Standard and Advanced Digitizing Mode

Floriani FTCU has two built-in options for digitizing – standard mode and advanced mode. I advise beginners to use the standard mode when they are learning to digitize.  When you trace a design in standard mode, FTCU will add the default settings for the angle lines and the start and stop nodes.

Here is a tutorial that will explain the differences between the two modes.

 

“What is the difference between Standard and Advanced Digitizing Mode?”

These 2 settings are located in the PREFERENCES screen.

• click on TOOLS (on the top toolbar)
• choose PREFERENCES (at the bottom of the list)
• click on the DIGITIZING tab

This is the screen you will see:

First, I will explain how the STANDARD mode works for that tool.

And then, change to the ADVANCED mode and show the difference in the settings.

Run stitch – Standard

When in this mode, after tracing a segment with the RUN stitch tool, FTCU will automatically generate where the start and stop node is placed.

Here is a practice sample:

Go to TOOLS > PREFERENCES:

• click on the DIGITIZING tab
• in the dropdown menu for the RUN, choose STANDARD
• click OK

Step 1: Choose the stitch:

• left click on the RUN stitch tool in the top row.
• in the properties box, choose SINGLE RUN for the stitch type.
• click APPLY

Step 2: Trace a run segment

• use LEFT clicks to place anchor points to draw a run stitch segment
• RIGHT click when finished.

step 3: select the shape edit tool

• in the sequence view, left click on the RUN segment
• left click on the EDIT SHAPE tool (on the left toolbar)
• you can see that the software placed the START and STOP node for you

Run stitch – advanced

When in this mode, after tracing a segment with the RUN stitch tool you are given the option to place the start and stop nodes.

Here is a practice sample:

Go to TOOLS > PREFERENCES:

• click on the DIGITIZING tab
• in the dropdown menu for the RUN, choose ADVANCED
• click OK

Step 1: Choose the stitch:

• left click on the RUN stitch tool in the top row.
• in the properties box, choose SINGLE RUN for the stitch type.
• click APPLY

Step 2: Trace a run segment

• use LEFT clicks to place anchor points to draw a run stitch segment
• RIGHT click when finished.

step 3: place the green start node

• you will see a GREEN circle on the end of the cursor
• left click at the end of the segment where you want it to START stitching

step 4: place the RED stop node

• after placing the green node the cursor will immediately show a RED circle
• left click at the other end of the segment where you would like it to STOP stitching

step 5: select the shape edit tool

• in the sequence view, left click on the RUN segment
• left click on the EDIT SHAPE tool (on the left toolbar)
• now you can see where you placed the START and STOP node and edit them as needed

fill stitch – Standard

When in this mode, after tracing a segment with the FILL stitch tool, FTCU will automatically generate where the start and stop node is placed and the angle line also.

Here is a practice sample:

Go to TOOLS > PREFERENCES:

• click on the DIGITIZING tab
• in the dropdown menu for the COMPLEX FILL, choose STANDARD
• click OK

Note: You also have the option to change the default of the angle line. For this tutorial, just leave it at 0.

Step 1: Choose the stitch:

• left click on the FILL stitch icon on the top tool bar.

Step 2: Trace a segment

• use LEFT clicks to place anchor points to draw a fill shape rectangle
• RIGHT click when finished.

step 3: select the shape edit tool

• in the sequence view, left click on the FILL segment
• left click on the EDIT SHAPE tool (on the left toolbar)
• you can see that the software placed the ANGLE LINE and the START and STOP node for you
• you can now edit each of them by left clicking and dragging to a new location

Fill stitch – advanced

When in this mode, after tracing a shape with the FILL stitch tool you are given the option to place the ANGLE line and the START and STOP nodes.

Here is a practice sample:

Go to TOOLS > PREFERENCES:

• click on the DIGITIZING tab
• in the dropdown menu for the COMPLEX FILL, choose ADVANCED
• click OK

Step 1: Choose the stitch:

• left click on the FILL stitch icon on the top tool bar.

