How to Import Bitmaps and Auto-Digitize(Trace) to Create Embroidery Designs

This guide explains how to import a bitmap image (such as a JPEG or PNG) into eXPerience 8 and convert it into an embroidery design using the Auto-Digitize / Trace to Outline feature. This tool allows you to automatically create vector shapes and stitch data from a raster image.

Step 1: Import the Image

1. Click the Open icon in the main toolbar.
2. Browse your computer to locate the Bitmap image you wish to use.
3. Select the file and click Open.

Step 2: Adjust Selection and Resolution

Once the file opens, a dialog box will appear displaying a preview of the image. Before tracing, you can adjust which parts of the image to import and its quality.

• Crop the Image: Click and drag your mouse over the preview area to select a specific portion of the image. You can resize this selection box or use the Reset (circle icon) to revert to the full image.
• Adjust Resolution: In the lower part of the dialog, you can edit the Width, Height, or DPI.
  • Note: Changing one value will automatically adjust the others proportionally.

Important Limit: The default “backdrop size limit” is 29.5cm (11.6 inches). If your imported image dimensions exceed this, the software will automatically downscale the resolution values to fit within this limit.

Step 3: Configure Trace Settings

After confirming your selection, the Trace Dialog will appear. This tool converts the dots of your bitmap image into vector lines. You can customize the following settings to get the best result:

1. Scaling

If you have a specific hoop size in mind (e.g., a 140×140 hoop), use the Scale option to resize the image design before tracing.

2. Accuracy

This determines how much detail from the original artwork is preserved.

• Default Value: 5
• Range: 1 (Lowest) to 8 (Highest)

💡 Useful Tip: Higher accuracy is not always better.

• High-Quality Images: You can increase accuracy (6-8) to capture fine details.
• Low-Quality/Pixelated Images: Using high accuracy may create too many unnecessary nodes and a “messy” shape. For these images, stick to the default (5) or lower to keep the artwork clean.

3. Color Limit

This setting controls how many distinct colors the software recognizes.

• If your image has many shades of a single color (e.g., light blue, medium blue, dark blue), reducing the Color Limit will combine these shades into one basic color.
• Benefit: Reducing colors generally leads to fewer object segments and cleaner shapes.

4. Background Removal

Check the Background option and select the background color of your image (usually white). This ensures the background is removed and not converted into stitches.

Step 4: View and Output Options

Before finalizing, you can use the Tools section to inspect your settings:

• Zoom: Use the mouse wheel or the dropdown percentage menu to zoom in on specific details.
• Preview Toggles: You can toggle the view of the Traced Nodes/Outlines or the Original Image to see how they blend and compare.

Convert to Artwork Only

There is an option to convert the image into Artwork objects without immediately applying embroidery stitch types.

• When to use this: Select this if you want to manually decide the Fill and Outline types later. It creates the shapes but leaves the stitch definition up to you.

Step 5: Finalize and Edit

1. Click Trace to perform the conversion.
2. The software will generate the design.
3. You can now edit the design exactly as if you had created it from scratch. This includes changing stitch angles, adding piping, changing underlay settings, or reshaping nodes.

---

Summary Checklist for Best Results:

• Crop out unnecessary background elements before tracing.
• Match the resolution to your hoop size limitations.
• Adjust accuracy based on the quality of your source image, not just the detail desired.
• Reduce the color count to merge gradients into solid fill areas.