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Amazing Design AD-UBOX Manual

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Summary of Contents for Amazing Design AD-UBOX

  • Page 2 Warranty Disclaimers The converter box will not read manufacturer’s alphabet • memory cards. All designs must fit inside the sewing hoop capabilities of • your machine. Reducing the design to fit inside your hoop may affect the sewability. Some designs may have stitches that can not be read •...

  • Page 3: Limited Warranty

    Amazing Box Limited Warranty All parts other than connector pins are warranted to be free from defects for a period of one year and will be at the manufacturer's option, replaced or repaired at no charge to you, the consumer, for a period of one year from date of original purchase, provided said parts or machine are returned, and transportation prepaid.
  • Page 4 Warranty THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE WARRANTY AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. This warranty is in effect provided the converter box is used only for normal household sewing purposes and not commercial use, and given reasonably good care.
  • Page 5 Amazing Box This warranty is nontransferable and extends only to the original purchaser when new and when purchased from a duly authorized dealer. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties. The manufacturer is not responsible for any representation, expressed or implied other than those contained herein.
  • Page 6 Warranty IMPORTANT INFORMATION: REGULATIONS Federal Communications Commission Compliance Notice (for U.S.A. only) This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protec- tion against harmful interference in a residential installation.
  • Page 7 Amazing Box Important - About the Interface Cable This equipment has been certified to comply with FCC standards, which are applied to the U.S.A. only. A shielded interface cable should be used according to FCC 15.27 (C) Caution Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer or local sales distributor could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

  • Page 8: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Table of Contents Disclaimers Limited Warranty Support Table of Contents Introduction Why Choose The Amazing Box Terms Used in This Manual Icons Used in This Book Installation Accessory Page Computer Requirements Hardware Installation Troubleshooting Software Installation Start Program File Formats File Formats Quick Start...

  • Page 9: Table Of Contents

    VIII Amazing Box Table of Contents (cont) Write Using Compatible Software Main Screen Design Screen Dialog Box Read GNC Files Zip Files Load Card Write Card Delete Options Exit Sewing Field Index Color Editor Drop Down Menu File View Options Help Tool Bar Main Tool Bar...

  • Page 10: Introduction

    Introduction ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ About This Manual The Amazing Box gives you the unique ability to convert your favorite design from one format to another, and the ability to use designs from disks,...

  • Page 11: Why Choose The Amazing Box

    Amazing Box Why Choose The Amazing Box The Amazing Box has the most flexible and easy-to-use-features allowing you to work di- rectly with Smart Sizer Gold, Lettering Pro, Size Express, Fast Fills, Click ‘N Stitch, and Color Editor. With these six products, you can size, edit, add lettering, pattern fill, and colorize your designs.

  • Page 12: Icons Used In This Book

    Introduction Icons Used in This Book This icon indicates a story. These stories help to explain and simplify problems that may be con- fusing. This icon indicates helpful tips that enable you to better understand how the software works. This icon provides information that will save you ving time in your day-to-day use of the software and in some cases the use of your computer.
  • Page 13 Amazing Box...

  • Page 14: Installation

    Installation ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Items Found in this Section: Accessory Page Computer Requirements Hardware Installation...

  • Page 15: Computer Requirements

    Amazing Box Accessory Page Included with The Amazing Box: Amazing Box Rewritable Memory Card - in jewel case Instruction manual Amazing Box Software on CD-ROM Including Color Editor & Adobe Acrobat USB Cable Options: Additional Rewritable Memory Cards Smart Sizer Gold - editing software Lettering Pro - text program Size Express - resizing software Fast Fills - pattern fill software...

  • Page 16: Hardware Installation

    Installation Hardware Installation Turn OFF computer. Plug flat end of USB cable into USB port. This port may be in the front or back of your machine. Plug square end of your USB cable into the back of your Amazing Box. Turn ON computer.
  • Page 17 Amazing Box With “Search for suitable driver...” selected, click “Next.” Select only “CD- ROM drives” and then click “Next.” After Windows has found the driver, click “Next” to start the installa- tion process. Finally, select “Fin- ish.” Your driver installa- tion is complete, and you are ready to install your Amazing Box software.

