Digitizing Classes 2011 (4 hours - hands-on) by Loes and Theo...

Digitizing Classes 2011(4 hours - hands-on)

by

Loes and Theo van der Heijden

Art and Stitch.com

Class handout - © Loes van der Heijden, Artistitch - http://www.artandstitch.com - For personal use only.

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Class Description

In this 4 hrs hands-on (bring your laptop) computer drawing class you will learn how to draw customized pantos,special theme E2E’s and repeatable continuous patterns.You will learn how to create patterns on the basis of scribbles of your customer, fabrics in the quilt, hoteldecorations, well... anything. We will teach you how to turn shapes into continuous lines and how to makepatterns repeatable. How to resize and print at actual size to make your own panto rolls. How to export to DXFand other quilt formats if you have a computer guided system. All of this in the easy to use vector drawingprogram Pre-Design Studio III.

Even if you can’t draw, you can create beautiful custom patterns and print your own pantos on any home printer.It’s a time saver and you can offer your customer a one-of-a-kind pattern for her quilt. Happy - thereforereturning - customers, that’s what it’s all about.

Stop spending hours on finding the right patterns: take this class and learn how to make your own pantos, E2Esand repeatable continuous patterns.

This class is for all longarmers, with or without a computer guided system.Skill level: basic computer skills is all you need.Prepare for class by watching all tutorial movies on the Pre-Design Studio website:http://www.pre-designstudio.com

Supply list: laptop with Pre-Design Studio III loaded. If you don’t have the program, you can download a specialClass Edition from: http://www.pre-designstudio.com/mqs2011.htm

Introduction - what to expect

Introduction: vector drawing software. Making drawing as easy as can be and use the result in as many ways aspossible: embroidery digitizing software, send directly to embroidery machines, directly in quilting systems, printpatterns, or copy as vectors in professional drawing software, just to name a few.

Hands-on computer class:Pre-Design Studio: Digitizing E2Es and Pantos Made Easy

MQX Providence, RIE212 - Tuesday April 12, 2011 - 8:00 am - 12:00 noon4 hours hands-on computer class

MQS Kansas Overland Park#118 - May 9, 2011 1:00 - 5:00 pm4 hours Hands-on digitizing class

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2. Draw a quilt pattern� Curve tool - use as few points as possible� Select points to edit lines, duplicate - mirror - align� Select Rotate 45 degr, flip� Fun Tool: Magic Square� Connect objects, leave bottom open� Fun Tool: Select: Magic Circle� Center on page: connect, use Snap to grid as a help.

3. How to use the pattern: Save and ExportSeveral formats available: AutoCAD (*.dxf) ABM Innova (*.pat) CompuQuilter(*.cqp) Handi Quilter (*.hqf) PC-Quilter (*.txt) QBOT (*.plt) SideSaddle (*.ssd)� For embroidery machines: Resize to fit the hoop and Convert to Stitches.

(demo: sew simulator in Ans)� Other option: copy Vectors, “Paste Special” (demo Ans, Adobe Illustrator).

1. OverviewAll buttons are put together in groups - Look at the Tooltips.User Guide can be opened via menu Help. In Menu Help is a link to the Videos onwebsite.

4. Can’t draw? Then trace!Inspiration: anything will do as a background.Slideshow. Result “Antwerp manhole” shown in class.

Hands-on: Open background 01_EasyDrawing.png and trace. Connect,Skew. How about offering your customer to quilt her own design?Your customer can’t draw, so just let her ccribble/doodle. Wacom tablet trick :)


5. Fun Tool: Border Maker to make printable Pantos� Rose Interlocking: 4 high - 5x. Copy Scroll Paste, Color and align

6. Print PreviewAdd Note. Move note. Add line. Print. Taping pages together is nota nightmare whenyou use Loes’ post-it trick. Print Pattern = Actual Size. Print Picture is 1 page.

7. Lasso selectA new way to grab those hard to select elements, for example to use in another pattern:Lasso select tool. Use as “Freehand draw”. Important: take the Select tool (otherwiseyou keep drawing selection boxes)

Class handout - © Loes van der Heijden, Artistitch - www.pre-designstudio.com - For personal use only.

