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ELNA XPRESSIVE 2 User Manual

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Xpressive II
User's Guide
Elna International Corp. SA
07.10.2005

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Summary of Contents for ELNA XPRESSIVE 2

  • Page 1 Xpressive II User’s Guide Elna International Corp. SA 07.10.2005...
  • Page 2 C O P Y R I G H T © Copyright 2005 Pulse Microsystems Ltd. All rights reserved. This Xpressive User’s Guide and the Xpressive software are copyrighted by the devel- oper of the software, Pulse Microsystems Ltd. All rights reserved. US Patent Nos. 5 270 939;...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    The Xpressive package ............. 10 System Requirements ............10 Backing up files ..............10 Connecting Hardware ..............10 Connecting the Elna embroidery machine ......11 Configuring the Elna embroidery machine ......11 Installing Xpressive ..............11 Using other disk formats .............11 Registering Xpressive ..............11 Obtaining a License for Xpressive from the Internet ...
  • Page 4 Printing in 3D View ............. 42 Inputting and Outputting Designs..........43 Inputting a design ..............43 Outputting a design ............. 43 Outputting a design to the Elna embroidery machine ..45 Chapter 4 Viewing and Measuring Designs Viewing Methods and Tools ............48 Magnifying and reducing the view ........
  • Page 5 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Showing and hiding outline segments ......... 50 Showing and hiding machine commands ......51 Showing and hiding the stitch placements in designs ..51 Showing and hiding beads ..........52 Showing and hiding stitches in design files ......52 Defining grid settings............
  • Page 6 Changing the shape of lettering manually ......76 Changing the vertical position of lettering ......78 Changing the size and position of circle lettering ....79 Rotating lettering manually ..........81 Changing the shape of lettering .......... 82 Setting the lettering height........... 82 Setting the justification ............
  • Page 7 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Chapter 7 Design Editing in Stitch Mode Editing Stitches and Stitch Groups..........98 Selecting stitches in various ways ........98 Deleting stitches ..............99 Flipping stitches in a design file......... 101 Mirroring stitches in a design file ........102 Moving through Stitch designs ..........
  • Page 8 Resequencing by color ............136 Chapter 9 Using Paths Drawing Lines ................138 Forcing horizontal and vertical lines ........139 Drawing diagonal lines ............140 Drawing mode for lettering ..........140 Drawing modes for punching..........141 Drawing straight lines ............141 Vertex and Point Editing............
  • Page 9 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Satin and Fill Stitches............... 161 Creating Satin or Fill stitches with the Enhanced Column tool ............... 161 Creating Satin or Fill segments with holes ......161 Creating stitches with the Complex Fill tool....... 163 Creating Steil stitches............164 Adjusting Satin and Fill Stitches..........
  • Page 10 Glossary..................195 Index..................221...

  • Page 11: Getting Started

    CHAPTER 1 Getting Started Welcome to the Xpressive II embroidery design system for the Elna home-based embroidery machine. The Xpressive II User’s Guide provides you with the information you need to install the software and hardware and to learn about Xpressive.

  • Page 12: The Xpressive Package

    • Microsoft® Windows®2000/XP operating Xpressive supports many different peripheral system devices. The most important device you need to connect is your Elna embroidery machine. • 3.5-inch high-density disk drive for most disk formats First, you need to connect the peripheral •...

  • Page 13: Connecting The Elna Embroidery Machine

    Janome, Viking, Poem, and Singer. embroidery machine See the Elna documentation for more Registering Xpressive information on how to set up the Elna embroidery machine. Initially you can use the Xpressive software for up to 30 days without a license. To use it...

  • Page 14: Obtaining A License For Xpressive From The Internet

    Any time during the evaluation period you can start the registration using the Help menu. You can choose one of the following options to obtain a license: • Using a serial number (requires Internet connection). • Providing an unlocking key given to you by phone or e-mail.

  • Page 15: Obtaining A License For Xpressive Without Internet Access

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide 3 Select I received a serial number & I have an internet connection on this machine and click Next. You will see the Welcome to Purchase Wizard page appear. 5 In the Serial number field, enter the serial number you received and click Next.
  • Page 16 If your 30-day trial mode has expired, double-click the Xpressive link on your computer desktop. You will see the Xpressive License Activator wizard appear. 3 Select I received a serial number & I don’t have internet connection on this machine and click Next.

  • Page 17: Transferring A License From A Second Computer

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide 4 In the Site Key field, enter the site key you were given for your computer or click Browse and find the location of the site key. Click Next to continue. You will see another Xpressive License Activator wizard page appear.
  • Page 18 3 Select I want to transfer a license from a second computer and click Next. You will see another Xpressive License Activator wizard page appear. 9 Browse to your A:\ drive that contains your floppy disk. 10 Click OK. You see the License Transfer confirmation dialogs.
  • Page 19 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To transfer a license to directory or USB device: 1 On the computer without a license, open Xpressive. You will see the Xpressive License Activator wizard appear. 3 Select I want to transfer a license from a second computer and click Next.

  • Page 20: Opening And Closing Xpressive

    4 Click Browse and locate the network The installation of Xpressive on this computer will no longer have a license. directory you want to transfer your license 10 On the computer without a license, click 5 Click Next. Next. You will see another Xpressive License The license will be copied to this Activator wizard page appear.

  • Page 21: Calibrating Your Screens For Accurate Measurements

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Calibrating your Screens for Accurate Measurements Xpressive allows you to calibrate your monitor to display design dimensions accurately. When you use the Back to 1:1 tool, a tool used to display designs in their original size, the ruler measurements will be...

  • Page 23: Setting Up Xpressive Ii

    CHAPTER 2 Setting up Xpressive II Elna Xpressive II allows you to arrange your toolbar in a way that suits your needs. To set up Xpressive, you can change the settings for user preferences such as Company Name and Units of Measurement.

  • Page 24: Setting Up The Workspace Environment

    Setting up the Activate Auto-panning. When you select Activate Auto-panning, the workspace system automatically pans for you environment when you reach the edge of the window while you are designing. The Xpressive workspace includes the 4 Click OK. toolbars, menus, ribbon, and the design window containing the design you are editing.

  • Page 25: Showing And Hiding The Draw Ribbon

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Showing and hiding the design window are drawn and the design window position remains fixed. the draw ribbon Inside the design window, you will only see stitches being sewn for You can show or hide the draw ribbon. The visible areas of the design.
  • Page 26 To set user preferences: Choose Tools—Configuration—User Settings. You see the Settings property pages. Click the User Preferences property page. Select the following settings: From the Language list, select the language for Xpressive’s menus and dialog boxes. In the Company Name box, enter your company’s name.

  • Page 27: Learning The Basics

    CHAPTER 3 Learning the Basics Before you start using Xpressive, we recommend you learn a few of the basics outlined in this chapter and then try the lesson at the end of this chapter. In this chapter: • Learn basics such as how to start a new design, open and close existing designs, and save designs.

  • Page 28: Understanding The Xpressive Workspace

    Understanding the Menu Bar Xpressive Workspace The Menu Bar appears below the Title Bar. The Menu Bar contains a list of menus The Xpressive workspace contains several specific to Xpressive. areas. The screen below shows the Xpressive workspace. Status Bar The Status Bar appears at the bottom of the Xpressive design window.
  • Page 29 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Tool What it means Tool What it means Autotrace: Detects contours and Move by 1: Use to move backward traces an image to produce stitch or forward through a design by 1 segments. unit (segment or stitch).