  • Page 18: Troubleshooting

    Installation Troubleshooting If you use Windows 2000, Millenium Edition (ME), Figure 1 or XP, you will see an icon (Figure 1) appear at the bottom right corner of your screen (near the clock). When unplugging your Amazing Box, you must first double-click this icon, select the “USB Conver- sion Box,”...
  • Page 19 Amazing Box Microsoft's Logo compatibility testing is put in place to ensure that users do not incur problems with equipment manufacturers' products. While The Amazing Box is in the process of gaining "formal" Microsoft approval, it has been tested for use under the Windows XP operating system and is Windows XP compatible.
  • Page 20 Installation No Comport Error Message If you get a message on your screen saying, “No comport...” this usually means the USB driver is not installed correctly. Follow the following steps to reinstall the driver. 1. Unplug the USB cable from the computer while it is on.

  • Page 21: Software Installation

    Amazing Box Software Installation From the Windows desktop close all open programs. Place The Amazing Box CD in the CD-ROM drive. From the Windows desktop, click on the Start button. Click on the Run button. At the Run prompt you will need to type the letter of your CD-ROM Drive followed by Setup.
  • Page 22 Installation Click Next. Figure Inst-2 Click Next. Figure Inst-3 Click Next. Figure Inst-4 Click Finish. Figure Inst-5...

  • Page 23: Start Program

    Amazing Box Start Program Follow the steps below in order to run The Amazing Box. To start the program: Go to Start. Click on Programs. Click on Great Notions. Click on Amazing Box. Amazing Box appears on your screen as shown in Figure Inst-6.

  • Page 24: File Formats

    File Formats ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○...

  • Page 25: File Formats

    Amazing Box File Formats File Formats are designs on your hard drive, floppy or CD-ROM that The Amazing Box will read. There are many different file formats the Amazing Box will open. You will find them listed below. GNC (*.gnc) A “GNC”...
  • Page 26 File Formats EXP (*.exp) A “EXP” file is an expanded file format that works with the Converter Box. JEF (*.jef) A “JEF” file is an expanded file format that works with the Janome 10000 machine. PCS (*.pcs) A “PCS” file is an expanded file format that works with Pfaff PC-Designer V2.0 (PC), and Pfaff PC-Designer V2.1 (PC) software.
  • Page 27 Amazing Box An expanded format is any format that will not regenerate new stitches when resized. This means that if you reduce an expanded design, the stitch count will not change. What happens is that the stitches will get closer together and you may end up with thread or needle breakage and/or damage to your garment.

  • Page 28: Quick Start

    Quick Start ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Items Found in this Section: General Operation Read Load...

  • Page 29: General Operation

    Amazing Box General Operation 1. Make sure The Amazing Box has power. To do this, simply verify the green light on the front of The Amazing Box is on. 2. Open the Amazing Box program by double- clicking on the icon. Make sure you have only opened the program one time.

  • Page 30: Read

    Quick Start Figure QS-1 Read The Read function lets you select a design from a file. You can read designs from a floppy disk, CD, or your hard drive. The Amazing Box soft- ware is conversion software. This means that you can “read”...
  • Page 31 Amazing Box Remember, the box is a design file transfer system for finished file sewing formats. You cannot read .bmp, .jpg, or any kind of clip art into this program. There is no digitizing software included. Click the Read button, and the standard “Open” window appears (Figure QS-2).

  • Page 32: Load

    Quick Start Load The Load function is what enables you to take designs from memory cards into the software and write them back to a card for your embroidery machine. 1. Simply insert the preprogrammed memory card into the appropriate slot (See Figure QS-3 on the next page) in the box and the Load button will highlight.
  • Page 33 Amazing Box Figure QS-3 Upper Left Card Slot (Slot 1) The card slot for Babylock, Bernina-Deco, Brother, Simplicity, Viking #1+, Rose, and 605 Cards. Lower Left Card Slot (Slot 2) The card slot for Pfaff, Janome 10000 and Bernina-Artista Cards. Upper Right Card Slot (Slot 3) The card slot for Singer Cards.

  • Page 34: Delete

    Quick Start Delete The Delete button is used to remove a design from any of the 6 squares on the screen. Click the design you want to delete then click the Delete button and the design disappears. Write Once you have up to 6 designs on your screen then you are ready to insert your rewritable memory card into the appropriate slot on the Amazing Box and write the designs to the...