Not an owner of Pre-Design Studio III yet? Price of Pre-Design Studio III is the amount you pay for about15 purchased panto rolls. Your customer satisfaction is priceless!

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10. Polygon Maker� Create stars, geometric designs, pentagon as base for a lace bowl

11. Edit Insert Text - drawing without drawing� Kalocsai Flowers “I”

12. Spiral MakerJust play: add some arcs to a spiral to make a flower in seconds.

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Pre-Design Studio for use with embroidery digitizing software:

Menu background > Load from Picture file > 01_Easy drawing.png� Curve tool, trace. As few points as possible. Close.� Select points to edit.� Magic Circle: 5� Need color > View Menu > Fill

Always save as pre for later editing / re-use. Then Export color bitmap.� This time as a color bitmap for Autopunch. 700 pixels - 1200 for HUS or Artista� Open in PE-Design Next > Image > AutoPunch > Finish > Alt-key settings� Copy pattern picture works the same

Demo Brother’s PE-Design embroidery softwareOpen Daffodils for PE-Design/Palette Design Center:

File > Open� In this example use as PEM pattern, make it BIG� Export > PEM� Start Design Center > Open PEM. Next Stage. Outline is done. Use as redwork or

fill regions. Take into Layout & Editing.


8. Border Maker: make your own repeatable pattern

Draw a shape. First and last on same level: use helplines. Ready for Longarm system.Save in Shapes. Open in Border Maker.To make it “Flippable” put first and last halfway the pattern:Select the pattern, press Ctrl+Y to center it and click in the ruler on the left at the 0 position,for a guideline. Then put first and last point on that level. Now you can use the Border Makeroption “Flip every other shape”.

9. Repeat functionPlay some more: Rotate -45 Magic Square, connect.Then Repeat. Just to see how it looks!Your machine can do the repeats (Pre-Design would slow down).

If time permits, a short demo is shown how to use Pre-Design Studio for embroidery digitizing software

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Doodle page

Take a pencil and fill the triangles. Easy does it. Think Wave, or Doodle, Leaf, Curl, Heart, Cloud, Loop, or justone letter. Draw from point to point. Tip: try turning the page and doodle away. Use Loes’ “Wacom Tablet Trick”to trace your doodle in the software.

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Hands-on:

Art and Stitch: a Jump Start into Digitizing

Class Description

In this hands-on digitizing class (bring your laptop) for longarmers with a computerized system you will learnhow to create beautiful, creative patterns and become a real artist in the Art and Stitch digitizing program,specially developed for longarm quilting. Learn how to create beautiful patterns, fill shapes with motifs, crosshatching, wave fills, autostipple, creative background fillers. Use those fills inside or around a design, or turnshapes into appliqué. Learn how to draw from scratch or trace any image. Art & Stitch will work with all majorquilt and/or embroidery formats. We will show you that creating artwork for quilting is within reach.

So let us surprise you! For extensive details of Art & Stitch visit our website www.artandstitch.com

Supply List: Laptop with Art & Stitch (or Trial version) loaded.Trial can be downloaded from http://www.artandstitch.com/trial.htm

To prepare for class: watch the tutorial movies on the art and stitch website

Introduction - What to expect

In this class we will give you a head start into the new software. Knowing how to draw, how to trace, how to editand save for your system is what you will learn. Plus some truly exciting techniques to digitize artistic andcreative quilt patterns.

MQX, Providence RIE110 - Monday April 11, 2011 - 1:00 - 5:00 pm4 hours hands-on computer class

MQS, Kansas Overland Park#108 - May 9, 2011 8:00 - 12:00 am#209 - May 10, 2011 8:00 - 12:00 am (duplicate of #108)4 hours Hands-on digitizing class

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1. Quick Overview of Art and Stitch� Artwork Toolbar / Stitch Toolbar / Show/Hide buttons.� Drawing tools - helpful Tooltips show when hovering over a button� In Menu Help: User Guide and link to online videos.� How to edit and reshape.

� Curve tool: draw (Ctrl for sharp point) - reshape - duplicate mirror - connect- rotate 45 - Magic Square

� Look in Repeat to see the E2E effect. Cancel (system can do the repeats)� Resize 8 inch� Save - save again in your quilt format.� Save on a USB stick, open in your quilt system.