  • Page 30: Draw Ribbon Tools

    Draw Ribbon Tools The sewing simulator allows you to watch your design draw on a stitch-by-stitch basis, Draw Ribbon tools make it easy to see how simulating the sewing action of your machine. your design will sew out on-screen. You can The simulator controls are similar to a CD use the Draw Ribbon tools to eliminate player or VCR.

  • Page 31: Editing Tools

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Editing Tools Tools What is does Play backward one color: Move backward in the design What it What it to the beginning of the Tool Tool means means previous color or selected command. Select: Lasso...

  • Page 32: Viewing Tools

    Stitch Edit Tools What it What it Tool Tool means means Merge Backdrop What it What it Design: Select: Tool Tool means means Merges Selects existing image files Stitch Lasso design file to use as Select: Stitch with backdrop Selects Select: another for on-...

  • Page 33: Punching Tools

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Punching Tools File Tools What it What it What it What it Tool Tool Tool Tool means means means means Enhanced Manual: New: Open: Column: Creates Creates a Opens an Creates manual and existing Satin or Fill...

  • Page 34: Correcting Mistakes

    Correcting mistakes Undo and Redo are two significant features Entering that allow you to correct mistakes. If you measurements make a mistake and change your mind about an action you just made, Undo reverses the Xpressive converts measurements that you action.
  • Page 35 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide such as the Xpressive Outline File (*.ESE) However, this will not guarantee the into the unified design window, your design preservation of your stitches. file holds outlines and stitches as well. You For more information on STO, see can open Stitch or Machine Format File such "Converting stitches to outline...

  • Page 36: Opening Designs Using The Library Feature

    selecting the files you want to open. To Tips open all files, select any file and press • To open a file you have recently worked Ctrl+A on your keyboard. on, choose File and then choose the 4 In the Files of type list, select a design file design file from the list.

  • Page 37: Saving Designs

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Saving designs You can use Save or Save As to save designs in a variety of file formats such as the Xpressive Unified File (*.ESX), Xpressive Stitch File (*.EMD), Tajima Stitch Files (*.DST) etc. The Save As command lets you save an alternative version of the design with a different name, location, or file format.

  • Page 38: Saving A Copy Of A Design

    To save a design: To save a copy of a design: Choose File—Save As. 1 Choose File—Save As Copy. You see the Save As dialog box. You see the Save As dialog box. In the Save in list, browse to the location In the Save in list, browse to the location you want to save your file.

  • Page 39: Using The Scroll Bars

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To set up worksheets for designs: Print Hoop to print the hoop along with the design. Choose Tools—Configuration—User Extend Crosshairs to the entire Settings. worksheet’s width and height. You see the Settings property pages. Print Images to print design Click the Print Setting property page.

  • Page 40: Working With Thread Charts

    See your Windows®2000/XP documentation for more information. Working with Thread Charts Changing the colors in designs Xpressive provides several thread manufacturer charts you can use to add or change the thread colors in your design. The color palette on the left side of the screen is the default set of thread colors or the colors 3 In the Chart list, select the thread chart that are used in the active design.

  • Page 41: Adding Custom Thread Colors To A Custom Thread Chart

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Adding custom thread colors to a custom thread chart Adding standard thread colors to a custom thread Using the Windows®2000/XP Color palette, chart you can add new thread colors to a custom thread chart. The available manufacturer’s...

  • Page 42: Choosing A Thread Chart

    Choosing a thread chart Removing a thread color from the custom thread The Thread Database consists of two color chart palettes. The palette on the right shows a full set of thread colors based on a color chart You can quickly remove a thread color from from a thread manufacturer.

  • Page 43: Printing Designs

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Stitches. Select to print the design image with only stitches. In the Image Setting area, select one or more of the following settings: Print actual size, or Scale Design or Fit to Page. Select one of these settings control how you view the design in the worksheet.

  • Page 44: Previewing A Design Before Printing

    Printing design Print Images to print design background images along with the worksheets design. You can print worksheets for design files. The hoop must be displayed in the When you print a worksheet for a design file, design window. the worksheet information depends on the selected settings in the Print Setting property In the Worksheet setting area, select the page.

  • Page 45: Inputting And Outputting Designs

    Once a design is output to the Smart Media 2 Choose File—Smart Media—Input. card, you can then sew it on the Elna You see the Smart Media Input dialog. embroidery machine.
  • Page 46 To output a design: Creating Multiple Hoop Designs Insert the disk into the appropriate drive. To create multiple hoop designs: 2 Choose File—Smart Media—Output. 1 Open a new design file or load an existing You see the Smart Media Input dialog. design.

  • Page 47: Outputting A Design To The Elna Embroidery Machine

    Files—Smart Media—Output. Outputting a design to the Elna embroidery machine You can output designs directly to the Elna embroidery machine using the Output to Machine command. The Output to Machine commands works like a printer where you cue your designs and the machine signals for your design when it is ready to sew.

  • Page 49: Viewing And Measuring Designs

    CHAPTER 4 Viewing and Measuring Designs Xpressive gives you the methods you need to view your designs with accuracy. You can view your entire design on-screen or pan to view only parts of your design not visible in the design workspace.

  • Page 50: Viewing Methods And Tools

    Viewing Methods and To increase the zoom, continue clicking and dragging the flexible box. Tools By doing so, you can view a single stitch. In the View toolbar, click the Back to Magnifying and reducing the view tool to zoom back out. Use Zoom to magnify or enlarge parts of your To disable Zoom: design.

  • Page 51: Viewing The Actual Size Of Designs

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Viewing the actual size of designs To view a design in 3D View: 1 Open the design. Click the Back to 1:1 tool to have the 2 Select View—3D View. design appear within its true measurements You see the 3D View’s Option dialog box.

  • Page 52: Viewing A Design Selection On-Screen

    Viewing a design To pan right: selection on-screen • Use the key to move right. The Fit Selection to Window command allows Viewing Buttons you to fit the current segment selection to the design window. You can use this command to focus on a specific area of an embroidery Changing the background design.

  • Page 53: Showing And Hiding Machine Commands

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Showing and hiding segments Command Symbol and segment outlines using various ribbon tools Start You can use ribbon tools to hide selected segments, hide unselected segments and Jump show all hidden segments. The Show outlines...

  • Page 54: Showing And Hiding Beads

    To show the stitch placements: To show the beads: Click S on your keyboard to activate the 1 Click the Show Dots tool in the active window. Select tool. Select the design or the segment. You can also press P on your keyboard to show and hide the stitch placements.

  • Page 55: Defining Grid Settings

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To show stitches: add more major grid lines as well as a minor grid. You can increase the spacing values for Select the segment. the minor grid; however, zero and negative Press G on your keyboard to Generate spacing values are not supported.

  • Page 56: Showing And Hiding Grids

    Showing and hiding grids In the Color list, select a predefined color to use for the minor grid. If you You can show the grids or, if they are in the want to choose from a larger selection way, you can hide them. of colors, click More Colors from the color box.

  • Page 57: Viewing Commands

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Viewing Commands drawn on the screen. You can slide the speed control from left to right to vary the rate of sewing. Displaying a hoop while To view the sewing order of a design and...

  • Page 58: Finding Potential Stitch Problems

    To hide a hoop: To hide outlines: • Choose View—Display Hoop—Hide. • Do one of the following: The hoop is temporarily hidden from view. Choose View—Stitches in Outline Window—Hide Outlines. Press Shift+X on your keyboard. To bring the hoop back in view: •...

