Menus & toolbars

You access commands using the toolbar buttons on the toolbars on your design window. To use a tool, simply move the mouse pointer over it, and click with the left mouse button. To change settings where appropriate, right-click a tool to invoke Object Properties. The main menu and toolbars are normally docked at the top of the screen above the design window. Use both to access common commands. As you get more familiar with them, you can speed things up using shortcut keys. For a list of available toolbars, go to the Window menu...

On this page...

 

The software includes a 'Context' toolbar which changes according to the selected tool. If you have no tools selected, you will see a machine list, a hoop list, as well as output functions relevant to the selected machine. Here you can also set your measurement units - Metric or U.S. - as well as adjust screen background settings.

Use Context > Fill to fill closed shapes with the current fill stitch type.

Use Context > Line to outline closed shapes with the current line stitch type.

Use Context / Layout > Duplicate to create a copy of a selected object in the same position. The duplicate is placed at end of stitching sequence. This tool is also available via Edit menu.
Use Context / Layout > Duplicate with Offset to create copy at a preset offset position. Use to create regular patterns of duplicate objects.

Use Context > Delete to delete the selection. Or press <Delete>.

Use Context > Group to group a selection of objects. Or press <Ctrl+G>. This tool is also available via Arrange menu.
Use Context > Ungroup to ungroup to a grouped selection. Or press <Ctrl+U>. This tool is also available via Arrange menu.

Use Context > Align Left to align the left edges of selected objects.
Use Context > Align Centers Horizontally to horizontally align the centers of selected objects.
Use Context > Align Right to align the right edges of selected objects.
Use Context > Align Top to align the top edges of selected objects.
Use Context > Align Centers Vertically to vertically align the centers of selected objects.
Use Context > Align Bottom to align the bottom edges of selected objects.
Use Context > Align Centers to align the centers of selected objects.
Use Context > Space Evenly Across to evenly space 3 or more selected objects horizontally.
Use Context > Space Evenly Down to evenly space 3 or more selected objects vertically.

Use Context > Rectangular to crop bitmap artwork using the Rectangular crop tool.
Use Context > Oval to crop bitmap artwork using the Oval crop tool.
Use Context > Heart to crop bitmap artwork using the Heart crop tool.
Use Context > Star 4 point to crop bitmap artwork using the Star 4 point crop tool.
Use Context > Star 5 point to crop bitmap artwork using the Star 5 point crop tool.
Use Context > Star 6 point to crop bitmap artwork using the Star 6 point crop tool.
Use Context > Star 8 point to crop bitmap artwork using the Star 8 point crop tool.
Use Context > Star 10 point to crop bitmap artwork using the Star 10 point crop tool.
Use Context > Star 12 point to crop bitmap artwork using the Star 12 point crop tool.
Use Context > Curve to crop bitmap artwork using the Curve crop tool.

Use Context > Size + 10% to increase the size of selected objects in 10% increments.
Use Context > Size - 10% to decrease the size of selected objects in 10% increments.

 Use Context > Mirror X to flip selected objects horizontally.
Use Context > Mirror Y to flip selected objects vertically.

Use Context > Rotate Left 15° to rotate selected objects in 15° anti-clockwise increments.
Use Context > Rotate Right 15° to rotate selected objects in 15° clockwise increments.

Use Context > Skew to skew selection by specified amount - positive or negative - in degrees.

Use Context > Always Tie-Off & Trim to trim connectors. When it is turned on, the software will decide when to trim.

Use Context > Underlay to apply or exclude automatic underlays to new or selected objects.

Select your current machine model. Some machines can be connected by cable directly to your PC via the USB port. The software supports various sets.

Use Output Design / Context > Send a Design to send the current design to your machine for stitching.

Use Context > Send to Link to send the current design to machine via propriety machine software.

Use Output Design / Context > Write to Card/USB to send a design to an external media drive.

Use Context > Rotate Hoop Left 90° to rotate selected hoop in 90° increments to the left.

Use Context > Rotate Hoop Right 90° to rotate selected hoop in 90° increments to the right. 

Use Context > Measurement Units to change measurement units within software without having to change system settings.

Use Customize Design / Context > Background and Display Colors to set colors, fabrics, or articles as design backgrounds.

Use Context > Feather Edge to apply or exclude Feather Edge effect to new or selected objects.

Use Context > Gradient Fill to apply pr exclude Gradient Fill effect to new or selected objects. When turned on, stitch spacing vary between dense and open fill.

Use Context > Radial Fill to apply or exclude Radial Fill effect to new or selected objects.

Use Florentine Effect > Apply or exclude Florentine effect to new or selected objects.

Use Context > Automatic Corners to turn automatic corners on or off. When turned on automatic corners will apply mitered or capped corners according to the angle of the corner.