� Arc tool: draw (third point is at the same time first point of next arc) -reshape - rotate left - Magic Circle - Connect - Close

2. Trace a background� Backdrop button. Cherries. Make image lighter. DesPage. press Space bar� 3pt arc. Trace, Reshape, Hide backdrop, Snap to Guidelines. First,last

same level. Repeat, flip every other vertically,� Assign stitches. Show Sew Simulator.

3. Patterns in Custom Shapes Library� Show shapes of Judy Allen and Jack Stewart� Open Shapes > Bird.� Apply Motif Stitch: Candlewicking 04 (under Blocky Loes)� Change motif to Loes Spiral (onderaan)

4. Creative Fill� Open Wavy Hair from Library, open Heart. Select both together. Apply

Creative Fill. Apply stitches. With reshape tool move first and last down toremove jump. Check in Sew Simulator.

� New: JoAnn Hoffman > Easter Egg. Different effect.

� Another example: JoAnn Hoffman. Triangle on top. Copy, Paste, Mirror,Reshape, Connect. Rotate Magic Square.

5. Can’t Draw? Doodle and fill triangles� How about offering your customer a pattern she made herself. She

probably will tell you that she can’t draw, but let her doodle / fill a triangle!

Class handout - © Loes van der Heijden, Artistitch - www.artandstitch.com - For personal use only.

Hands-on:


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6. Cross Hatch around a shape� Open Bird2 - Center. Duplicate and move one aside. Draw a square of 8x8

inch around it. Select both, right-click Combine. Click on Hatch button. Trydifferent settings/spacing

� When outline is not closed, decide if it’s necessary (not if hatch is aroundapplique). If outline is needed, move the duplicate on top.

� Or instead of a hatch fill, choose a Motif around it.

7. Transform Artwork > Unite to make Rays� Line tool: triangle 7 inch wide, 1 high, close� Magic Circle: x 25, closer together� Copy and paste into new design page� Shape on top in center: Bird > Transform Artwork > Unite

� Want it to be a square block? Square on top. Creative Fill effect.

8. Meandering Anything� Open Meandering pattern: lock to design page.� Open Arcs Block open. Resize to 4 inch. Right click > Power Copy.� Unlock the red round shapes and delete. Delete original power copy.� Unlock the blue meandering pattern and UNGROUP.Select All, right-click

Connect Objects.� Take Reshape tool and tweak connections.� Show in Repeat function. Apply stitches and show in Sew Simulator

9. Transform function� Open Butterfly. Repeat 3. Flip every other vertically.� Right-click Connect, right-click Transform Convex Top 3x.� Ctrl+D, flip and connect. Show in Repeat.

10. Make a Mitered corner� New file. Open Border element. Open Border Mask. Resize mask and

move. Apply Creative Fill. Delete Mask. COPY - PASTE - ROTATE RIGHT- FLIP.

� Move in place: little overlap. Select all, right-click and Transform > Unite.Break apart, delete little elements.

� Copy, pick up the border from previous file, paste, move in place. Alignbottom.

11. New from old Movie on ArtandStitch.tv website Webinar Connect/Combine.� Open existing block patterns.� Split in two places, to isolate a part. Copy to new design page.� Make an arrangement. Change properties of end points. Connect

12. Full Quilt Layout� If time permits: show grid, Ctrl+T throat space and Ctrl-Q set the quilt size.

Show use of ruler guides. Then import blocks. Apply stitches for parts fittingthe throat space. Save as qli, open that qli to show that only stitch basedparts are inside the quilt format = base principle of setting up full quilt.


Hands-on:


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Doodle page

Take a pencil and fill the triangles. Easy does it. Think Wave, or Doodle, Leaf, Curl, Heart, Cloud, Loop, or justone letter. Draw from point to point. Tip: try turning the page and doodle away. Use Loes’ “Wacom Tablet Trick”to trace your doodle in the software.

Start

End

Tip:

If y

ou fe

el y

ou k

eep

draw

ing

the

sam

e sh

apes

, tur

n th

e pa

ge.