  • Page 59: Viewing A Design By Thread Color Order

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide imagine a person in the middle of a circle drawing whenever it encounters a Trim. If lying down horizontally and light shining you do not select any commands, the down on him or her. design will pause at all color changes In the Vertical Angle box, enter an angle while drawing.

  • Page 60: Moving Guidelines

    Moving guidelines To change the ruler origin: 1 Move the pointer to the lower left corner You can use ruler guidelines to help you of the rulers, where the rulers intersect. precisely align text and segments in your 2 Click the intersection, hold down the embroidery designs.

  • Page 61: Measuring Designs

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Measuring designs The Measure tool lets you measure the distance between any two points in your design workspace. When you measure from one point to another, the distance is displayed in the status line located at the bottom of the window.

  • Page 63: Creating Lettering And Merging Designs

    CHAPTER 5 Creating Lettering and Merging Designs You can create beautiful lettering within your designs using various Xpressive tools. Generate unique embroidery text in an array of shapes and sizes using our powerful Text tool, as well as the vast selection of commercially available TrueType® fonts. You can edit the shape, color, size, and spacing of your lettering.

  • Page 64: Creating Embroidery And Truetype® Lettering

    Creating Embroidery To create a corner point or to begin creating a straight line again, release and TrueType® CTRL on your keyboard. Lettering Curved points should be entered as a set of 3 points that define the arc of the curve.

  • Page 65: Creating Circle Lettering

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Important • Xpressive only displays text and characters found within font files. If you enter text containing letters or characters not found in the selected font file, only the text found in the font file will be displayed in the design workspace.

  • Page 66: Converting Truetype® Lettering To Satin Stitches

    To convert TrueType® lettering to Satin stitches: If you want the upper portion of the 1 Choose File—New to create a new file. circle's lettering to be on the top, make For more information, see "Creating New sure the line is facing upwards. Check the status line for measurements.

  • Page 67: Inserting Color Changes

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To insert a color change: 1 Select the lettering segment. 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on the ribbon. You see the Segment Settings property pages. 3 Click the Text property page. 4 In the Text box, enter the tilde (~) sign between the letters.
  • Page 68 To kern the space between letters To kern the space between groups of visually: letters visually: 1 Create your lettering. 1 Create your lettering. 2 Select your lettering, if it is not already 2 Select your lettering, if it is not already selected.

  • Page 69: Modifying Text Segments

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To move letters closer together: Normal and adjusted kerning 1 Create your lettering. 2 Select your lettering, if it is not already selected. 3 Click the Segment Settings tool on the ribbon. You see the Segment Settings property pages.

  • Page 70: Drawing Mode For Lettering

    Drawing mode for lettering A drawing mode is a method of inputting anchor points. The drawing mode chosen depends on the shape you want to create. When you create lettering with the Text tool, the QuickDraw drawing mode lets you make unique baselines for your lettering.

  • Page 71: Merging Designs

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Merging Designs stops. Each group is added to the design as a stitch segment. The You can merge design files into an active stitches in stitch segments should be identical to the stitch file. design window. Use the Merge Design...
  • Page 72 With the Merge Design Tool, you can merge a design with fish underwater with another design containing additional fish to create a unique effect. To merge designs: 1 Do one of the following steps: Choose File—Open to open an existing file. For more information, see "Opening and closing designs".

  • Page 73: Merging Designs With Lettering

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Merging designs with Convert stitches to outlines Open as stitch segments lettering 4 Click Open. Merging a design file with lettering allows you 5 Move the cursor to the design workspace. to create many unique designs using stock The cursor turns into a box with a large designs, or existing designs with lettering.
  • Page 74 Open as stitch segments 6 Click Open. 7 Move the cursor to the design workspace. The cursor turns into a box with a cross hair. 8 Left-click and place the box where you want the design merged. The merged design appears in the design workspace.

  • Page 75: Changing Your Segment Settings

    CHAPTER 6 Changing your Segment Settings Xpressive provides an easy and efficient way to help you change the settings and properties of your design segments. When you make major changes to the properties of segments, you should be careful of how other segments will be affected. For more information on the general rules of editing segments, see "Editing Segments".
  • Page 76 In this chapter: • Learn how to adjust the settings of a segment. • Learn how to adjust Text properties. • Learn how to adjust Satin and Run properties. • Learn how to adjust Steil stitch properties. • Learn how to adjust Complex Fill properties. •...

  • Page 77: Changing The Settings Of A Segment

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Changing the settings of a segment In a design window, you can change the segment settings. For example, you can adjust the pull-compensation of the segment. To open the Segment Setting property pages, select the segment and click the...

  • Page 78: Choosing A Truetype® Font

    Choosing a TrueType® font To open the Segment Setting property pages, you can also select the segment When you install Xpressive, the software locates all the TrueType® fonts you have and click the Segment Settings tool installed on your computer. on the ribbon or double-click the segment.
  • Page 79 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide You can easily edit individual characters in lettering. You no longer have to convert Do this lettering into segments in order to perform Resize the width of a At the right side of the character edits.

  • Page 80: Changing The Vertical Position Of Lettering

    At the top of the editing box, drag the left squared bead to the left or right. To skew lettering manually: 1 Create your lettering. 2 Select the center bead of the character you want to edit. You see an editing box appear around the selected character.

  • Page 81: Changing The Size And Position Of Circle Lettering

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To change the vertical position of lettering: 1 Create your lettering. 2 Select the center bead of the character you want to edit. You see an editing box appear around the selected character. 4 To change the position of another...
  • Page 82 Do this Get this Change the height of At the top of the upper the lettering and not baseline, drag the affect the upper white square bead. baseline. 2 Do one or more of the following to change the size and position of the lettering: Do this Get this Change the height of...

  • Page 83: Rotating Lettering Manually

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Do this Get this Change the position Click and drag the and size of the lower second overlapping baseline. square bead at the center. 3 To rotate a character, do the following: At the line above the editing box, drag the round bead to the left or right.

  • Page 84: Changing The Shape Of Lettering

    Changing the shape of lettering You can change the shape of text using envelopes. Envelope examples To choose an envelope: 1 Select the lettering segment. Lettering at different heights 2 Press Ctrl+E on your keyboard and choose Properties from the menu. To set the lettering height: You see the Segment Settings property 1 Select the lettering segment.

  • Page 85: Setting Lock Stitches For Lettering

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To change the justification: 1 Select the lettering segment. 2 Press Ctrl+E on your keyboard and choose Properties from the menu. You see the Segment Settings property pages. 3 Click the Text property page. 4 In the Justify list, select one of the following justification types: Zoomed-in view of a standard lock stitch.

  • Page 86: Changing Satin Properties

    Changing Satin In the Carved Tile Pattern list, select the Carved Tile pattern you want to properties use. 7 Click OK. You see the lettering altered accordingly. Selecting a Fill pattern for Satin stitches You can select a pattern for Satin stitches on Setting the density for the Satin property page.

  • Page 87: Changing Satin Effect Properties

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To set the density: placed on the inside of the column. If you set a positive value, the jagged edge is placed on 1 Select the Satin segment. the outside of the column. 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on the ribbon.

  • Page 88: Changing Run Properties

    the jagged edge on the outside of the To choose a style: column (negative value), move the 1 Select the Run segment. jagged range slider to the right. 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on the In the Segment Settings dialog, look at ribbon.

  • Page 89: Changing Steil Properties

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Changing Complex To change the stitch length: 1 Select the Run segment. Fills properties 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on the ribbon. Adjusting the stitch You see the Segment Settings property length for the selected Fill pages.

