Basic Drawing Tools

There are a lot of features that are built into the software for your SINGER® FUTURA™ sewing & embroidery machine. Our goal is to explore these features, so that you get the most out of your machine. This month’s issue of Embroidery Made Easy will expand on a few of the functions that are available in the AutoPunch™ Draw Package. Because there are so many tools to use in the Draw Package, in this issue we are narrowing it down to some of the basic drawing tools. These tools pro-vide you with the ability to create basic shapes to use with the AutoPunch™ digitizing wizard.

In addition, you’ll use your new skills to create a beautiful border for this month’s project, a handy case for your tablet. Then, you’ll learn how to use the Show/Hide function in this month’s Inside Your Soft-ware article.

September 2014

Draw Program—Basic Shapes

Digitizing designs from clip art or other artwork is a great way to express your creativity. But what do you do if you can’t find digital artwork that is exactly like you want? One option is to edit images that you already have or create them yourself using digital graphic art software. There are many great pro-grams on the market, but did you know that there is a simple draw program built in to the AutoPunch™ software? The Draw Package in AutoPunch™ provides you with the tools to edit existing images and also offers basic “draw” tools to create your own. The Draw program has many features, far too many to explore all of them in one issue of Embroidery Made Easy, so we’ll be spreading them out over several issues. This month, we’re focusing on basic drawing tools.

To begin, open the software for your SINGER® FUTURA™ sewing & embroidery machine.

Select Create from the main tool bar.

Select Draw Package.

SEPTEMBER  2014  Issue 

Draw Program - Basic Shapes (cont’d)

There are two options, Open an existing image or Create a new bit-

map. Select Create a new bitmap, then select OK. Now it’s time to set the size of the drawing area. The unit of measure, which will be ei-ther metric or inches (depending on how you’ve got the Systems Pa-rameters set in your software). It’s always a good idea to use an image that is similar to the desired size of the finished design. You may even decide to set the size of the area so that it’s the same size of the hoop that you will be using. The “X” is the width measurement and the “Y” is the length measurement In this case, we are going to create an area

that is close to the size of the large hoop; X is 6 and Y is 9. Select OK to open the Draw Package.

A new screen opens, which displays the drawing area that you’ve just created, along with new tool bars. The drawing area is white and out-lined with a dashed line and square nodes. You may make the area larger or smaller by clicking and dragging the square nodes.

There are several new tools avail-able. In this issue, we are going to focus on some the tools that are in the red oval on the left side of the screen along with color change options.

Let’s discuss color first. You have the option of working with two colors at all times. The left mouse click controls the primary color, and the right click of the mouse controls the secondary color. The colored square on the top, represents the color of the left click and the square on the bottom represents the right click . A quick way to change the prima-ry and secondary colors is to se-lect one of the sixteen colored squares on the bottom of the menu. When the cursor is brought into the area with the “quick” colored squares, the cursor changes to an eye dropper, indicating that color change option is activated.

Primary Color—Top square. Left mouse click.

Secondary Color—Bottom square. Right mouse click

SEPTEMBER 2014  Issue  Page 2 

Left click on one of these squares, and the top square (primary) color will change. Likewise, a right click on one of the colored squares, the bottom square (secondary) color will change.

If you don’t see the color that you’d like in the quick colors, you can custom mix your own. Click on the top square. A new box opens. Se-lect one of the colors in the Basic colors section or set your own by clicking in the rainbow area. You can even use a tint or shade of the selected color by clicking on the

color bar on the far right. New colors can be saved to use again, by adding them to Custom colors.

Click on a box in Custom colors. Select the desired color. Click on Add to Custom Colors. Select OK.

The new color will now appear in the primary po-sition. To change the secondary color, repeat this process, but click on the bottom (secondary col-ored) square first. Once the colors are set, you can select which drawing tool you’d like to use.

Drawing tools:

Line

Round Rectangle

Outlined Round Rectangle

Filled Round Rectangle

Rectangle

Ellipse

Arc

Sector

Polygon

Draw Program—Basic Shapes (cont’d)

Line

Outlined Round Rectangle

Filled Round Rectangle

Ellipse

Polygon

Primary Color (Left Click)

Secondary Color (Right Click)

Round Rectangle

Rectangle

Arc

Sector

SEPTEMBER 2014  Issue  Page 3 

Draw Program—Basic Shapes (cont’d)

For the most part, all of the drawing tools operate similarly, though their functions are different. To use a drawing tool, click on the tool icon, the cursor now becomes the drawing tool. Hold and drag the cursor in the drawing area, release the cursor when you’ve drawn the object. The name of the tool indicates what type of object you can draw. For example, if you select the Round Rectangle, you will be able to create a rectangle with rounded corners. This type of rectangle has an outline but no fill. Other variables that you can set are the thickness of the line and the amount of curve to the corners. Select the thickness of the lines by clicking on one of the lines in the Lines section. The slide bar on the right of the line menu controls the curve of the corner. The higher the position of the slide, the sharper the corner. The lower the position of the slide, the more rounded the corners will be. In this case, the left mouse was used to draw the rectangles –that is why they are the pink (if you recall, this is the primary color). If the right mouse was used to draw the rectangles, the rectangles would be aqua.