  • Page 35: Using Compatible Software

    Amazing Box Only one card in the box at a time! Do not remove your card while the red light is on. You will see a status bar with numbers counting up “Writing block….”. There is no specific number at which the transfer will stop. You must wait until the status bar is no longer on the screen to remove your card.
  • Page 36 Quick Start Ex. To send a design from the Main Screen into Color Editor: 1. Open Color Editor and maximize. 2. Double click on the desired design on the Main Screen, and this design will automatically be transferred into Color Editor (Figure QS-4). 3.
  • Page 37 Amazing Box...

  • Page 38: Main Screen

    Main Screen ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ In this section of the manual, all the features on the Main Screen are explained.
  • Page 39 Amazing Box Main Screen Figure MS-2 Design Screen Dialog Box Read Load Write Delete Options Exit...

  • Page 40: Design Screen

    Main Screen Design Screen When using The Amazing Box, you are able to place up to six designs onto a card at one time (Depending on the size, stitch count and/or color changes in the design). The six boxes, as shown in Figure MS-3 will display the sequence of the designs selected before writing to a card.

  • Page 41: Dialog Box

    Amazing Box Dialog Box When moving your mouse over the different features in the program, information about that feature will be displayed in the Dialog Box. Read Click the Read button or the File/Open drop- down menu to open the “Open” window as shown below in Figure MS-4.
  • Page 42 Main Screen Another feature in the “Open” window is “Browse.” Click on Browse and the “Browse” window will open displaying all the designs in that folder as shown below in Figure MS-5. Figure MS-5 With the “Browse” function open, there are several things to note.
  • Page 43 Amazing Box This icon will take you to your first design. This icon will take you to the previous page of designs. This icon will take you back one design. This icon will take you forward one design. This icon will take you to the next page of designs.

  • Page 44: Gnc Files

    Main Screen PCS: Pfaff PC-Designer V2.0 & V2.1 PC (*.pcs) Split at 16 colors PEC: Babylock Palette/Bernina Wizard/Brother PE-Design (*.pec) PES: Babylock/Bernina Deco/Brother/ Simplicity (*.pes, *.pec) SEW: Elna/Janome (*.sew) XXX: Singer (*.xxx) GNC Files GNC formated designs will automatically resize if necessary to fit the sewing field you are writing The GNC format is only found on Amazing Designs disk collections.

  • Page 45: Load Card

    Amazing Box Select the zipped file that you want to take a design from and click Open. The “Zip Directory” opens, displaying the designs within that zip file as shown in Figure MS-6a. Figure MS-6a Select the desired file and click Open to load it, or click Cancel to close the window and return to the “Main Screen.”...
  • Page 46 Main Screen Upper Left Card Slot (Slot 1) The card slot for Babylock, Bernina-Deco, Brother, Simplicity, Viking #1+, Rose, and 605 Cards. Lower Left Card Slot (Slot 2) The card slot for Pfaff, Janome 10000, and Bernina-Artista Cards. Upper Right Card Slot (Slot 3) The card slot for Singer Cards.
  • Page 47 Amazing Box Figure MS-7 Type in the design number of the single design you wish to load if you know the numbered position of the design. After typing in the design number, click OK and the desired design will load. If you do not know the number of the design, click Browse and all the designs on the card will be displayed.
  • Page 48 Main Screen Clicking the Browse button in the “Read Design” dialog box will display the “Card’s Directory” showing you pictures of all the designs on the card as shown in Figure MS-7a. Figure MS-7a Up to six designs can be shown at one time depending on the number of designs on the card as shown in Figure MS-7a.

  • Page 49: Write Card

    Amazing Box Write The Amazing Box has the capability of loading and writing memory card designs. You must have the appropriate writable card to be able to write designs for your machine. Listed below are the writable card formats and their appropriate slots in The Amazing Box.
  • Page 50 Main Screen Once you have up to 6 designs in the software, you are ready to insert your rewritable memory card into the appropriate slot on The Amazing Box and write these designs to the rewritable card for sewing. To program the “Write Card” buttons for your machine, first insert a writable card into the appropriate slot in the box.
  • Page 51 Amazing Box Only the machine choices for the card inserted in the slot will be offered (ex. the upper left side slot is for format PES/HUS so only BabyLock/ Brother/Deco/Simplicity/Viking machines will be offered). Select the appropriate machine model. If you do not see your machine model you can select a different machine by the same manufacturer with the same single sewing field parameters.
  • Page 52 Main Screen Figure MS-8a Do not remove your card while the red light is on! When the Amazing Box is done writing the designs to the card, it will display a “Success” window (Figure MS-8b). You are now ready to take the card to your machine and sew! Figure MS-8b This software will not split designs for multi-...