Hands-on:


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Hands-on computer class:

Art and Stitch: Traditional Feathers Go Digital

Class Description

Always admired those beautiful feather patterns? How about making your own?In this hands-on (bring your laptop) computer class you will learn how to digitize traditional feather designs inthe easy to use Art and Stitch software, specially written for longarm quilters. You will learn how to drawfeathers with the semi-automatic 3pt arc tool, how to create feather designs with the Repeat function and withthe Magic Circle function. You will learn how to draw feathers fitting any shape, by preparing a template first.

It will be great too draw those gorgeous, beautiful patterns yourself and use them in your computerizedlongarm system.

This is a specialty technique class. To prepare for this class, watch all tutorial movies on the Art and Stitchwebsite.If you don’t have Art and Stitch yet, please download the trial version fromhttp://www.artandstitch.com/trial.htm - play with it for a couple of hours and follow the first exercises in theUser Guide (open via menu Help > User Guide).

Supply List: Laptop with Art & Stitch (or Trial) loaded.

MQS Kansas Overland Park#218 - May 10, 2011 1:00 - 5:00 pm4 hours Hands-on digitizing class

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Introduction to Art and StitchDesign page, Artwork toolbar, drawing tools, stitch toolbar. Allbuttons in sets that make sense: show/hide, manipulate a selection,fun tools etc. Handi tooltips.

Creating feathers with the Repeat functionOpen one feather, repeat. Transform.

Creating feathers with the Magic Circle functionOpen one feather, Magic Circle, Connect.

Combine, connect, continuousImportant explanation by Loes.

Digitizing feathers with the 3pt arc tool

� Open one of the feathers in the program, assign stitches andstudy the path/routing.

� Copy to a new design page, split to isolate a few feathers,delete the rest, lock it and trace.

� Draw 3 feathers from scratch: The 3 pt arc tool makes parts ofcircles. One feather consists of 3 circle-parts: inner circle fromspine to top, the top circle part and an outer circle part from topto spine. Take 3pt arc and “think circles”.

� Draw in the desired sequence> backtracking over the spine:use S key on keyboard to snap to previous points.

Prepare a template - feather designs to fit anywhereDrawing from scratch, without a background image. Draw threeshapes: triangle, circle and square. Draw a spine in each of them.Then take the 3pt arc tool and digitize the feathers as a continuouspath, as in the previous exercise.

Complex patterns: draw in sections - use “tails”Draw in sections and edit all sections before connecting. Use tailsto keep track of the last point you worked on. Delete tails beforeconnecting

Transform Artwork > UniteWorks for closed, simple, overlapping shapes and makes a verynice connection. Result is a continuous pattern, one start, one stop.Put an extra circle inside and fill it with a motif or hatch.

Hands-on computer class:

Art and Stitch: Traditional Feathers Go Digital

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Hands-on classArt and Stitch: Digitizing Creative Background Fillers

Class Description

In this class (for longarmers with a computerized system) you will learn how to create beautiful, creativepatterns to be used as background fillers: in a shape, or between blocks. Once digitized with Art and Stitch,those “Creative Fills” can be used over and over again, in any shape, saved in all major quilt formats. They canbe turned into a pattern in just seconds! We will start by showing the secrets behind the fills included with theprogram. Then you will learn how to be a real artist in creating your own Creative Fills.

This is a specialty technique class. To prepare for this class, watch all tutorial movies on the Art and Stitchwebsite.If you don’t have Art and Stitch yet, please download the trial version fromhttp://www.artandstitch.com/trial.htm - play with it for a couple of hours and follow the first exercises in theUser Guide (open via menu Help > User Guide).

Supply List: Laptop with Art & Stitch (or Trial) loaded.

MQX, Providence RIE644 Saturday April 16, 2011 - 1:00 pm / 5:00 pm4 hours hands-on computer class

MQS Kansas Overland Park#530 - May 13, 2011 1:00 - 5:00 pm4 hours hands-on digitizing class

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Quick Overview of Art and Stitch� Artwork Toolbar / Stitch Toolbar / Show/Hide buttons.� Draw� How to edit and reshape.

1. Open existing background filler� Analyze, assign stitches: all in one continuous path

Note: You can *see* the background filler as a piece of decoratedfabric. The shape on top is your “paper pattern”. Applying thecreative fill effect will cut your “decorated fabric” along the paperpattern line.

