“What is digitizing?” you might wonder. When it comes to embroidery digitizing is the process of translating a file into a series of instructions that an embroidery machine can understand and use to sew thread in a specific pattern. This method is not manual, if you do it the right way. Embroidery digitization is regarded as an art form. Digitizing well is a type of art. It’s also necessary for a lovely stitched design. In a word, digitizing is the process of generating an embroidery design that is machine-ready. Digitization used to be a highly technical and time-consuming procedure with a steep learning curve. Today, thanks to advancements in hardware and software, virtually anyone can design their own embroidery patterns.
A Little History About Embroidery Digitizing
You might hear digitising referred to as “punching” or “programming,” and online embroidery digitizing designs are still referred to as “tapes” or “cards” – all names that trace back to embroidery’s origins. The term “card” came from the fact that many of these devices used a little memory card to load the drawings into the computer. Embroidery designers were formerly referred to as “punchers” because they manually punched holes into a paper tape, hence the term “tapes.” Embroidery options originally appeared on high-end home sewing machines in the mid-1990s, with Janome first, and then the other brands following suit.
One of the most crucial aspects of this approach is comprehending the design. It’s also crucial to assign embroidery stitch types to certain regions while taking into account things like the fabric type and the garment’s “push and pull.” The digitising procedure will be influenced by the artwork’s size, complexity, and location. In some cases, let the fabric show through as a colour rather than laying thread down will look better. Fabric vs. thread should be considered by efficient digitizers (and theoretically by all digitizers if they are excellent).
Where to Look for a Digitized Embroidery File
Normally, you would not have digitised files on hand. If you had one made previously and the company that made it sent you the file, that would be an exemption. Only commercial embroidery machines may use digitised files. You couldn’t even open the file to look at it if you didn’t have the right software (which you probably don’t).
When you hire a graphic design firm to create a logo or a design for you, digitised assets are not included. They are not to be confused with vector art files. If you have a digitised file, you almost always have a “run sheet” to go with it. This is usually a PDF document. It displays the thread colours and sequences of the embroidered design to the embroidery machine operator.
Instructions for Digitization
The instructions included in a digital embroidery file are quite thorough. The next sections go through the most important features of a digitised file.
Underlay
The first stitching in a design is called underlay stitching. The fabric is held to the backing by these unique stitches. They also lay down a garment’s fibres, allowing the main design to sit on top.
Pull Compensation
The embroidery adapts for different fabric kinds using pull compensation (pull comp). Some textiles are completely non-stretchable. A polyester/spandex hybrid polo, for example, stretches far more than a cotton t-shirt. By adjusting the pull comp, a design can be sewn correctly across a variety of fabrics. Leather, for example, is incredibly stiff. Other textiles have a lot of stretch.
Path
The embroidery path is determined by the digitizer. For example, it might instruct the machine to sew the design’s fill first, then the border over the edge. Otherwise, the finished design will be weird. The next consideration is pull compensation. It also elaborates the steps and orders for embroidery for each pattern and design.
Types of stitches
Then there’s a digital file with instructions on how to employ different styles of stitching in a design. The three primary types of embroidery stitches are run, satin, and fill stitches.
The satin stitch is far more popular. It’s commonly used for the majority of the text, some details, and thick borders.
A run stitch is a stitch that runs the length of the thread. It’s utilised for the tiniest, most delicate portions of a design, such as thin borders and lettering.
Finally, a fill stitch is used. Fill stitches are stitches that are firmly packed and used to cover big portions of a design.
The most prevalent digitising software packages are Pulse and Wilcom. There are a slew of additional companies that make digitising software. We can utilise the programme with our machines for online embroidery digitizing if it can create a.dst file. This is all you need to know about embroidery digitizing. If you have questions, feel free to ask us. We can help with your problem right away.