  • Page 53: Delete

    Amazing Box Some machines require designs to split into multiple files depending on the number of colors and stitch count. If your design doesn’t appear to have sewn out completely, then you may need to select the next file on the card to complete your design.

  • Page 54: Exit

    Main Screen Scroll through the list until you find your ma- chine and select it. Click OK to accept it or Cancel to close the window. The machine information will now replace the word “Unknown” on the “Write” buttons on the “Main Screen.” You can set all 3 buttons to your machine types or leave the other 2 as “Unknown.”...

  • Page 55: Sewing Field Index

    Amazing Box Memory card driven machines Maximum Single Sewing Field By Machine Machine Hoop Size File BabyLock ESI/ESI2 100 x 100 BabyLock EM1/EM2/eac/BL60E 100 x 100 Bernina Deco 500/600 100 x 100 Simplicity SE1/SE2/SE3 100 x 100 Brother PE150/100/200/300S/7500 100 x 100 White W3300 100 x 100 BabyLock ESE/ESE2/Ellure...
  • Page 56 Main Screen Memory card driven machines Maximum Single Sewing Field By Machine (cont.) Machine Hoop Size File Janome 10000 140 x 200 Pfaff 7570/7560 115 x 120 Pfaff 2140 140 x 225 Viking Rose/1+/Iris 100 x 100 Singer XL100 112 x 80 Singer XL150 130 x 240 Singer XL1000...
  • Page 57 Amazing Box...

  • Page 58: Color Editor

    Color Editor ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ In this section, all the features of the Color Editor software are explained.

  • Page 59: Drop Down Menu

    Amazing Box Drop-Down Menus ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Immediately below the title bar is the drop-down menu.

  • Page 60: File

    Color Editor File Menu Open (Ctrl+O) Click File, then Open to select a design. Figure CE-3 Open This displays the “Open” window along with your default folder or directory setting as shown above in Figure CE-3. FigureCE-3a Click on the down arrow to the right of the “Look in”...
  • Page 61 Amazing Box When you click on a file, the file name will appear in the field box to the right of “File name” as shown in Figure CE-3b. Figure CE-3b To the right of “Files of type” you can choose what type of embroidery format you wish to open.
  • Page 62 Color Editor After selecting a design, it appears in the “File name” box. Click on the Open button to load the design. Across the top of the main screen is the title bar. It will display the file name of the design you have opened.
  • Page 63 Amazing Box Save As Click File, then Save As to name your design and save it to the desired folder. Figure CE-4 Save As The “Save As” window in Figure CE-4, functions the same way as the “Open” window. Click on the down arrow to the right of the “Save in”...
  • Page 64 Color Editor The “Save As” feature will only allow you to save the file within the same format it was opened, with the exception of GNC. If a design is opened in GNC, it can be saved in HUS, CSD, PES, SEW, JEF, PCS, XXX, EXP and DST.
  • Page 65 Amazing Box Print (Ctrl+P) Click File, then Print to print a copy of your design. Not only will the design print out, but it will also show the file name, the stitching size, the num- ber of stitches and the number of colors. Print Preview Click File, then Print Preview to display on the screen how the printed page will appear (Figure...
  • Page 66 Color Editor When viewing the “Print Preview” screen, there are some items to note (Figure CE-5a). Figure CE-5a On the right side of the screen (Figure CE-5a), you will notice the file name, the size of design in millimeters and inches, stitch count, number of colors and the order the colors are to be sewn out.
  • Page 67 Amazing Box Figure CE-5b Click the One Page button to bring the “Print Preview” screen back to one page as shown in Figure CE-5c. Figure CE-5c Click the Zoom In button to zoom in as shown in Figure CE-5a. Click the Zoom Out button to zoom out as shown in Figure CE-5c.
  • Page 68 Color Editor Print Setup Click File, then Print Setup to bring up the print setup dialog box as shown in Figure CE-6. Figure CE-6 l Stuff You will be able to change the type of printer, properties, paper size and orientation within print setup.