  • Page 90: Setting The Stitch Density For Fills

    Setting the stitch density for Fills You adjust density according to the design’s size and the fabric you use. Generally speaking, lighter fabrics and smaller designs require less density. You can set the density in the Complex Fills property page. Fill pattern To select a pattern: 1 Create your lettering, select an existing...

  • Page 91: Changing Carved Fill Properties

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Changing Carved Fill To create Carved Fills: In the Punching toolbar, click the Complex properties Fill tool. 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on Choosing a Carved Tile pattern the ribbon. You see the Segment Settings property When you install Xpressive, Carved Tile pages.
  • Page 92 Now, you need to change the properties of your segment to match the fabric and 10 To set the start and stop points and the thread you will be using. angle line for your segment, do the following steps: When the pointer becomes a green Once you close the segment, you can arrow, click where you want to set the right-click repeatedly to quickly set the...

  • Page 93: Changing Programmed Fill Properties

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Changing Programmed Fill properties Adjusting the stitch length for Programmed Fill patterns Stitch Length set to Stitch Length set to 50 pts 70 pts When you create Programmed Fill patterns you may need to adjust their stitch length.

  • Page 94: Changing Pull Compensation Properties

    Changing Pull maximum value of pull-compensation in the Maximum range box. Compensation In the Segment Settings dialog, look at properties the image beside the Value slider. As you adjust the amount of pull-compensation for your segment and move the value Adjusting pull- slider to the left or right, you can see how compensation...

  • Page 95: Changing The Inset Distance

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To select an underlay type: To change the inset distance: 1 Select the segment. 1 Select the segment. 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on the ribbon. the ribbon.

  • Page 96: Specifying The Underlay Density

    Specifying the underlay To specify the underlay stitch length: density 1 Select the segment. You can specify the density for underlay 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on stitches. Just like density for your top the ribbon. stitches, underlay density is measured in You see the Segment Settings property embroidery points (pts) and stitches per inch pages.

  • Page 97: Applying Lock Stitches

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To add a machine command: A zoomed-in view of a basic lock stitch 1 Select the segment. 2 Click the Segment Settings tool on the ribbon. You see the Segment Settings property pages. 3 Click the Commands property page.

  • Page 98: Changing A Thread Color Number

    Changing a thread color number You can change the thread color of a design by using the property pages rather than the thread palette at the bottom of the Xpressive workspace. The first color in the palette is Thread 1, the second color in the palette is Thread 2, and so on.

  • Page 99: Design Editing In Stitch Mode

    CHAPTER 7 Design Editing in Stitch Mode When you use the Stitch Select tool from the Stitch Edit toolbar, Xpressive automatically changes to Stitch Mode. In Stitch Mode, you can edit stitches in the unified design window. Stitch-by-stitch editing is easy and you can edit designs in a variety of ways.

  • Page 100: Editing Stitches And Stitch Groups

    Editing Stitches and carving will be regenerated. If line carving segments require regeneration, segments Stitch Groups affected by line carving will be regenerated. In Xpressive’s unified window, you can edit a design’s stitches and stitch groups while in Selecting stitches in stitch mode.

  • Page 101: Deleting Stitches

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Deleting stitches Click a stitch at the start of your selection. Press Shift on your You can delete stitches in a design file in a keyboard while you click the stitch at the end of your selection. To extend...
  • Page 102 In the Stitch Edit toolbar, click the Delete Press backspace on your keyboard. Continue to select stitches and press Stitch tool. backspace to delete multiple stitches. The pointer becomes a pencil eraser. Click the stitch you want to delete. To delete stitch groups: Select the group of stitches you want to Continue clicking the stitches to delete delete.

  • Page 103: Flipping Stitches In A Design File

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide The stitch group is deleted. To flip stitches in a design file: 1 Select the stitches you want to flip. For more information, see "Selecting stitches in various ways". Selected stitches are highlighted in black.

  • Page 104: Mirroring Stitches In A Design File

    Choose Flip Group from the menu. You see the flipped stitch group. To mirror stitches in a design file: Select the stitches you want. For more information, see "Selecting stitches in various ways". Selected stitches are highlighted in black. Press Ctrl+E on your keyboard and choose Mirror Group from the menu.

  • Page 105: Moving Through Stitch Designs

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Moving through Stitch designs The Navigation bar allows you to move through your Stitch design. You can use the navigation buttons to enhance your ability to navigate through stitches in your designs. To use the...
  • Page 106 To move backward through the To move through a stitch design by design, left-click the navigation tool color: you want to use. Hold down the 1 Select the stitch you want to view or edit. mouse button to repeat the action For more information, see "Selecting rapidly.

  • Page 107: Moving Stitches In A Design File

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Moving stitches in a design file You can easily move stitches in a design file using Xpressive. Depending on how your stitches are grouped, you can choose to group the stitches differently. 3 Release your mouse to place the stitches.
  • Page 108 To cut to the Clipboard: 1 Select the stitches you want to cut. For more information, see "Selecting stitches in various ways". Selected stitches are highlighted in black. To copy to the Clipboard: 1 Select the stitches you want to copy. For more information, see "Selecting stitches in various ways".

  • Page 109: Resizing Stitches In A Design File

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide 2 Press Ctrl+E on your keyboard and choose Copy Group to Clipboard from the menu. Resizing stitches in a design file You can resize stitches using Resize Group. Depending how your stitches are grouped, you can choose to group the stitches differently.
  • Page 110 To resize stitches in a design file: 1 Select the stitches you want to resize. For more information, see "Selecting stitches in various ways". Selected stitches are highlighted in black. Right-click the design workspace. You see the Enter Resize Percentage box. You can also resize the group choosing Resize Group, and then you move the flexible box with your mouse.

  • Page 111: Rotating Stitches In A Design File

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To rotate stitches in a design file: Select the stitches you want. For more information, see "Selecting stitches in various ways". Selected stitches are highlighted in black. Rotating stitches in a design file You can rotate stitches using Rotate Group.

  • Page 112: Editing Stitches

    You can also manually rotate the group choosing Rotate Group. The pointer becomes a u-shaped arrow and you Editing Stitches move the mouse to rotate the group. The status bar shows the angle by which you In Xpressive’s unified window, you can edit a rotate the group.

  • Page 113: Adding A Trim

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide segment.The following are design editing To add a trim: actions that can force stitch regeneration in Open a Xpressive Unified File (*.ESX) or your design: any other design file. • Resizing a segment. To see the trim you added, select Show •...
  • Page 114 The black square represents the stitch that needs to be selected. Press Ctrl+E on your keyboard and To make a thread color change: choose Color Change from the menu. Select the thread number you want to Click the Zoom tool to Zoom in on the change the color to.

  • Page 115: Changing Existing Machine Commands

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Changing existing machine commands You can change embroidery machine commands for a specific stitch. Although Xpressive inserts jumps and stops where they are required, you may choose to change an existing machine command from the Edit menu or the shortcut menu.

  • Page 116: Inserting A Stitch

    Normal changes the stitch to a standard stitch. Tension0 sets the thread tension. Tension1 sets the thread tension. Tension2 sets the thread tension. Trim inserts a trim at the selected stitch. Jump inserts a jump stitch at the selected stitch, instead of dropping the needle when the design is sewn out.

