Design Colours - The palette can have up to 255 colours at one time,
which can be chosen from the DMC, Anchor and Madeira chart
approximations. Other manufacturers charts are available, see
further information about modules.
Design
Size - The size of a design is
unlimited, even a design of 2000 x 2000 can be produced.
There is the grid reference that locates the position of the
mouse on the grid. Please note that when working on a large
design, the speed of the program may be affected by the
amount of memory available.
Stitch
Types - A full range of stitch
types is offered which consists of full, three quarter, half
& quarter stitches; single or double backstitch and
French knots.
Status
Bar - Current palette colour along
with its description is given on the status bar, also given
is information about the colour under the mouse and
instructions for the current option.
Units
of Measurements - The units of
measurement used within the program can be set to either
imperial or metric.
Colour
Descriptions - Colour names and
descriptions are given for all the colour charts, these can
be altered as required.
Design
Display - The design grid can be
turned off or on to improve the view. The Zoom and Pan
facilities give the optimum view required and allow movement
around the design whilst editing. Also you can switch between
several active designs, and tiling and cascading the designs
is possible.
Used
Colours - The number of colours
used within a design are shown by a white box on the colour
in the palette, which makes them easily identifiable. Also a
count of the number of colours used is given on the status
bar.
Rulers
- Rulers are given at the top and
to the left of the design area, which will help when placing
areas. The rulers can be displayed in terms of stitches,
centimetres or inches, to suit your preference. The position
of the mouse is also marked on the ruler as a light grey
line.
Ruler
Guide - Guides can be added to
the design to make it easier when aligning areas in the design
Design
Centre - The centre of the design
is shown on the rulers.
Configurable
Toolbars - Ability to decide which
options appear on the toolbar, have easy access to your most
commonly used options.
Sorting - Palettes
can be sorted by number, name, manufacturer chart, frequency
of use or by dragging the colours around for your own order.
Palettes
- Palettes can be set to contain
your own preferences in colours and fabric colour, which can
then be saved and used as required. Also the default palette
can be set to your choice. Unused or unwanted colours can be
removed from the palettes.
Key and Palette - The colours in the key and palette can be sorted
into various orders.
Fabric/Grid
Display - The fabric and grid
colour can be altered, also the on-screen backstitch
thickness can be changed. The number of squares between the
darker grid lines can be altered.
Stitch
Display - The design and palette
can be displayed in various modes, including colour blocks;
black & white symbols; colour symbols or colour blocks
with black & white symbols.
Expandable
Thread Charts - The colour charts
are user expandable, so you can add any new colours that are
released.
Design
Preview - A preview on screen shows
a complete view of the design.
Spray
- By changing the width of the
spray it is possible to fill areas more quickly.
Options
- Pressing the Enter key will
repeat the last option used.
Thread
Usage - The Show option
gives information about the design including stitch count and
design area for definable fabric counts, along with an
approximate thread usage, length given in inches or
centimetres.
Browse
- Browse through your stored
designs, this will help to make selection easier.
Browse
Style - Browse has an explorer
style folder list on the same dialog to make changing folders easier.
Open
- Browse allows more than one file
to be opened at once and a warning will be given if there is
a design which is already open.
New
- Size a new design in either
stitches, inches or centimetres.
Template
- Give common card dimensions along
with the aperture ready to design on, the template used will
be given in Show. There is also the ability to define your
own templates. The measurements can be set in inches or
centimetres.
Coloured
Template - Ability to view and
print your design in a coloured template.
Convert
Images - Converts images such as
clipart into cross stitch designs, 72 file formats are
supported including TIFF, BMP, JPEG & Kodak CD.
Scanning
- Direct scanning allows
photographs to be converted into cross stitch designs
matching to a specific thread chart giving colour numbers and
symbols.
Adjust
Images - View the image before
conversion and make any adjustments like brightness,
contrast, sharpen and de-speckle.
Convert
Images/Preview - There is a
preview of the final design making it simpler to see how changing settings
affects the final result.
Convert
Images/Sizing - Set the size of the
cross stitch design in squares, inches or centimetres.
Converting
Images/Matching - As well as
matching to a thread chart, it is possible to match to
multiple charts and palettes.
Convert
Images/Colours - Set the number of
colours or let the program choose a sensible number and set
colours which are important.
Backdrop
- When converting an image it can
be used as a backdrop, so designing can be carried out on top
of it.
Backdrop/Alignment
- There is the ability for
automatic alignment of scanned charts.
Convert
Images/Options - Randomise, Clone,
Flood Fill which fills shades between selected colours,
ability to reduce number of colours and removal of lone
stitches all help when editing a converted image.
Standard
Editing Features - Copy, move, cut,
paste, flip, mirror, rotate, centre in area, scale up and
scale down areas.
Windows™
Clipboard -
There is access to the
Windows™ Clipboard.
Select Stitch Types to Copy - Ability to copy/move backstitch or cross stitch
only. For example a useful way of removing all the backstitch
from a design by using the Cut option. The current
settings are shown on the screen.