  • Page 69: View

    Amazing Box VIEW Menu Toolbar Figure CE-7 (Top of Screen) Click View, then Main Toolbar to add or remove the “Main Toolbar” options from the screen. A checkmark denotes the toolbar is active. The “Toolbar” is the row of icons found at the top of the screen.

  • Page 70: Options

    Color Editor OPTIONS Menu Hoop Size Click Options, then Hoop Size to select the brand of machine and hoop size as shown in Figure CE-9. Figure CE-9 The workspace grid will increase or decrease in size to show the work area available for that particular machine and hoop size.
  • Page 71 Amazing Box Density Settings (for GNC Designs Only) Click Options, then Density Settings to bring up the dialog box in Figure CE-10. Density Settings only work with GNC designs. Figure CE-10 In Figure CE-10 you will find two ways to adjust the density of the embroidery pattern, “Adjust stitch density”...
  • Page 72 Color Editor Figure CE-10b Click on OK to make the appro- priate changes to the design, depending on the density settings you select. GNC format is the only format in which you can change the density. The GNC format is only found on Amazing Designs Disk Collections.
  • Page 73 Amazing Box Figure CE-11a Figure CE-11a shows the setting for Viking/ Husqvarna machines. This option will split the design at every 12th color change. When a design is split, the file name will be renamed with an A, B, C etc. at the end of the file.

  • Page 74: Help

    Color Editor Figure CE-11c Figure CE-11c is the setting for Pfaff PCS. The first option will make PCS files 100% compatible Pfaff PCS. The second option will split the design at every 16th color change. When a design is split, the file name will be renamed with an A, B, C etc.

  • Page 75: Tool Bar

    Amazing Box Tool Bars ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ This section describes how to use the three tool bars in Figure CE-12 through CE-14.
  • Page 76 Color Editor Main Menu Toolbar Open Icon (Ctrl+O) Click the Open icon to open a design file as discussed in the “File Menu” section. Save Icon (Ctrl+S) Click the Save icon to save changes to an exist- ing file. The “Save” command saves your docu- ment under the same name with which it was last saved or opened, replacing the previous version.
  • Page 77 Amazing Box Hoop Size Icon Click the Hoop Size icon to bring up the dialog box to select a machine and hoop size. See the “Options Menu” section for more information. Each square of the grid equals 10 millimeters by 10 millimeters.

  • Page 78: Color Bar

    Color Editor Color Bar Figure CE-15 The “Color Bar” enables you to change the colors of the design on the screen. The “Color Bar” will only show the number of boxes that have color changes within a design. Figure CE-16 After clicking on one of the boxes shown in Figure CE-15 the “Select Color”...
  • Page 79 Amazing Box Figure CE-16b There are five color palettes available to select colors. Default 64 colors Baby Lock/Bernina/Brother= 64 colors Husqvarna/Viking 29 colors Elna/Janome/New Home 78 colors Pfaff 16 colors Click on OK to change the se- lected color to its new color. Click on Cancel to close the color select function without changes.

  • Page 80: Status Bar

    Color Editor Status Bar Figure CE-17 The “Status Bar” provides information about four important items. Size Position from center. Stitch Count Number of Colors Figure CE-17a “Sz:” displays the size of the designs placed on the work space. Figure CE-17b “Pos:”...
  • Page 81 Amazing Box...

  • Page 82: Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently Asked Questions ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○...
  • Page 83 Amazing Box Frequently Asked Questions Question: What is a design transfer system? Answer: It is a memory card writing system that takes designs from your hard drive, floppy drive or CD and writes them to a memory card to fit your embroidery machine.

  • Page 84: Faqs

    FAQs Question: What does digitized mean? Answer: This is the term for a stitch file. It means that the clip art or picture now has stitches to it. Question: What does “single sewing field” refer to? Answer: Each embroidery machine has a maxi- mum area that may be embroidered at one time.
  • Page 85 Amazing Box Question: How do I keep my Amazing Box Soft- ware up-to-date? Answer: The Amazing Designs website (http://www.amazingdesigns.com) will post periodic software updates for download. To see which version of the software you have installed, click “Help” on the menu bar and select “About.” Question: The software does not recognize the converter box, what do I do?
  • Page 86 FAQs Question: Why does the design save to more than one file? Answer: Some manufacturers have color or stitch limitations for each file. If your machine requires limits, this software will split your designs into two or more files. Ex. Pfaff (PCS) can only read 16 colors per design file.
  • Page 87 Amazing Box...

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