

See also Reshape lettering.

Lettering width

Change the appearance of a font by changing the letter width in proportion to height. The default Width value is 100%.

Italics

You can slant letters to the left or right for an italic effect. The default italic angle is 0° which is equivalent to no italics.

Letter spacing

The spacing between letters is calculated automatically as a percentage of the letter height. In most cases the default spacing is adequate. Sometimes, however, you may want to change the overall letter spacing for effect or to fit within a fixed baseline.

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Letter sequence

The software allows you to specify the sequence in which letters are stitched to minimize registration problems with caps or difficult fabrics. Stitch the lettering from left or right, or from center out. This is especially useful when stitching on caps. To change letter sequencing, double-click a lettering object. Select a letter stitching sequence in the Advanced panel. Options include:

	Left to Right	When selected, lettering is stitched from left to right (the default).
	Center Out	When selected, letters to the left of center are stitched first, going from right to left. Next letters to the right of center are stitched, going from left to right.
	Right to Left	Lettering is stitch from right to left.

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Insert color changes

The software lets you insert a color change on any stitch. A color change is inserted at the current cursor position. This is particularly useful when working with monograms or other lettering objects. To edit lettering on screen...

• Select the object and click the Lettering tool. An I beam will appear.
  
• Select a letter (or letters) by dragging the cursor over the letter.
  
• Select a color on the Design Palette.
• To remove unwanted color changes, simply select the entire object and select a color on the Design Palette. The object reverts to the chosen color.