Introduction to Embroidery Digitizing

Till recently, the hobbyist could not do computerized embroidery because of its extravagant prices. However, the falling costs of computers, embroidery machines and embroidery digitizing software have now made embroidery digitizing rather popular. Today, embroidery digitizing is possible with an investment as low as $500.

Embroidery digitizing is basically a form of art where its software helps a skilled embroidery digitizer transform an image into stitches. However, just having an embroidery digitizing software is insufficient to produce a beautiful embroidery design. It is necessary to have some imagination and an ability of seeing the picture and details of the intended design. This is because embroidery digitizing is not a process where you just click on a button and sit back to see the design developing.

In embroidery digitizing, the artist first mentally dissects each design into sections and layers to see how each section matches with the other. The blending and merging of colors are also taken into consideration in defining the design. The right atmosphere and mood for the design is created by shadows of the light.

The next part of embroidery digitizing lies in using the software tools to separate parts that have to be redrawn and then stitching using threads. Even the stitching sequences and coloring of the design with the thread is displayed by the embroidery digitizing software to make it easier for you to decide. On completing this, the design is reassembled to get the actual impression of the design in thread and is then sewed out.

Some designs are not fit for embroidery digitizing as thread is three dimensional; unlike oil paints and digital pixels. This is where the embroidery digitizer helps with its artist creativity and problem solving skills. The monitor of the computer is the canvas of embroidery digitizing while the keyboard and mouse are the brushes for the design. And the pallet of the embroidery digitizer is the embroidery digitizing software.

To succeed in embroidery digitizing, it is necessary to have knowledge of fabric types and the push-pull factor of different fabrics. It is also necessary to have some knowledge about needles, stabilizers, thread and creativity to discover the boundaries of embroidery digitizing.