{"id":3077,"date":"2025-07-04T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/?post_type=knowledge-base&#038;p=3077"},"modified":"2025-07-04T14:01:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T14:01:25","slug":"how-to-use-the-digitizing-tools-in-experience-8-operator-level","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-the-digitizing-tools-in-experience-8-operator-level\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use the Digitizing Tools in eXPerience 8 &#8211; Operator Level"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This guide provides a step-by-step tutorial on using the core creative features of <a href=\"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/\">eXPerience 8<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/\">embroidery software<\/a>: the Digitizing Tools. Learn how to access them, understand their functions, and use them to bring your designs to life.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_34268\"  width=\"1290\" height=\"725\"  data-origwidth=\"1290\" data-origheight=\"725\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/z8XDbACZvR4?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\"  alt=\"YouTube player\"  src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/z8XDbACZvR4\/maxresdefault.jpg\"  \/><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Part 1: Accessing the Digitizing Tools<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The digitizing tools are conveniently located in the <strong>&#8220;Digitize&#8221;<\/strong> section of the main Tools bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Locate the Digitize Section:<\/strong> Find the &#8220;Digitize&#8221; tools group on the toolbar. The icon of the last tool you used will be visible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>One-Click Access:<\/strong> If the visible tool is the one you need, simply click it to activate it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Select an Alternative Tool:<\/strong> To choose a different tool, hover your mouse cursor over the Digitize section. A fly-out menu will appear, showing all available digitizing tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Activate Your Chosen Tool:<\/strong> Move your cursor over the desired tool in the fly-out menu and click to select it. The tool is now active and its icon will be the new visible icon on the toolbar for easy re-use.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Part 2: Understanding the Core Digitizing Tools<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>eXPerience 8 offers three primary tools for creating your shapes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Outline Digitize:<\/strong> The most versatile tool. Use it to draw any shape by placing nodes. The software will connect these nodes with smooth curves or straight lines. You can create open curves, closed shapes, and even branched objects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pair-point Digitize:<\/strong> A specialized tool designed for creating objects where stitch direction and column width are defined simultaneously. You must place nodes in pairs, where each pair defines the opposite edges of a stitch column.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Freehand Shapes:<\/strong> This tool allows you to draw shapes organically, as if you were sketching on paper with a pencil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Useful Tip:<\/strong> The <strong>Pair-point Digitize<\/strong> tool is specifically used for <strong>Satin<\/strong> and <strong>Piping<\/strong> stitch types. It will appear disabled until you select one of these stitch types from the Properties bar. This is because its method of placing points in pairs is essential for defining the stitch direction across the satin\/piping column.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Part 3: The Step-by-Step Digitizing Process<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow this standard workflow to create any new design element.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 1: Select a Stitch Type<\/strong> Before you begin drawing, you must tell the software what kind of stitches to fill your shape with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to the <strong>Properties bar<\/strong> and select a stitch type (e.g., Satin, Satin Serial, Step, Piping).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 2: (Optional) Select a Color<\/strong> You can pre-select a color for your new object before you place the first point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use the number keys on your keyboard (<code>1<\/code> through <code>9<\/code>) to select the corresponding color from your active color palette. Pressing <code>0<\/code> will select the tenth color.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Useful Tip:<\/strong> If you select an existing object on your design and <em>then<\/em> activate a digitizing tool, the new object you create will automatically inherit all the properties (stitch type, color, density, etc.) of the selected object. It will also be placed directly after it in the final stitch sequence.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Step 3: Digitize Your Shape<\/strong> With your tool active and properties set, begin clicking on the design area to place your nodes and create the object&#8217;s outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When the shape is complete, <strong>right-click<\/strong> to finalize it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Part 4: Creating Objects with Multiple Sections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes you may want two separate shapes to be treated as a single object, ensuring they stitch out together with a connecting thread. To do this, you create an object with multiple sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Create Your First Shape:<\/strong> Use a digitizing tool to create the first part of your object.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Finalize the Section (Not the Object):<\/strong> Instead of right-clicking twice, <strong>right-click only once<\/strong>. Alternatively, press <strong>Enter<\/strong> or <strong>Esc<\/strong> a single time. This finalizes the current section, but keeps the digitizing tool active and ready to add another section <em>to the same object<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create Subsequent Shapes:<\/strong> Immediately begin digitizing the next shape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Finalize the Entire Object:<\/strong> Once all sections are complete, <strong>right-click twice<\/strong> (or press <strong>Enter<\/strong>\/<strong>Esc<\/strong> twice). This ends the object creation process. The sections you created will now be linked as one object.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>To release the tool completely, you can right-click one more time or simply click the <strong>Rectangle Selection<\/strong> tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Part 5: Speed Up Your Workflow with Function Key Shortcuts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For maximum efficiency, use the F-keys on your keyboard to instantly activate a digitizing tool with a specific stitch type already selected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td>Shortcut<\/td><td>Action<\/td><td>Tool Used<\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>F2<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Manual Stitches<\/strong>.<\/td><td>Outline<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>F3<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Running Stitch<\/strong>.<\/td><td>Outline<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>F4<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Satin<\/strong> objects.<\/td><td>Pair-point<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Shift + F4<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Satin<\/strong> objects.<\/td><td>Outline<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>F5<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Step<\/strong> objects.<\/td><td>Outline<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>F6<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Zig-Zag<\/strong> objects.<\/td><td>Pair-point<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Shift + F6<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Zig-Zag<\/strong> objects.<\/td><td>Outline<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>F7<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Satin Serial<\/strong> objects.<\/td><td>Outline<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>F8<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Piping<\/strong> objects.<\/td><td>Pair-point<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Shift + F8<\/strong><\/td><td>Creates <strong>Piping<\/strong> ojects.<\/td><td>Outline<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This guide provides a step-by-step tutorial on using the core creative features of eXPerience 8: the Digitizing Tools. Learn how to access them, understand their functions, and use them to bring your designs to life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3078,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":""},"categories-kb":[333,336],"class_list":["post-3077","knowledge-base","type-knowledge-base","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categories-kb-how-to-training","categories-kb-how-to-training-operator"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"categories-kb":[{"value":333,"label":"How to Training"},{"value":336,"label":"How to Training - Operator"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/maxresdefault1-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"eXPerience embroidery software","author_link":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/author\/experience-embroidery-software\/"},"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-base\/3077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-base"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/knowledge-base"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"categories-kb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories-kb?post=3077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}