  • Page 117: Design Editing In Outline Mode

    CHAPTER 8 Design Editing in Outline Mode When you use the Select tool from the Edit toolbar, Xpressive automatically changes to Outline Mode. In Outline Mode, you can edit outline segments in the unified design window, as well as move and duplicate segments. Use Power Edit to perform multiple tasks, such as Resize, Rotate and Flip, in one easy step.

  • Page 118: Editing Segments

    Editing Segments Selecting segments The Select tool allows you to select and In Xpressive’s unified window, you can edit a design’s individual or grouped outline modify individual or groups of outline segments while in outline mode. When you segments. You select outline segments by clicking on a single segment or by clicking use the Select tool from the Edit toolbar,...
  • Page 119 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide box. You can move, duplicate, resize, rotate, Click a segment. Press CTRL on your keyboard while you click each reflect, skew, stretch, compress, or delete segment not already selected. selected segments. The active segments are enclosed in a The spacebar is a hotkey that toggles selection box with handles.

  • Page 120: Converting Stitches To Outline Segments

    Converting stitches to Press Ctrl+E on your keyboard and choose any of the options available in outline segments the shortcut menu. Xpressive allows you to easily convert segments using the Stitch to Outline To select an individual segment using command. Stitch to Outline conversion (STO) the Vertex Select tool: allows you to convert parts of a design’s 1 In the Edit toolbar, click the Vertex Select...

  • Page 121: Deleting Segments

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide segments. You cannot perform any outline To delete a segment: editing on stitch segments except to resize, In the Edit toolbar, click the Select reflect, rotate, and change the color of these stitch segments; however, major editing is not tool or the Lasso Select tool.
  • Page 122 To move through an outline design by To move to the previous command in the design, left-click the Move to increments: 1 Select the segment you want to edit or Previous/Next Command tool. view. Hold down the mouse button to repeat For more information, see "Selecting the action rapidly.

  • Page 123: Reflecting Segments

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To move to the first segment in the To reflect a segment manually: design, left-click the Move to Start/ In the Edit toolbar, click the Select tool tool. or the Lasso Select tool. To move to the last segment in the Select the segment.

  • Page 124: Resizing Segments

    To make a copy of your reflection manually: Select the segment you want to reflect. Resizing segments For more information, see "Selecting Resizing a segment enlarges or reduces it Segments". horizontally or vertically, relative to the Press Ctrl+E on your keyboard and select percentage you designate.
  • Page 125 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To resize a segment manually in Power To resize a segment using the Enter Edit mode: Resize Parameters dialog: 1 In the Edit toolbar, click the Select In the Edit toolbar, click the Select tool or the Lasso Select tool.

  • Page 126: Rotating Segments

    Rotated segment To rotate a segment manually: 5 To resize your segment proportionally, In the Edit toolbar, click the Select select Proportional, if not already tool or the Lasso Select tool. selected. Now when you enter any width or height value, the other value will Select the segment.

  • Page 127: Closing Open Segments

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To rotate a segment using the Enter segment, you can save time when working with imported artwork or performing outline degree of the rotation dialog: edits. In the Edit toolbar, click the Select You can not use this function with Manual tool or the Lasso Select tool.

  • Page 128: Moving Segments

    Moving segments To copy and paste: manually 1 In the Edit toolbar, click the Select You can move segments around your design tool or the Lasso Select tool. by dragging them to another location. Select the segment. For more information, see "Selecting You can turn on Snap to Grid (Shift+3) to make sure that segments are aligned Segments".

  • Page 129: Moving Segments Using The Clipboard

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To move the segment, click and drag it to the new location. To stretch the segment, drag the stretch beads located between the corner handles. To rotate the segment, drag the rotate/ mirror bead located outside of the selection box, extending from the middle of the selection box.

  • Page 130: Nudging Segments

    Sequencing Outline To cut and paste segments: Segments In the Edit toolbar, click the Select tool or the Lasso Select tool. In Outline Mode, you can alter the sequence Select the segment. of outline segments in your designs. When For more information, see "Selecting modifying outline segments and doing Segments".

  • Page 131: Inserting Segments Later In The Segment Sequence

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To insert segments after the insertion point: Select the segment before the insertion point. Press Ctrl+E on your keyboard and choose Insert—After from the shortcut Create and select the segment you want menu. to insert.

  • Page 132: Moving A Segment Backward Or Forward

    Moving a segment backward or forward Use the Move Earlier by 1 command to move the selected segment closer to the beginning of the design. In other words, you are moving the selected segment in front of the next segment. Use the Move Later by 1 command to move the selected segment closer to the end of the To move a segment forward:...
  • Page 133 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To reveal all hidden segments in the design, click Show All To show design detail information for all segments in the design, click Show Details (toggles on/off). When the Show Details tool is off, detailed...

  • Page 134: Moving A Segment To The Start Or End Of A Design

    Moving a segment to the right-click and make a selection from the menu. start or end of a design 4 Double click color layer bars to collapse Use the Bring To Start of Design command to and expand a color layer. make the selected segment the first one to be For example, the Needle 3 layer bar was stitched.
  • Page 135 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To select multiple segments in Sequence View, press Shift or Ctrl on your keyboard while clicking on individual segments or grouped segments. The Shift key selects multiple segments shown consecutively. The Ctrl key selects multiple segments shown non-consecutively.
  • Page 136 To reveal all hidden segments in the right-click and make a selection from the menu. design, click Show All 4 Double click color layer bars to collapse To show design detail information for and expand a color layer. all segments in the design, click Show For example, the Needle 3 layer bar was Details (toggles on/off).

  • Page 137: Locking Segments In Sequence View

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Locking Segments in Sequence View Do This Xpressive allows you to lock specific Lock segment(s) Select one or more segments in an embroidery design. You can segments and click only lock segments using the Sequence View dialog.

  • Page 138: Resequencing By Color

    Resequencing by color You can sequence design segments by color. When you use the Resequence by Color command, the segments of the design are reordered according to their thread number. In other words, the system reorders the segments so that all Thread 1 segments come first, then Thread 2 segments, and so on.

  • Page 139: Using Paths

    CHAPTER 9 Using Paths Xpressive offers a variety of ways to generate paths for your embroidery designs. You can have more control when you use Straight and QuickDraw modes for lettering and punching. For precise control of paths, Xpressive allows you to alter anchor points and angle line beads in a few easy steps.

  • Page 140: Drawing Lines

    Drawing Lines In the Punching toolbar, click the Run tool, Complex Fill tool, Steil Xpressive’s Text, Run, Complex Fill, Steil and Appliqué tools allow you to easily toggle tool or Appliqué tool. between entering straight and curved points 2 To place a straight point, left-click the (Quick Draw mode).

  • Page 141: Forcing Horizontal And Vertical Lines

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Tips The following table describes the electronic T-square commands. • You need to have the Show Dots tool selected to see the anchor points, Function Key What it does direction points, and direction lines on Horizontally aligns the next your path.

  • Page 142: Drawing Diagonal Lines

    To create a vertical line: To draw lines at 15° increments: 1 In the Punching toolbar, click the tool you As an example, this procedure describes how want to use. to draw zigzag lines. 2 On the design workspace, position the cross hair where you want to place the 1 To draw a shape for a segment, click the anchor point and click to place the point.

  • Page 143: Drawing Modes For Punching

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide When you create lettering with the Text tool, with the drawing modes. You can use the the drawing mode let you make unique drawing modes with the Run, Complex Fill, baselines for your lettering. Steil, or Appliqué tools.