2. Put a shape on top: Creative Fill Effect� Any simple, closed shape can be drawn on top of a

continuous background fill. Move the shape over the fill for anice fit.

� Apply Creative fill effect� Always check in Sequence View if the result is still one piece

of artwork.� Repeat, but this time rotate the background filler first.� Repeat and resize the background filler.

3. Make your own Creative Fill� First make a Motif-like pattern. Anything will do as long as it

is repeatable. Use the Repeat function to make a big pieceof decorated fabric. Connect all. Put a shape on top to test.

� Create one repeatable flower, select, right-click and choose“Power Copy”. Copy it over a large area to make yourbackground filler. Try Connect. Not doable? Then Combine(will cause overstitching).

4. Make your own freemotion background fillerIf you’re like me, then you are “talking to yourself” when doingfreemotion on your longarm. You make up rules as you go. Dothe same in Art and Stitch.

Neat trick: draw/freemotion first with a sharpie on apiece of clear plastic. Put the plastic on your monitorand trace your work in Art and Stitch! Save for futureuse as your own freemotion style background filler.

5. Difference between Creative Fill and Motif:Creative fills are vector artwork. Motifs are stitches.

Hands-on classArt and Stitch: Digitizing Creative Background Fillers

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DemoArt and Stitch: embroidery digitizing

Digitizing from scratch:Start with artwork first, then apply stitches.Embroidery patterns need closed shapes (Quilting needs one continuous path).Draw apple.Assign stitches. Change Stitch direction in leaf.

Shading:draw a shading part. Assign stitches: double the spacing.

Outlines:An object can be one thing only: fill or outline. To make an outline, copy, paste,assign a run stitch, color black. No outline around shading part!

Properties:In Quilting mode: no underlay, no tie in tie off.For embroidery, choose File New and change “style” to EMBROIDERY.

User Guide:Special section about embroidery, explanation of File New.

Size is important:For embroider choose the proper hoop size and format. Ctrl+Q. Resize,otherwise the machine cannot open the file.

Applique:Select the closed shape and click on the Applique button. Look in Propertiespanel. You can add fabric to see the result. For quilting, change satin intoBlanket. Change color > choose Color 3.

Ready made Artwork in Library:Open the Tulips in folder Embroidery Artwork.Apply Embroidery fill stitch. Show sew simulator. Save yourself some threadchanges: click on Color Sort.

Existing embroidery Designs:Quilt patterns in embroidery format: open and tick the box “Convert to outlines”.For example no58_2small.pes from demo patterns folder. It’s small. Suitable tobe turned back to artwork. Resize for quilt system. Save in your system’sformat, for example QLI for Statler.

Filled embroidery designs are not suitable for quilt systems, but you can changesequence, colors, resize, add details, delete parts and save as PES.

Quilt patterns to Embroidery:You can open existing quilt patterns, resize and save for your embroiderymachine. For example Jack’s car or Judy’s feathers.

True Type Fonts - Dingbats:Dingbat fonts are great for embroidery. E.g. Hibiscus - N.Break apart, recolor, resize, delete de really small details, apply Emb. Fill.Save as PES.

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About Loes and Theo van der Heijden

Loes and Theo van der Heijden of Artistitch, the Netherlands:Loes is a fashion designer, embroidery and quilt pattern digitizer and since 1996 author of various multimediadigitizing tutorials. Loes has been teaching digitizing classes in Europe and the USA since 1998. Theo retiredafter a 27 year career at IBM, is now partner / marketing manager of Artistitch V.O.F.

Pre-Design Studio and Art and Stitch:The designing, drawing, digitizing and teaching skills acquired over the years have resulted in the release oftwo user-friendly vector drawing programs: Pre-Design Studio and the new Art and Stitch digitizing software,specially written for longarm quilting.

Loes and Theo have developed a special teaching style: precise digitizing as well as freestyle pattern creationis what they’re good at and their enthusiasm will draw you into their creative world!

The company website: http://www.artistitch.com

Digitizing Classes 2011 (4 hours - hands-on) by Loes and Theo...

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