How to Group and Manage Design Objects in Embroidery Software – Level Operator

Organizing complex embroidery designs into groups streamlines your layout workflow, allowing you to reposition, transform, and modify multi-part design elements together without altering individual stitch parameters.

Step 1: Grouping Design Elements

1. Select all individual objects or parts you want to combine (click and drag a selection box or hold Shift/Ctrl while clicking each element).
2. Right-click the selected objects and select Group, or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + G.

Tip: Grouping does not merge stitch types into a single object. Each part retains its original stitch types and properties intact.

Step 2: Transforming and Editing Grouped Objects

Once grouped, clicking any individual element will automatically select the entire group:

• Move, Scale, and Rotate: Transform the entire group uniformly on the workspace without leaving individual pieces behind.
• Bulk Color Adjustments: Select the group and choose a color swatch from the palette to apply a new color across all parts in the group simultaneously.

Step 3: Adding Elements and Creating Nested Groups

eXPerience 8 supports multi-level, nested grouping hierarchies:

• Add Objects to an Existing Group: Select the existing group along with the new object(s), then right-click and choose Group (or press Ctrl + G).
• Nest Multiple Groups: Select two or more distinct groups together and use the Group command to unite them into a top-level parent group.

Step 4: Ungrouping and Separating Objects

To edit individual objects within a group:

1. Click on the group to select it.
2. Right-click and choose Ungroup (or Separate).
3. If the selection contains nested groups, the top-level parent group will separate into its individual sub-groups first.
4. Select any sub-group and choose Ungroup again to access the base individual objects.

Best Practices for Working with Groups

• Layer by Subject: Group distinct sections of a design (e.g., characters, leaves, text banners) early to prevent accidental element shifting during final composition.
• Shortcut Workflow: Use Ctrl + G regularly while drafting to quickly bundle adjacent shapes before moving to the next section.
• Check Stitch Order: Ensure each component’s stitch order is arranged properly before grouping to maintain clean thread trims and underlay execution.