  • Page 144: Vertex And Point Editing

    To draw straight lines: To add an anchor point: 1 To draw a shape for a segment, click the 1 In the Edit toolbar, click the Vertex Select tool from the Punching toolbar. tool. 2 On the design workspace, position the 2 Right-click the location where you want to cross hair where you want to place the add an anchor point.

  • Page 145: Moving Anchor Points

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To change an anchor point to cusp, smooth, symmetric, or straight: 1 In the Edit toolbar, click the Vertex Select tool. 2 Right-click the anchor point you want to Segments before and Removes the direction change.

  • Page 146: Resetting Handles

    these beads along a path like beads on a piece of string, allowing you to move them precisely where you want them. 4 Drag the anchor point to create the desired shape for the segment. 5 Press G on your keyboard to regenerate stitches.

  • Page 147: Adding Angle Lines To Segments

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Adding angle lines to segments You can smooth the angle of stitches in Satin segments by adding additional angle lines to the segment. For more information, see "Angle Line beads" in the glossary. To add more angle lines:...

  • Page 149: Working With Images

    CHAPTER 10 Working with Images Xpressive has all the tools you need to work with images. Use these tools to manipulate scanned photographs or image files and create impressive designs. Once you convert these images to embroidery, you can alter your designs to suit your needs. In this chapter: •...

  • Page 150: Scanning Images

    Scanning images Loading images for punching You can scan images and then load them into your system, or you can use the Acquire You can open an image file to use as a command to scan the images directly into backdrop for on-screen punching or for auto Xpressive.

  • Page 151: Rotating Scanned Images

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Choose Properties to view the properties of your image. You can also choose the Backdrop Select tool from the Edit toolbar. Rotating scanned images 8 Right-click the image. You see a shortcut menu. Once you have imported an image, you may Choose one of the following settings from want to change its rotation.
  • Page 152 To rotate images using the Reference Points dialog: 1 Load your image. See "Loading images for punching". 2 Choose Edit—Edit Tools—Backdrop Select. Your cursor changes to a black triangle and plus sign. You can also choose the Backdrop Select tool from the Edit toolbar. 4 Choose Rotate from the menu.

  • Page 153: Resizing Scanned Images

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To resize images: 1 Load your image. See "Loading images for punching". 2 Choose Edit—Edit Tools—Backdrop Select. Your cursor changes to a black triangle and plus sign. You can also choose the Backdrop Select tool from the Edit toolbar.

  • Page 154: Removing Scanned Images

    To resize an image using the Reference Points dialog: 1 Load your image. See "Loading images for punching". 2 Choose Edit—Edit Tools—Backdrop Select. Your cursor changes to a black triangle and plus sign. You can also choose the Backdrop Select tool from the Edit toolbar.

  • Page 155: Hiding And Showing Images

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To hide an image: 1 Choose Image—Hide. You can also choose the Backdrop When an image is hidden, a check mark Select tool from the Edit toolbar. appears next to the Hide menu item. 2 Choose Image—Hide again to restore the 2 Right-click the image.
  • Page 156 154s To auto trace images: 1 Choose Image—Load to load the image you want to trace. For more information, see "Loading images for punching". You will see the image in the design workspace. 2 In the Punching toolbar, click the Complex Fill , Run , Manual...

  • Page 157: Using Punching Tools

    CHAPTER 11 Using Punching Tools You can create beautiful designs using Xpressive’s powerful punching tools. These tools will help you create custom embroidery. In this chapter: • Learn more about common embroidery stitch types and digitizing tips. • Learn how to create Manual and Run stitches. •...

  • Page 158: Common Embroidery Stitch Types

    Common embroidery Bean A Bean or Three-ply stitch types stitch uses three stitches for each Run stitch. A Bean Stitch type Description Sample stitch goes over each Run or Walk Thread is laid stitch three in a single line times before between moving to the successive...

  • Page 159: Digitizing Tips

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Fills (Tatami) Fill stitches Complex Fill Also known as are used for Geflect or Fill large lettering Ceeding. or large areas Complex Fill because the stitches fill stitches shapes with penetrate the parallel material as stitches.

  • Page 160: Embroidery

    A successful digitizer addition, good designs not only have visual appeal, but also run well on the embroidery • Allows for a "learning curve". You may machine. need to continue having difficult designs digitized by an outside source—this is Embroidery normal.

  • Page 161: Creating Manual And Jump Stitches

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To create Bean stitches: the movement of the pantograph without needle penetration, commonly used to get In the Punching toolbar, click the Run from one point in a design to another. tool. The pointer becomes a cross hair.

  • Page 162: Creating Run Stitches

    Creating Run stitches Creating Two-Ply stitches Use the Run tool to create Run stitches. Use the Run tool to create Two-Ply A Run stitch is a basic straight stitch that is stitches. A Two-Ply stitch is similar to a Run placed along a line at a set interval.

  • Page 163: Satin And Fill Stitches

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Satin and Fill Stitches 7 On the design workspace, hold down CTRL to create a curved column. Creating Satin or Fill When you place curved points, a circle stitches with the appears around the point. The column’s Enhanced Column tool width is displayed in the status line.
  • Page 164 To create Satin or Fill stitches with holes: 1 In the Punching toolbar, click the Complex Fill tool. The pointer becomes a cross hair. 2 From the ribbon, click the Segment Settings tool. You see the Segment Settings dialog appear. 3 Click the Complex Fill property page.

  • Page 165: Creating Stitches With The Complex Fill Tool

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To create Satin or Fill stitches: 1 In the Punching toolbar, click the Complex Fill tool. The pointer becomes a cross. 2 From the ribbon, click the Segment Settings tool. You see the Segment Settings dialog appear.

  • Page 166: Creating Steil Stitches

    When the pointer becomes a small Close tool on the ribbon or press arrow with a bead, click and drag from on your keyboard to close the the left of the segment to the right of segment. the segment to place an angle line in 3 To complete the segment, press ENTER your segment.

  • Page 167: Appliqué

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Appliqué Programmed Runs Creating an appliqué Using Programmed Runs border A Programmed Run is a Run segment that uses a Programmed Fill pattern. Refer to the Use the Appliqué tool to create an Fill online Help located in Help—Fills to view appliqué...

  • Page 168: Carved Fills

    Carved Fills Xpressive comes with many Carved Tile patterns. These patterns create satiny regions with a grooved texture. You can apply Carve Patterns to a Complex Fill segment or to a TrueType® font. 3 Press S on your keyboard to active the Select tool Applying Carved Fills to Click the Segment Settings...

  • Page 169: Using Autodigitizing And Cross-Stitch Wizards

    CHAPTER 12 Using Autodigitizing and Cross- Stitch Wizards You can easily and efficiently create unique embroidery designs using Xpressive’s Autodigitizing and Cross-Stitch Wizards. The Autodigitizing Wizard allows you to create embroidery from vector or bitmap images in a few simple steps. Xpressive’s Cross-Stitch Wizard is a simple and easy-to-use tool that converts vector images, photographs or bitmaps into cross- stitching.

  • Page 170: Using The Autodigitizing Wizard

    Using the Rotate 180. 8 To crop the image, select only the portion Autodigitizing Wizard you want to autodigitize. Place your the mouse pointer over the You can create embroidery from vector or black dots around the image and drag bitmap images in a few simple steps using in the selection box.

  • Page 171: Creating A New Xpressive Cross-Stitch Design

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide You will see each new color appear in longer than the distance displayed in the color palette. the Trim At box. 14 Click Next. 22 In the Lock Stitch area, select any of the You will see the Autodigitizer Wizard- following lock stitch settings: Vectorize window.

