Online Rummaging - Digitizing Lesson 2

Back Digitizing - Lesson 3
Download dice.pcx file.
After you import the dice.pcx files, scale it to 1.500 size [Image/Scale]. We'll work with some relatively easy 'outlining' which adds diffinition and a finishing touch to a design.

Doing the sides of the dice should be 'old hat' to you by now. We'll be working with Fill Stitch. We won't change the density for these, just the stitch angle. Make you points at each corner.

Let's make the top of the dice an angle of around 340

Move to the next section of the dice.

For this side, let's use an angle of 195

Now the last section! By setting each section at different angles, it will help make the dice look 3-dimensional.

For the final section an angle of 11 or so will work. Have you been zooming in as you work? Panning around for a better look?

Let's change colors to color white for the next part. We "could have" digitized around the white spots when we did the top, and sides of the dice. That would have saved a little thread, but for the sake of ease, we'll just layer the dots over.

Zoom in on the top and we'll do that first spot. Use your right mouse button to go around the shape of the dot. Move to the other sections and complete all the dots. For giggles and chuckles, use the left mouse button to go around some of the dots and see if it makes a difference when you sew out.

On to the fun stuff! Change to color black.

Zoom in so you can see all of an edge. Just like making a square, add your points. Be sure to cover over the edge of the existing stitches. This picture doesn't show the existing stitches very clearly. If need be, hide the .pcx [Image/Hide] so you can see those stitches better. You'll bring your edge outline a bit beyond the edge for good coverage.

Do a section at a time. For each section of outlining make your angles perpendicular to the long edge. If we didn't work in small sections, and made the outline all the way around...some of the sections would stitch lengthwise and some perpendicular.

When you are all done, hide the .pcx and admire your work. Was butting the angles together a challenge? Did you overlap a little to get sharp looking corners?
Practice making different angles for the top and sides. Everyone has a favorite 'look' when they digitize. Experiment and find your's.
When you can't see the pattern underneath a section you've already digitized, go to Thread Colors and make the previous thread colors a very light color, so you can see what you are digitizing next. When you get all done you can set the colors back the way you want them.
When sewing out the dice, if the hoop jumps around and the thread breaks...it could be that the thread is too heavy. The machine was designed for using a 60 wt. thread. Change the outline fill spacing to .410 and .460 [Fill/Fill Values] and observe the texture of the outline.

Back

	Doing the sides of the dice should be 'old hat' to you by now. We'll be working with Fill Stitch. We won't change the density for these, just the stitch angle. Make you points at each corner.
	Let's make the top of the dice an angle of around 340
	Move to the next section of the dice.
	For this side, let's use an angle of 195
	Now the last section! By setting each section at different angles, it will help make the dice look 3-dimensional.
	For the final section an angle of 11 or so will work. Have you been zooming in as you work? Panning around for a better look?
	Let's change colors to color white for the next part. We "could have" digitized around the white spots when we did the top, and sides of the dice. That would have saved a little thread, but for the sake of ease, we'll just layer the dots over.
	Zoom in on the top and we'll do that first spot. Use your right mouse button to go around the shape of the dot. Move to the other sections and complete all the dots. For giggles and chuckles, use the left mouse button to go around some of the dots and see if it makes a difference when you sew out.
	On to the fun stuff! Change to color black.
	Zoom in so you can see all of an edge. Just like making a square, add your points. Be sure to cover over the edge of the existing stitches. This picture doesn't show the existing stitches very clearly. If need be, hide the .pcx [Image/Hide] so you can see those stitches better. You'll bring your edge outline a bit beyond the edge for good coverage.
	Do a section at a time. For each section of outlining make your angles perpendicular to the long edge. If we didn't work in small sections, and made the outline all the way around...some of the sections would stitch lengthwise and some perpendicular.
	When you are all done, hide the .pcx and admire your work. Was butting the angles together a challenge? Did you overlap a little to get sharp looking corners? Practice making different angles for the top and sides. Everyone has a favorite 'look' when they digitize. Experiment and find your's. When you can't see the pattern underneath a section you've already digitized, go to Thread Colors and make the previous thread colors a very light color, so you can see what you are digitizing next. When you get all done you can set the colors back the way you want them. When sewing out the dice, if the hoop jumps around and the thread breaks...it could be that the thread is too heavy. The machine was designed for using a 60 wt. thread. Change the outline fill spacing to .410 and .460 [Fill/Fill Values] and observe the texture of the outline.