One Line Walking has been added to Impression as a standard stitch type.


 

The Settings Manager has been re-organized. Together with the addition of tool-tips, it makes managing settings much easier and simpler than before.

Four New Settings are introduced: Minimum Span, Maximum Span, Highest Density Width and Corner Compensation. (7.2)


 

In a satin stitch block, when the width of the column changes drastically, it may require the Span to change accordingly. Auto-Span is designed to deal with such situation.



Auto-Span works in Radial Stitch, One and Two Lines, and in Lettering modules. This option is located in the upper right hand corner of the system window. 'Off' is its default position.

When Auto-Span is on, density of stitches is monitored by 'Minimum Span', 'Maximum Span' and 'Highest Density Width'.

Example of Auto-Span: Density varies as column width changes.


 

A new pull-down menu for accessing quickly the suggested settings has been added.


 

We can now pre-set and save stitch settings for individual designs.

1. Open the Settings Manager. (Click on Tools, then 'Settings Manager'.)

2. Change the settings value wherever desired.

3. Click 'OK'.

4. Save the design.

Notes: The next time the same file is opened, the saved settings will be loaded and the Quick Settings Selector will display 'On_File.SET'.
 

Whenever a new file is opened, the system's default settings will be loaded as 'Default.SET'. For better flexibility of the system, users can now change the default according to their own experience and habit in digitizing.

1. Open the Settings Manager. (Click on Tools, then 'Settings Manager'.)

2. Change the settings value wherever desired.

3. Click on 'Save'.

4. In the Save As window, select 'Default.SET' and click 'Save' to replace the existing file.

5. Click 'OK' to close the Default Settings window.

Notes: Since the Default.SET, as the system default setting, affects ALL designs, be extra cautious in making changes.
 

There are now eleven tested, revised or new, settings recipes in Quick Settings Selector for easy reference. Just click the pull-down menu to select what's best for the situation.
 

Input boxes on Settings Bars of all stitch types are re-organized to be more logical and consistent.
 

In older versions of SEDS, character height in lettering is the total height measuring from the tip of an upper case letter to the bottom of lower case letters, such as 'j's and 'g's. In this new version, the input value reflects the height of a typical upper case letter, such as 'A's and 'H's measuring from top to bottom. This allows the user to have a much better control over lettering size.


 

In older versions of SEDS, character width was an independent factor. The new version changes it to be a percentage of the original character width. The default is 100%, without distortion to the character itself.
 

Four new Re-designed Font Orientation Options, replacing the old ones, are included in the Lettering Module.


 

There are two new additions to the Design Options dialogue box. 'Cap Corner' and 'Cut Serif'. With these options, quality and flexibility of lettering stitches generated from TrueType Font is greatly improved.

1. At the menu bar, go to 'Edit', then, 'Options….'.

2. In the Design Options window, check the box next to 'Cap Corner' or 'Cut Serif'.

3. Click 'OK'.
    

This new feature is for better size manipulation of characters when they are still in the wire frame state, displayed within a box.

1. Go to the lettering module, SEDS or TTF fonts.

2. At the 'Edit Tools' box select 'Display Within Box'.

3. Type and show the characters on screen.

4. Press and hold the 'Ctrl' key.

5. Left click once on one of the Red handles at the corner of the box.

6. Release the 'Ctrl' key.

7. Move the cursor to visually monitor the Proportional size change.

8. Left click again when the desired size is achieved.

9. Finish the creation process.
    

In previous versions, users are required to go to the 'Punch Read' or 'Punch Write' windows in order to open, or output to a diskette, a stitch file such as Tajima 'dst' and Happy 'tap'...etc.
Now, we can 'Open' or 'Save' such files directly through the menu bar.

The 'Paste' Options under Edit has been redefined for more practical use.



 

1. Select the item(s) to be copied.

2. Go to 'Edit' and click 'Copy', or, simply press the 'Ctrl' and 'C' keys at the same time.

3. Go to 'Edit' and click 'Paste'. A fly-out menu with 6 options appears.

4. Select the option that's suitable.

Notes: An Object or Stitch Block must be selected before hitting 'To Replace Selected. A Stitch Block must be selected before hitting 'Before Selected Stitch Group' or 'After Selected Stitch Group'. Pressing 'Ctrl' and 'V' keys at the same time pastes the copied stitch block(s) at the end of the sewing sequence. By default, all pasted item(s) appear at the left upper corner of the design file and should be moved to the appropriate location immediately.
 

'View' has been added to the menu bar, allowing a lot more viewing options to be accessed easily.