Pick Stitch Type - Pick a stitch type, or stitch type and colour, from
the design. This can speed up the selection of required
stitches when editing.
Colours
- Change or delete a colour of
cross stitch, backstitch or both within a design.
Edit Area - The edit area option will allow changes to occur
only in a desired area. So a colour can be changed in one
area but will remain untouched in the rest of the design.
Irregular shape - Irregular shape allows intricate areas to be copied,
moved or when using Edit Area.
Flood
Fill - Flood fill enables areas to
be filled quickly, it recognises cross stitch, as well as
template guide lines. There is an optional option which will
automatically fills shades between selected colours.
Smooth
Stitches - Adds three quarter
stitches to help remove step effects.
Backstitch
- Change or delete sections of
backstitch, adjust a backstitch line after placing and
delete/select backstitch lines using any point along the
line.
Backstitch
Outline - Automatically
generate backstitch outlines between or around colours, it is possible to
outline around all colour changes in a specified area.
Backstitch
- Remove any duplicated
backstitch, this can reduce the memory usage.
Wizards - Wizards guide you through the process of converting
an image or printing a design.
Shapes - Numerous shapes can be added to the design using
cross stitch, backstitch or half stitch and can be filled as
well.
Designs - Existing designs or picture files can be easily
inserted into the current design.
Motifs
- Motifs can be saved then used as
required or use the ones supplied with the program, they can
be used to make Motif Borders.
Library - Motifs are stored in a library which can be browsed
for the required motif.
Text - There
is a preview on the text dialog which shows how the text will look, also
there is a hot key that will allow changes to be made.
True Type Fonts - True Type fonts can be used to add text to a design,
the text can have three quarter stitches to smooth the edges
or have a backstitch outline.
Text - Use
the built-in cross stitch and backstitch fonts as another way
of adding text to a design.
Thread Conversion - Create a design in DMC then convert into Anchor and
Madeira threads or vice versa.
Fabric Charts - Aida fabric colours can be chosen from Zweigart,
Fabric Flair and Frank Stone Aida range.
Fractional
Stitches when Scaling - When
scaling there is an option which allows fractional stitches
to be used.
Symbols - There are several hundred available symbols, the
cross stitch and backstitch symbols are automatically
assigned according to the darkness of the colour.
Charts - Alter any of the colours in the thread or fabric
charts as required.
Zoom Levels - Flexible zoom levels include full view and ability
to pan around design.
View
Level - Select the previous or next
view area.
Flexible grid settings - Turn grid on and off; set the spacing between the
darker grid lines and colour of the grid lines.
Stitched View - Designs can be displayed and printed to give the
appearance of the final stitched design, with variegated
threads shown as variegated.
Tools - Designs
can be cropped, extended, have rows and columns inserted or
deleted, rotated, reflected, scaled or centred.
Extending - Automatic extension of the grid when placing areas
which are too large.
Insert/delete
areas from within the design - Extra
rows and columns can be inserted or deleted within the
design.
Show - Show
gives information about the design such as stitch count and
design area, the fabric count can be altered as required.
Automatic Backup - Saves a backup of your work in case your machine
crashes and an optional reminder to save your work.
Undo - Undo
facility gives the ability to undo up to 100 of the last
options used, redo will repeat the option which has been
undone.
Scale
- A design can be increased or
reduced in size whilst editing. Also areas of the design can
be scaled whilst copying and moving.
Redo
- After using the Undo
option, Redo will repeat the option which has been
undone. This helps to go back after changes have been made.
Active Designs - Switch between several active designs which can be
tiled, cascaded or view all of them.
Help - On-line
help gives information on the features.
Includes
429 motifs and 20 designs
Print - Designs can be printed directly from the Browse
option using the previously saved information.
Print Preview - Preview the design before printing.
Printing - Designs can be printed with or without key; design
information can be added; tiling for larger designs; change
margins and line thickness as required.
Print Stitch Display - Various stitch displays are available for cross
stitch and backstitch.
Key
- A design can be printed with or
without grid and key. The key lists the colours used in the
design with user definable names and symbols for each colour.
Stitch
Output- Printouts can be in black
& white symbols, colour blocks, colour symbols or colour
with black & white symbols; with optional centre arrows.
Fabric
Simulation - The design can be
printed to give the appearance of the final stitched design.
Design
Information - Information such as
design title, stitch count, design area, notes, copyright and
designer can be added to the printouts.
Printout
Size/Tiling - The size of the
squares on the printout can be set to produce larger easy to
read charts. Automatic tiling will print designs over several
pages with optional overlaps. When more than one page is
printed a guide is given showing the order.
Line
Thicknesses - The thickness of the
grid and backstitch can be altered and the print margin can
be set to improve print layout.
Centring the Printout - The design can be centred on the printout, including
when tiling.
Backstitch Styles - Different methods of printing backstitch such as
black solid, white solid, black pattern or white pattern,
this can make the backstitch stand out on different colour
backgrounds.
Design Samples