Round Rectangle

Controls Line Thickness

Slide Bar Controls curve

of corners

Lines

Thinnest line, Sharper corners

Thin line, Rounded corners

Thickest line, Sharper corners

Thickest line, Rounded corners

Line Tool —

Thinnest line (Primary Color)

Thickest line (Primary Color

Thickest line (Secondary Color)

Outlined Round Rectangle —

This is a filled rectangle. The left click outlines the rectangle with the secondary color and fills the center with the primary color.

The right click outlines the rectangle with the primary color and fills with the secondary color.

Note: Holding the Control key on the keyboard while drawing the line will create a straight line.

SEPTEMBER 2014  Issue  Page 4 

Draw Program—Basic Shapes (cont’d)

Filled Round Rectangle

This is a filled rectangle without an outline. The left click fills the rectangle with the primary color.

The right click fills the rectangle with the secondary color.

Rectangle

The rectangle has sharp corners with several options. In addition to selecting the line thickness, you may select the type of rectangle. The rectangle options are displayed next to the line thickness .

Outlined with no fill—right or left mouse determines color of line.

Filled with an outline—right or left mouse determines color of line or fill.

Filled without an outline—right or left mouse determines color of fill.

Ellipse

The ellipse is a circular shape with several options. In addition to selecting the line thickness, you may select the type of ellipse. The ellipse options are displayed next to the line thicknesses.

Outlined with no fill—right or left mouse determines color of line.

Filled with an outline—right or left mouse determines color of line or fill.

Filled without an outline. - right or left mouse determines color of fill.

The Arc

The Arc is another circular shape. Use it as you would the Ellipse.

Sector

The sector is a circular shape with a line intersecting the circle. The click of the mouse, whether left or right, will create the shape. Whichever click you are using, click again and the shape appears.

Outlined with no fill—right or left mouse determines color of line.

Filled with an outline—right or left mouse determines color of line or fill.

Polygon

The polygon shape is created by using short clicks to draw each side of the shape. Each click adds another side to the shape. The amount of sides to the shape is unlimited.

Polygon has similar options to the other shapes. Select the style and line thickness. The shape in this example has six side.

SEPTEMBER 2014  Issue  Page 5 

Show/Hide Stitch Points There are times when it is advantageous to see the actual stitch points on the screen. This is especially true when using the Stitch Edit function found in the Editing software. Perhaps you’d like to move one stitch that is out of place, or a delete or move a jump stitch. It is easier to select a stitch when the stitch points are clearly displayed on the screen. Like other func-tions in the software, there is more than one way to access the function. Show/Hide Stitch Points can be found under the View tab on the main toolbar. Or, a quick way to show/hide the stitch points is to use the key-board command; press the letter P on the keyboard. The first time that you press the P key, the stitch points appear. The second time you press the P key, the stitch points appear darker. Press the P key a third time and the stitch points are hidden from view again.

An important note: An Undo feature is available, however, this can only undo the last action you

completed. Select the Undo button on the main tool bar to cancel the last action.

When you’ve finished creating your drawing, select the Close Image Editor on the main tool bar. Upon, exiting, you will be asked to either save the image or exit drawing. If you’d like to save the image, you will need to assign a name to the image. It is suggested that you save your images in a separate folder. You may choose to name this folder, My Images. If you choose not to save the image, your work will not be saved. Be sure to check for future issues to learn more about the Draw Package.

Draw Program—Basic Shapes (cont’d)

SEPTEMBER 2014  Issue  Page 6 

At first glance, it appears that one long jump stitch connects the flowers blocks. When the stitch points are visible, however, you can see that its not one long jump stitch that connects the flower blocks, but rather several stitches in between them. If the design is stitched this way, it will be more difficult to trim away the connecting threads. It would be advantageous to delete the unnecessary stitches before sending the design to the machine to be embroidered.

Show/Hide Stitch Points (cont’d)

When the stitch points are hidden, it appears that one long jump stitch connects the flower blocks.

When the stitch points are visible, you can see that it’s not one long jump stitch, but rather several stitches in between the flowers.

SEPTEMBER 2014  Issue  Page 7 

Sewing Machine Organizer Circular printed fabric is the inspiration for the embroidered pattern on the pocket of this very handy organizer. Learn how to create your own images using the Draw Package built into the AutoPunch™ software and your SINGER® FUTURA™ sewing & embroidery machine.

Visit the SINGERCo.com/blog or SINGERCo.com/projects to download the project today!

Coming in the Next Issue… More Drawing & Coloring Tools 

SEPTEMBER 2014  Issue  Page 8