 

The addition of the Online User's Guide provides a quick and easy reference on using the program. It can be opened by simply clicking on the F1 key on the keyboard, or, on the Help button on the menu bar.


 

The Recovery Save, previously called the 'Auto Save', feature has been greatly improved. When it is activated, it will automatically create a temporary copy of the saved original file. If something happened that caused the system, or the computer to crash, the user will be able to recover the file at the stage when it was last recovery-saved.

1. At the menu bar, go to 'Edit', then, 'Options….'.

2. In the Design Options window, check the box next to 'Recovery Save' at the top.

3. Input the number of minutes between each save. 10 to 20 is recommended.

4. Click OK.

Notes: 'Recovery Save' DOES NOT save changes made to a design in progress. Occurrence should be more frequent than the regular manual save. Digitizers should develop the habit of saving design as it progresses manually at an interval of no more than 20 minutes.
 

Whenever a recovery is required, the 'File Recovery' window will appear.

1. Click OK to recover file.

2. Open the recovered design and continue.

Notes: 'Backup Save', (in Design Options) provides additional file protection.
When a file is saved manually, 'Backup Save' makes a copy of the already saved file and store it in the same folder as the original design file first, before the actual saving of the file begins. That means this backup file, with an 'edk' file extension will always be one version behind what is currently saved. If something went wrong with the original file and couldn't be opened, the user can find the backup (by the same name), renames its extension to 'edf' and open. Backup Saved files will always remain in the folder. For saving hard disk space, it would be a good idea to delete such files when no more changes to the original designs are expected.
 

A new 'Lock Stitch Pattern', (-0.4,0.3,-0.3,0.4), will be posted in the Design Options Window as the Default. These numbers can be changed to fit the requirement of individual machines.



 

To use

1. Select one stitch block.

2. Press and hold the 'Shift' key, then, hit one of the Arrow Keys to go to the next or the previous stitch block in the stitching sequence.
    

Zooming has never been simpler. Just press the '+' or the '-' key.
 

To use

1. Zoom in to an area in the design.

2. Press and hold the 'Alt' Key, then, press one of the Arrow Keys to view different areas of the design.
    

'XOR' Selection means it's a toggle between two states of selection. To use:

1. Go to 'Point Selection'.

2. Press and hold the 'Alt' Key.

3. Click the item to be selected, or de-selected.
    

User can go to 'Box Selection' by pressing 'B' on the keyboard.
(Go to 'Point Select' by pressing 'T'.)
 

De-select can be done simply by pressing 'Alt-a' on the keyboard, Or, by selecting 'Deselect All' under the Edit menu.
 

SEDS fonts allow user to choose the lettering sewing order within 3 options: 

1. Go to any one of the lettering modules.

2. In the ‘Typing’ window, type in the desired letters, for example A,B,C,D,E.

3. Select ‘L’, ‘C’, or ‘R’.

4. Click ‘OK’.

TrueType fonts allow users to choose the lettering sewing order within 4 options:

1. Go to any one of the lettering modules.

2. In the typing window, type in the desired letters, for example A,B,C,D,E.

3. Select ‘L’, ‘C1’,C2 or ‘R’.

4. Click ‘OK’.

Four options are devised, giving users more choices in dealing with cornering in radial stitches.


 

Imported or scanned in images can be Rotated, and Mirrored Horizontally or Vertically.



Image Processing features can be found at the upper right hand corner of the design window. Right click at the 'Image On' icon to reveal the fly-out menu.
The 'Image X-Mirror' and 'Image Y-Mirror' are for flipping the image horizontally and vertically, respectively.

Image Rotation:

1. Click on the 'Rotate Image' button and the 'Rotate Parameter' dialogue box comes out.

2. Input the degree of rotation. A positive number means a clockwise rotation and a negative value makes the rotation turns counter-clockwise.

3. Click 'Do'.

In older versions, users have to make manual calculations to change the size of stitch group(s) proportionally. Version certainly makes things easier by providing the 'Proportional Re-Size' Options.

It is now possible to change the underlay type of multiple stitch blocks of the same primary stitch type, at 'Change Stitch Settings'.

1. Select all the stitch blocks to be changed. (Must be of the same stitch type.)

2. Click on the 'Change Stitch Settings' button.

3. At the Settings bar, right click on the 'Underlay Pattern' window to reveal all the available underlay types.

4. Select the type desired.

5. Right click in the design window to finalize the change.

Turn Radial Fill is now a standard stitch type for SEDS Imagine.

