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Edit objects

In addition to making global changes to a design, such as changing the thread palette and design colors, some product levels allow you to edit design objects and even individual stitches. When available, the Edit Objects toolbox provides many tools for reshaping, resizing, rotating objects, as well as add or remove stitch angles. Other editing functions are available via the Context toolbar, popup menu, and Edit menu. Explore the topics on the right to find out what else you can do with the software's editing features.

There are also specialized features for creating special effects as well as saving time while you digitize. From sunsets to wood grains, color blending creates interesting color blends, perspective effects and shading effects. The Ambience Quilting feature is used to create ‘echo’ quilting designs. Quickly create outline stitching around selected objects or entire designs with Single, Triple or Satin Line.

I’ve always loved sea creatures as a topic for artwork and found seahorses fascinating. For the embroidery design that is featured in this article, I used a beautiful pencil drawing by Catherine Noel and applied a few techniques I recently learnt. Catherine generously allowed me to use her design for both this article and the video tutorials and even gave me permission to share the digitized embroidery design. You can access it by clicking the link at the end of this article.Click the thumbnail to read more or right-click to open the link in a new tab...

Selection functions

Keyboard shortcuts are available for most selection functions:

To
Press
Add next object to selection<Ctrl + Tab>
Add previous object to selection<Ctrl + Shift + Tab>

Choose Select tool

<O>
Deselect all objects<Esc> or <X>
Select a range of objects<Shift> + left-click first and last objects
Select all objects<Ctrl + A>

Select multiple objects

<Ctrl> + left-click
Select next object     <Tab>
Select previous object<Shift + Tab>

Not all shortcuts are applicable to all product levels.

Editing functions

Keyboard shortcuts are available for most editing functions:

ToPress
Apply closest join to selected objects<J>

Apply Redwork to selected objects

<Ctrl + I>
Break apart composite objects<Ctrl + K>
Cancel a command<Esc>
Center current stitch<C>
Copy selected objects<Ctrl + C>

Cut selected objects

<Ctrl + X>
Delete last reference point (when digitizing)<Bksp>
Delete selected objects<Delete>
Duplicate selected objects<Ctrl + D>
Duplicate selected objects with offset<Ctrl + Shift + D>
Group selected objects<Ctrl + G>
Lock selected objects<K>
Nudge selected objectsLeft-click + arrow keys
Paste selected objects<Ctrl + V>
Redo a command<Ctrl + Y>
Reshape selected objects<H>
Toggle underlay in selected objects on/off<U>
Undo a command<Ctrl + Z>
Ungroup selected objects<Ctrl + U>
Unlock objects<Shift + K>

Not all shortcuts are applicable to all product levels.