Design Center is used to create embroidery patterns from bitmap images. The bitmap images may come
from scanning a printed image or can be created with an application like Paint



. They must be uncom-

pressed, 16-color bitmaps (file name extension

bmp

). Design Center automatically detects outlines in the

bitmap image and replaces them with broken lines that can be edited and assigned sewing attributes.
The procedure is divided in four steps:

◆

Stage 1 – Original Image: You open the bitmap image file and select one or more colors that the
application will use to retrace the outlines.

◆

Stage 2 – Line Image: The original color bitmap image is replaced with a black and white bitmap
image (the colors selected in Stage 1 become black, and all the other colors become white). You can
edit this image using pens and erasers of different thicknesses. (You can also start at this step and
draw a complete black and white image by hand.)
When the image is ready, you set and start the automatic retracing process.

◆

Stage 3 – Figure Handle: The black and white bitmap image is replaced with a set of outlines made
of editable broken lines. You can edit the broken lines by moving, inserting or deleting points.

◆

Stage 4 – Sew Setting: In this final step, you apply sewing attributes (thread color and stitch type) to
the outlines and regions inside.

At any stage, you can save your work to retrieve it later. Up to stage 2, the file will be a bitmap image
saved with the extension

pel

. In stages 3 and 4, the file will be saved with the extension

pem

Saving your work as you move through the stages will be helpful if you make changes and then decide to
use the original pattern again.

When your image has reached stage 4, you can import it in Layout & Editing. The image will be consid-
ered a single object by Layout & Editing, which means that you will be able to move and scale it, but you
will not be able to edit the outline. You can however change the pattern and some of the sewing attributes
after applying the Stitch to Block function.

■

Layout & Editing

Layout & Editing is used to assemble a complete embroidery image from various components. These
components include:

◆

Embroidery patterns created with Design Center.

◆

Embroidery patterns purchased on Embroidery cards from your dealer (installed using the File Utility
application). Note that some patterns cannot be read.

◆

Embroidery patterns in the Tajima, Melco, Pfaff and Husqvarna formats.

◆

Patterns created within Layout & Editing itself. These patterns include text, circles and related shapes,
rounded boxes, polygonal lines, curves and manual punching patterns.

Getting Started