 

You change thread colors for embroidery objects from the Design Palette.This is the simplest way to customize a design. The Design Palette you set is saved with the current design. See also Design colors.

Use Design Palette > Current Color to view the current color selection.

Use Design Palette > Pick Color to pick up a color from a design object and make it current.

Use Design Palette > Apply Current Color to apply the current color to selected embroidery objects.

Use Design Palette > Add Palette Color to add a color slot to the design palette.

Use Design Palette > Remove Palette Color to remove an unused color from the end of the design palette.

 

Use Design Palette > Hide Unused Colors to show or hide all unused colors in the design palette.

 

Use Design Palette > Remove Unused Colors to remove all unused colors from the design palette.

Use Design Palette > Change Design Color to show or hide the My Threads docker to find threads from different charts and change design colors.

 

Use the Select toolbar to select or reshape objects.

Use Select > Select Object to select an object or group. Or drag a selection marquee to select multiple enclosed objects or groups.

Use Select > Reshape to adjust object outlines, stitch angles, start and end points, curved lines, etc.

Use Select > Polygon Select to select an object or group by digitizing a polygon line around them.

 

Use the Standard toolbar for commonly used functions such as opening, saving, and printing designs.

 

Use Standard > New Blank Design to create a blank design based on default fabric settings.

Use Standard > New From Design to create a new design based on an existing design.

Use Standard > Open Design to open an existing embroidery design.

 

Use Standard > Open Recent Designs to open a design from a list of recently opened designs.

Use Customize Design / Standard / Layout > Insert Design to insert another embroidery design into the current design. Design palettes are merged. This tool is also available via File menu.

Use Artwork / Auto-Digitize / Standard > Insert Artwork to import graphic files - both bitmap and vector - for use as digitizing backdrops or for auto-digitizing. This tool is also available via File menu.

Use Standard > Save Design to save the current design.

Use Output Design / Standard > Print Design to print the current design.

Use Output Design / Standard > Print Preview to preview design worksheet. Print from preview window.

Click Standard > Copy to copy the selection and place it on the clipboard. This tool is also available via Edit menu.
Click Standard > Cut to cut the selection and place it on the clipboard. This tool is also available via Edit menu.

Click Standard > Paste to paste contents of the clipboard. This tool is also available via Edit menu.

Use Standard > Undo to undo previous action.
Use Standard > Redo to redo previously undone action.

Use Standard > Stop to cancel the function you are using or cancel all selections in a design.

 

A Status Bar at the bottom of the design window provides continuous display of current cursor position status as well as instructions for use of selected tools.

 

FieldNotes
Prompt messageTo guide you through use of selected functions
Design sizeWidth and height
CoordinatesCurrent needle position (X/Y), and length (L) and angle (A) of current stitch. See also Hoop templates, grids & rulers.
Stitch countTotal number of stitches in design
Current fabricFabric settings take into account the type of fabric you are stitching on. See also Fabrics & densities.
Grade of designNative EMB designs are classified in four grades depending on how the file was created. See Supported embroidery files.

 

Use the Travel toolbar for design checking. See also Travel through designs.

 

Use Travel > Select While Traveling to toggle on to select stitches, objects, or colors while traveling through a design.

Use Travel > Travel Backward to travel backwards through a design.
Use Travel > Travel Forward to travel forwards through a design.

Use Travel > Jump By Object in conjunction with Forward and Back icons to travel to the previous or next objects.

Use Travel > Jump By Color in conjunction with Forward and Backward icons to travel to the previous or next color change.

Use Travel > Jump to Start / End in conjunction with Forward and Backward icons to travel to the start or end of a design.

 

Use the View toolbar to set design view settings and other commonly used functions. See also View designs.

 

Click View > TrueView to show or hide simulation of stitched embroidery.

Use View > Show Design to show or hide design elements. Click to open droplist of view settings.

Click View > Show Hoop to show or hide hoop. Right-click for settings.

Click View > Show Grid to show or hide grid. Right-click for settings.

Click View > Show Rulers & Guides to show or hide rulers and guides. Right-click for settings.

Drag the Ruler Zero Point to reset a new ruler zero point.

Use View > Stitch Player to simulate embroidery design stitchout onscreen in either stitch or TrueView.

 

Use the Zoom toolbar to zoom and pan across designs. See also Viewing methods.

 

Use Zoom > Pan to pan across a design at high zoom factors.
Use Zoom > Zoom 1:1 to display design at actual size.

Click Zoom > Zoom In to view design in greater detail.

Click Zoom > Zoom Out to display design at half its current size.

Use Zoom > Zoom to Fit to display whole design in the design window.
Use Zoom > Zoom to draw a marquee around the area you want to view in detail.
Click Zoom > Zoom Scale to display design at a specified scale.