  • Page 172: Selecting An Image

    To open the Cross-Stitch wizard: To select an image: 1 Click Select Image. 1 Click the New Design tool from your You will see the Open browse window toolbar. appear. You see a new untitled design file appear. 2 Choose Tools—Cross-Stitch Wizard. You will see the Cross-Stitch Wizard In the Open browse window, you can appear.

  • Page 173: Color Reductions

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Color Reductions To change the number of colors in an image: Cross-Stitch Wizard allows you to make • In the Number of colors field, use the up necessary changes to the color of the source and down arrows to select the total image.
  • Page 174 Using Zoom Tools for Color To use the hand tool: Reduction 1 In zoomed status, click the Hand tool Use the Cross-Stitch Wizard zoom tools to 2 In the Select the colors area, click and view precise details in your design, drag the source image until you get a particularly when changing the colors of the precise view of the desired area.

  • Page 175: Transforming An Image

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To preview your image: 1 To preview your source image, click Preview You will see a preview of your source image after color reduction within the Select the colors area. 2 To view your original source image, deselect Preview 3 Click Next to continue.
  • Page 176 Resizing an Image The cross size parameter, given in stitches per inch, is the most important cross-stitch The source image size can be controlled parameter. The higher the value of cross size through the Width and Height edit boxes (the more stitches per inch), the more detail found on the Image Transformations wizard will be carried into the final design.
  • Page 177 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide In the Cross size (stitches/inch) field, edit the cross size parameter in terms of stitches per inch. From the Repeats list, select the number of times you want the embroidery machine to sew over the branches of a single cross-stitch.
  • Page 178 To rotate your image 90 degrees clockwise, select Rotate 90 Clockwise. In Select area to crop, you will see the changes you made to your image appear. To rotate your image 90 degrees counter-clockwise, select Rotate 90 Cropping an Area of an Image Countclockwise.

  • Page 179: Image Edit

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To crop an area of an image: image. The size of the original image is changed automatically to accommodate the 1 In Select area to crop, click and drag the cross size. The color reduction page will be black grips found on the corners and the skipped.
  • Page 180 Using Zoom and Hand Tools for Editing an Image with the Image Editing Default or External Bitmap Editor Use the Cross-Stitch Wizard zoom tools to view precise details in your design, If an image has been edited in MS-Paint particularly when editing your source image. or another editor, you should see a prompt to save the image when you To use the Zoom In tool:...

  • Page 181: Adding Outlines To An Image

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To use a different external editor: To not have stitches fill the background color: 1 Click the Browse button • Deselect Fill with stitches, if already You will see an Open browse window selected. appear.
  • Page 182 Select All button . To deselect all of the colors in the color palette, click the Unselect All button 2 To select the Individually option, select Individually if not already select. To remove the individually option, deselect individually if already selected. Using the Dropper Tool to Apply Outlines Use the Dropper Tool...

  • Page 183: Final Preview

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Final Preview To use the Zoom In tool: Just before you finish creating your cross- • Click the Zoom In tool stitch design, you can see a 3D preview of You will see the size of your design the completed cross-stitched design.

  • Page 185: Keyboard Shortcuts And Commands

    APPENDIX A Keyboard Shortcuts and Commands This section provides a list of keyboard shortcuts and commands that make it easier to work with designs in Xpressive. In this appendix: • Learn various keyboard shortcuts for Xpressive. • Learn how to use keyboard commands that can only be accessed through keyboard keys.

  • Page 186: Keyboard Shortcuts

    Keyboard Shortcuts Action Shortcut Menu Ctrl+E Action Punching Enhanced Column File menu Manual Save Ctrl+S Exit Alt+F4 Two-ply Ctrl+F5 Bean (Run style) Shift+F6 Edit menu Complex Fill Undo Ctrl+Z and Steil Alt+Backspace Redo Ctrl+Y View menu Select All Ctrl+A Zoom Cut to clipboard Ctrl+X Back to 1:1...
  • Page 187 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Action Action Move to End Ctrl+End Design Editing in Outline Mode Commands on Shortcut menu in Ctrl+E Shortcut menu Outlines Power Edit Ctrl+O Shortcut to Properties Alt+Enter Resize Ctrl+R Show Beads Ctrl+B Rotate Ctrl+T Show Dots...

  • Page 188: Keyboard Commands

    Keyboard Commands Action The following keyboard commands do not Editing have corresponding menus or tools. The only way to access them is through keyboard Expand stitch picking Hold down Shift radius (doubles the keys. search radius). This feature is helpful if Action you’re having problems picking a...
  • Page 189 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Action Miscellaneous When merging a stitch Press Ctrl or outline file press the Ctrl key (before placing the merged design) to insert a color change at beginning of merged design.

  • Page 191: Getting Help

    APPENDIX B Getting Help This section provides the information you need to help you with Xpressive. In this appendix: • Find out about the documentation available with Xpressive.

  • Page 192: Xpressive Documentation

    Xpressive Using the Xpressive documentation online Help The Xpressive documentation gives you a The Xpressive online Help is a quick way to variety of ways to find answers to your find answers to your questions and see step- questions. by-step instructions. Because the online Help is updated for every major release, you will Xpressive User’s Guide benefit from the most up-to-date information.

  • Page 193: Using The Contents

    ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To use the Index: 1 Choose Help—Contents. 2 Click the Index tab. 3 In the box, enter the word or words you want to search. In the list, you see the topics that most closely match your query.