Step 2: Trace a complex fill shape

• use LEFT clicks to place anchor points to draw a fill shape rectangle
• RIGHT click when finished.

step 3: place the black angle line

• you will see a black circle on the end of the cursor
• FTCU has generated an angle line, but you now have the option to draw a different one in another location
• left click on the workspace and drag a NEW angle line
• FTCU will automatically edit the angle line to the new placement

step 4: place the green start node

• now you will see a GREEN circle on the end of the cursor
• left click at the location that you want the segment to START stitching

step 5: place the RED stop node

• after placing the green node the cursor will immediately show a RED circle
• left click at the other end of the segment where you would like it to STOP stitching

step 5: select the shape edit tool

• in the sequence view, left click on the FILL segment
• left click on the EDIT SHAPE tool (on the left toolbar)
• now you can edit the angle line and stop and start nodes again, as needed

satin stitch – Standard

When in this mode, after tracing a segment with the SATIN stitch tool, you will still place the angle lines, then FTCU will automatically generate where the start and stop nodes are placed.

Here is a practice sample:

Go to TOOLS > PREFERENCES:

• click on the DIGITIZING tab
• in the dropdown menu for the SATIN, choose STANDARD
• click OK

Step 1: Choose the stitch:

• left click on the SATIN stitch icon on the top tool bar.

Step 2: Trace a segment

Reminder: this satin stitch is similar to tracing with the FILL tool – you will trace around the shape – (see image below)

• use LEFT clicks to place anchor points to trace around the outside edge of a shape (see image)
• RIGHT click when finished.

step 3: place the angle lines

• you will see a black circle on the end of the cursor
• left click on the workspace and drag an angle line at each end of the satin shape
• left click on the workspace and drag an angle line in the center of the design
• you can do one angle line in the center or multiple lines, depending on the size of the shape and the angle you want the satin stitches to lay

Note: You may see a WARNING on your workspace that says you have created a satin stitch that is wider than the recommended width. Just ignore it, since you will not be stitching this satin stitch

step 4: edit the satin segment

• in the sequence view, left click on the SATIN segment
• left click on the EDIT SHAPE tool (on the left toolbar)
• you can see that the software placed the START and STOP node for you
• you can now edit each of them by left clicking and dragging to a new location
• you can also edit the angle lines as needed

SATIN stitch – advanced

When in this mode, after tracing a shape with the SATIN stitch tool you are given the option to place the ANGLE line and the START and STOP nodes.

Here is a practice sample:

Go to TOOLS > PREFERENCES:

• click on the DIGITIZING tab
• in the dropdown menu for the COMPLEX FILL, choose ADVANCED
• click OK

Step 1: Choose the stitch:

• left click on the SATIN stitch icon on the top tool bar.

Step 2: Trace a segment

Reminder: this satin stitch is similar to tracing with the FILL tool – you will trace around the shape – (see image below)

• use LEFT clicks to place anchor points to trace around the outside edge of a shape (see image)
• RIGHT click when finished.

step 3: place the angle lines

• you will see a black circle on the end of the cursor
• left click on the workspace and drag an angle line at each end of the satin shape
• left click on the workspace and drag an angle line in the center of the design
• drag multiple angle lines, as needed

Note: You may see a WARNING on your workspace that says you have created a satin stitch that is wider than the recommended width. Just ignore it, since you will not be stitching this satin stitch.

step 4: place the green start node

• now you will see a GREEN circle on the end of the cursor
• left click at the location that you want the segment to START stitching

Note: I left clicked and placed the GREEN node where the arrow is but it showed pink on my screen instead of green. I tried it several times and it still continued to show a pink color instead of GREEN. Not sure why the software is doing this, but wanted to inform you, in case yours does this as well. Just ignore it and move on to the next step. It did turn GREEN later after the next step.

step 5: place the RED stop node

• after placing the green node the cursor will immediately show a RED circle
• left click at the other end of the segment where you would like it to STOP stitching

step 5: select the shape edit tool

• in the sequence view, left click on the FILL segment
• left click on the EDIT SHAPE tool (on the left toolbar)
• now you can edit the angle line and stop and start nodes, as needed

I hope this explanation helps you to understand the difference between the standard digitizing mode and the advanced digitizing mode.

How do you know which one to choose when you are digitizing?

It’s really a personal preference. I usually like to use the STANDARD mode and let the software generate the stops and starts. Then, I can edit them as needed.

For beginners, I recommend using the STANDARD mode until you are comfortable with digitizing.

It is a lot simpler to digitize in standard mode – less steps to have to think about as you are tracing the segments.

That’s why in the beginning of a lot of the Embroidery Gatherings tutorials, I tell you to adjust your settings to the standard mode.

And besides, it is beneficial to let the FTCU software use it’s default settings to guide you!

And, as always, if you have any questions, please send me an email and I will try to help!

 

 

 

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