       

Creating a donut shape fill stitch:

1. Draw two circles, one inside the other and have them remain selected.

2. Select the Two Line Radial Stitch mode.

3. At the top right hand corner of the system window, right click on 'Satin' to reveal the 'Fill' option.

4. Click on 'Fill'.

5. Go back to the design window and go to the punching mode.

6. Adjust the settings.

7. Apply the guide lines as shown in the sample above.

8. Right click and put down the Start and End points.

9. Right click to generate stitches.

Digitize Selected Area

Users can now choose between 'Contour Stitching' a whole picture or just a part of it (leave out the background). Not only it is good for lessen the stitch count; this improvement invites the creative mind in applying different artistic elements to the background of pictures.

     

The process is quite simple:

1. Import or scan in a good quality picture.

2. Go to 'Contour Stitch' mode.

3. Choose the 'Selected Area' option at the upper right hand corner of system window.

4. Adjust parameters.

5. Outline the area in the picture to be stitched with a closed object.

6.  Go to punching.

Contour Stitch running at 45° and 135° (7.2)

Apart from the original Vertical and Horizontal sewing angle options in Contour Stitch, two more new choices are added.

Flow Stitch is the latest addition of stitch type to Insignia's arsenal. It's very useful for digitizers with an artistic mind.


Flow Stitch is listed under 'Special Stitch Types'. It requires 2 objects, one closed and one open. The closed one is the stitch blocks actual shape. The open one directs the 'flow' of the stitches.

Below are two examples of Flow Stitch:

(Flow1)


(Flow2)

1. Go to the Flow Stitch mode.

2. Draw a closed object.

3. Draw an open object (controller) to steer the stitch flow direction. (The controller has to be drawn over and beyond the limit of the closed object.) Stitches created will be running parallel to the controller.

4. Select both objects.

5. Adjust the parameters.

6. Right click and put down the Start and End points.

7. Right click to generate stitches.

Notes: In case some of the stitches aren't flowing correctly, adjust the position and length of the controller with 'Move Points' and right click to re-generate stitches.
To achieve a good 'flow' visual effect, density must be set so low that individual parallel lines of stitches can be seen clearly.
 

When 'Flow Effect' is applied, the uniformly regular appearance of a stitch block is transformed into a livelier artistic 'Flow' look. The users can be very creative with this new feature.

    
 

1. Create a stitch block.

2. Draw an open object to control the 'Flow'.

3. Make sure that only the intended Stitch Block (without its object) and the flow control object are selected.

4. In the Edit Tools box, Right Click over the top of the 'Move a Stitch Point' icon and Select 'Flow Effect'.

5. When the 'Flow Effect' Window comes out, slide the percentage bar until it attains the desired effect.

Below are two examples of 'Flow Effect'.
A1 and A2 are the original stitch blocks and B1 and B2 are the transformed.

  

  

Notes: Even the 'Control Object' has to be an opened one; the stitch block to be transformed can be very flexible. In fact, it can be of any type and shape or even multiple connecting stitch blocks.
 

Elliptical shape warp is added to the original '3D Globe' feature.

      

Applying the 3D Globe Effect feature is really easy.

1. Create a circular or elliptical stitch block.

2. Pick the '3D Globe Effect' in the Edit Tools box.

3. The 3D Globe Effect dialogue box will come out.

4. Slide the top bar towards the right slowly to watch the instant change.

5. Click OK.

Below are two examples:
    
 

Concave  3D warp (Reverse Warp) is added to the original 3D Globe.

Slide the top bar in the 3D Globe Effect dialogue box to the left creates the concave effect.


Notes:

1. The DX and DY factors in the 3D Globe Effect dialogue box, are for moving the center of the warp horizontally and vertically.

2. Theoretically, there is no restriction to the shape and stitch type to do 3D. Warping occurs inside the stitch block and the shape of warp is circular and elliptical.

3. A shape can be warped many times to achieve different effect. In the example below, the stitch block was warped first normally, (top bar slides to the right), then warped again reversely (top bar slid to the left) with the center moved.

With the inclusion of the ability to remove neighboring stitch points in the 'Insert Needle Points feature, sculpturing on a filled block becomes more outstanding.

      

1. Make a fill.

2. Create objects inside fill.

3. Make sure the new objects and the fill are selected.

4. Go to the Object Tools box and select 'Insert Needle Points'.

5. Click 'Insert Needle Points'.

6. A 'Closest Stitch Point Distance' dialogue box comes up.

7. Input the desired number and click OK to finish.

Below is an example of Stitch Sculpturing using 'Insert Needle Points'.



The blue lines in the Original are the objects imitating the veins on the leaf.
 

To use

1. Select a stitch block.

2. Press and hold the 'Ctrl' key and press one of the arrow keys to move selected item(s).
    

Two new stacking options are added to the original fill pattern applied in Satin Stitch.