  • Page 194: Using The Font Help

    Using the Font Help To save your favorite topics: 1 Choose Help—Contents. You may not have all these fonts installed 2 Double-click the book you want to open. on your computer. To purchase additional 3 Click the topic you want to save as your font packages, contact your distributor.
  • Page 195 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide To print topics: 1 Choose Help—Contents. 2 Click the topic you want to print. The topic will appear in the Help window. Click Print. You see the Print Topics dialog box. 4 Select one of the following print options:...
  • Page 197 Glossary 3D View Also part of the MultiView Paradigm is the 3D View. This view provides a realistic preview of the stitching, preprogrammed on a fabric background with 3D view. You can also create your own fabric background with 3D View. See also MultiView Paradigm. Use the Show 3-D Stitches tool to view stitches in 3D directly in the Design window.
  • Page 198 Appliqué Embroidery process that involves using cut pieces of fabric in place of large fill stitch areas. The fabric pieces are sewn into the design. The process is used to reduce stitch counts in large designs and/or to create a unique appearance. A curved shape similar to a half circle.
  • Page 199 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Bitmap Images Paint and image-editing software such as Corel Photo-Paint and Adobe PhotoShop generate bitmap images, also called raster images. Each pixel in a bitmap image has a specific location and color value assigned to it. Bitmap images reproduce the subtle shading found in continuous-tone images, such as photographs.
  • Page 200 Cartoon Enlargement of original artwork which is used in tablet digitizing as a template for finished embroidery. This artwork usually contains notes relating to stitch type, density and color order. Usually six times larger than finished design size, based on art to stitching ratio of schiffli machines.
  • Page 201 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Condensed Format Method of digitizing in which a proportionate number of stitches are placed between defined points after a scale has been designated. With a machine or computer that can read condensed format, the scale, density and stitch lengths in a design may be changed. Also referred to as Outline Format.
  • Page 202 Cylinder Arm A machine with a structure that makes it possible to embroider Machine curved or unusually shaped articles, such as caps, sleeves and pants legs on finished garments. Denier Unit of weight used to measure the fineness of thread. Equal to weight in grams of 9000 meters of thread.
  • Page 203 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Here are two examples of density conversions: Embroidery points to millimeters 1 pt = 0.1 mm Embroidery points to stitches per inch 4 pt = 63.5 spi If you have a Fill stitch with a density of 63.5 spi, the distance between each thread is 4 pts.
  • Page 204 Density Conversion Stitches Per Inch (SPI) to Embroidery Points (PT) Tables 12.7 12.1 11.5 10.6 10.2 Inches (IN) to Embroidery Points (PT)
  • Page 205 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Design Window The unified design window holds both outlines and stitches in opened design files. Design Workspace The design workspace includes the toolbars, menus, ribbon, and the design window containing the design you are editing. The way many of the tools work and the look of the workspace is controlled in the Environment user settings.
  • Page 206 Exit point of the Start and Stop beads Entry point of the next previous segment of the selected segment segment These three segments are to be sewn in a row. Notice the positioning of all the beads. Angle Line beads Angle Lines have 3 parts: the dot bead, the dash bead, and the line joining the beads.
  • Page 207 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Angle Line beads on a Complex Fill segment. Downloading The transfer of designs/data from the Internet to a computer. The transfer of designs/data from a computer or network to a machine. Drive The Drive is the part of the computer that turns a disk to retrieve and store information.
  • Page 208 Enhanced Main View The Enhanced Main View provides a graphical view of the design that can be zoomed or faded allowing you to examine the details in the design. The Enhanced Main View allows you to display hoops and view stitches using either show stitches or using the 3D View. You can also highlight stitch exceptions, navigate through the design’s stitches, and use the stitch direction marker to show the direction of the thread.
  • Page 209 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Finishing Processes performed after embroidery is complete. Includes trimming loose threads, cutting or tearing away excess backing, removing facing, cleaning any stains, pressing if needed, and packing for sale or shipping. Flagging Up and down motion of goods under action of needle, named after the motion of a waving flag.
  • Page 210 H Test A thread tension test in which one 1" block letter h is sewn for each needle bar. The reverse side of the completed embroidery should show a ratio of two-thirds top thread to one-third bobbin thread. Handles Handles are the small boxes at each corner of the selection box you see around active segments.
  • Page 211 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Hoop Burn Permanent marks that remain on a fabric after the embroidery hoop has been removed. Unlike, hoop marks, hoop burn cannot be removed. It is the result of crushed fibers caused by a hoop that is too tight.
  • Page 212 Lasso Stitch Select The Lasso Stitch Select tool is located on the Stitch Edit toolbar and tool in the Stitch Edit menu. Lasso Stitch Select allows you to select stitches in a design by forming a polygon shape around them. Once you select a group of stitches, you can edit them by using the shortcut menu commands.
  • Page 213 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Looping Threads that are raised unevenly on the surface of a stitched design. Most common cause is upper thread tension being too loose. Low-level For Low-level Protocol, the embroidery machine must have enough internal memory to receive the design.
  • Page 214 Needle Small, slender piece of steel with a hole for thread and a point for stitching fabric. Machine embroidery needles come in sharp-points for piercing heavy, tightly woven fabric; ball-points, which glide between the fibers of knits; and a variety of specialty points such as wedge-points, used for leather.
  • Page 215 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Paths A path is any line or shape that you draw using the Text or Punching tools. A path can be open, having end points such as a zig zag line, or a path can be closed, having a continuous line such as a rectangle.
  • Page 216 Presser Foot L-shaped mechanical lever with a large opening in the base through which the needle must pass when sewing. For each stitch penetration, the presser foot comes down and pushes the fabric flat against the machine table, holding it steady for the needle to penetrate.
  • Page 217 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Recipe A collection of embroidery settings designed for specific fabrics. Registration Correct registration is achieved when all stitches and design elements line up correctly. System for representing colors on a color monitor by mixing red, green, and blue light.
  • Page 218 Select tool The Select tool, located in the Edit toolbar and in the Edit menu, allows you to work in Outline Mode. This tool allows you to select and modify individual or groups of outline segments. You can select outline segments by clicking on a single segment or by clicking and dragging to draw a box around parts of the design.
  • Page 219 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Steil Stitch See Column Stitch. Stitch Bleeding See Bleeding. Stitch Editing Digitizing feature that allows one or more stitches in a pattern to be deleted, lengthened or altered. Stitch Gap The area(s) of a design without stitching, where stitching should have occurred.
  • Page 220 Tackle Twill Letters or numbers, cut from polyester or rayon twill fabric, commonly used for athletic teams and organizations. They have an adhesive backing to tack them in place while the edges are sewn with zig-zag stitches to attach them to a garment. Designs are stored inside a tag page.
  • Page 221 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Timing Relationship between the embroidery machine's hook and needle. To form a stitch, the hook and the loop formed by the top thread must meet at a precise moment or else improper stitch formations, thread breakage, skipped stitches, or broken needles could result.
  • Page 222 create such effects as crowned, flat, raised areas in the embroidery, depending on how they are laid down. Using underlay can create the effect of a richer looking embroidery. Uploading The transfer of designs/data from a machine to a computer or network.
  • Page 223 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Index Numerics Beads 52, 144 angle line beads 52, 144 15 degree angles 140 cornering beads 52, 144 3D stitches button 54 start beads 52, 144 3D view command 42, 48, 56, 195 stop beads 52, 144...
  • Page 224 Circle tool 63 Steil stitches 164 Clipboard 105, 106, 107, 126, 128 Creating Two Ply stitches 160 Closing designs 32 Cross-Stitch Wizard 169 Closing open segments 125 Curved lettering 62 Closing Xpressive 18 Custom thread chart 39 Color changes 38, 65, 111 Adding custom colors 39 Color order 57 adding standard colors 39...
  • Page 225 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Drawing speed settings 29, 54, 55 Hard drive space requirements 10 Drive 205 Height 82 Hide Artwork 131, 133 Hide command 153 Hiding 3D stitches 54 Hiding beads 52 Embroidery fonts 75 Hiding grids 54...
  • Page 226 Measurements 23, 32, 58 Measuring designs 59 Kerning 65, 66, 67 Menu Bar 26 Merge Design tool 70, 71 Merging designs 69, 71 Microsoft Backup program 10 Languages 23 Minimum Jagged Range 85 Lasso Select tool 29, 116, 117, 209 minimum system requirements 10 Lasso Stitch Select tool 30, 97, 98, 99, 210 Mirror Group command 102...
  • Page 227 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide Output to Machine 45 Redo command 32 Override Selected Stitch Color 22 Redrawing designs 54 Reducing views 48 Reference points 152 Reflect command 121 Reflect Group dialog 121, 122 Pan 50 Reflecting segments 121 Patterns 84, 87, 89...
  • Page 228 Saving Favorite Online Help Topics 192 Steil stitches 164 Scanning images 148 Steil stitches width 87 Screen calibration 19 Steil tool 164 Scroll bars 37 Stitch count 26 Scrollbar slider 28 Stitch exceptions 56 Segment settings 75 Stitch length 87, 91 Segments, closing 125 Fills 87, 91 Select Highlighted button 98...
  • Page 229 ELNA XPRESSIVE II User’s Guide choosing fonts 76 Visual text editing 67 Two Stops (machine command) 113 Width (Steil stitches) 87 Underlay density 94 Wildcards 32 Underlay stitch length 94 Window background color 50 Underlay types 92, 93, 94 Wizards...

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