{"id":3126,"date":"2025-08-29T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/?post_type=knowledge-base&#038;p=3126"},"modified":"2025-09-26T11:45:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T11:45:36","slug":"how-to-use-rectangular-array-tool","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-rectangular-array-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use the Rectangular Array Tool for Embroidery Patterns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <strong>Rectangular Array<\/strong> tool is a powerful feature in eXPerience 8 that allows you to quickly create repetitive, grid-based patterns from any selected object(s). This guide will walk you through the process, from basic setup to advanced pattern creation.<\/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_73654\"  width=\"1290\" height=\"725\"  data-origwidth=\"1290\" data-origheight=\"725\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zqsgsz-XwwY?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\/Zqsgsz-XwwY\/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<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 1: Select Your Object and Activate the Tool<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you can use the Array tool, you must first select the object or group of objects you wish to duplicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use any of the selection tools to select your desired shape(s).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to the main toolbar on the left and locate the <strong>Arrays<\/strong> section.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click on the <strong>Rectangular Array<\/strong> tool to activate it. The software will automatically generate a default grid pattern using your selected object.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 2: Adjust the Array Properties<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the array is active, a set of options will appear on the <strong>Tool Options Bar<\/strong> at the top of the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Horizontal\/Vertical Copies:<\/strong> Enter the number of rows and columns you want in your grid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Spacing:<\/strong> Define the exact distance between each copy, both horizontally and vertically.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 3: Make Visual Adjustments with Handles<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For more intuitive control, you can manipulate the array directly on the design area using the interactive handles that appear over the pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Move the Entire Array:<\/strong> Click and drag the handle located on your original object to reposition the entire grid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adjust Spacing:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drag any handle on the first row to adjust <strong>horizontal spacing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drag any handle on the first column to adjust <strong>vertical spacing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drag any other handle (not in the first row or column) to adjust both <strong>horizontal and vertical spacing<\/strong> simultaneously.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tip: Use Modifier Keys<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hold the <strong>Alt<\/strong> key while dragging a corner handle to maintain equal horizontal and vertical spacing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hold the <strong>Shift<\/strong> key while dragging to dynamically add or remove copies while preserving the set spacing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 4: Create Advanced Patterns with Mirror and Rotate<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can create more intricate patterns by transforming individual copies within the array.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hover your mouse over any handle in the array. A small pop-up with a <strong>rotate<\/strong> icon and a <strong>mirror<\/strong> icon will appear.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the <strong>rotate<\/strong> icon to rotate every other copy in the grid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click the <strong>mirror<\/strong> icon to mirror every other copy. This is a quick way to create complex, interlocking patterns.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 5: Apply Mirroring Presets<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For common mirroring tasks, use the presets available in the Tool Options Bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mirror Horizontal:<\/strong> Mirrors each subsequent object in the same row.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mirror Vertical:<\/strong> Mirrors each subsequent object in the same column.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mirror 4 Corners:<\/strong> Creates a 2&#215;2 grid with each object mirrored, ideal for creating symmetrical frames or tiles. You can then increase the number of copies to repeat this 2&#215;2 pattern.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Align to Work Area:<\/strong> (Available if a work area is defined). This works like the <strong>Mirror 4 Corners<\/strong> preset but automatically aligns the four mirrored objects to the center of your defined work area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 6: Use Advanced Options<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Before finalizing your array, consider these powerful options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clone Objects:<\/strong> If this option is checked before applying the array, all created copies will be &#8220;clones.&#8221; This means that if you later edit the nodes of any single object in the array, all the other objects will automatically update with the same change. This is incredibly useful for making design-wide adjustments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reorder Colors:<\/strong> For multi-color designs, checking this option will optimize the stitch sequence to minimize color changes, making the final stitch-out more efficient.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 7: Finalize or Change Your Array<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Apply:<\/strong> When you are satisfied with your pattern, click the <strong>Apply<\/strong> button on the Tool Options Bar. This will create the individual objects and exit the array tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Select New:<\/strong> If you want to apply the same array settings to a different object, click the <strong>Select new<\/strong> button and choose a new base object for the pattern.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Rectangular Array tool is a powerful feature in eXPerience 8 that allows you to quickly create repetitive, grid-based patterns from any selected object(s). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3153,"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":[333,337,336],"class_list":["post-3126","knowledge-base","type-knowledge-base","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categories-kb-how-to-training","categories-kb-how-to-training-advanced","categories-kb-how-to-training-operator"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"categories-kb":[{"value":333,"label":"How to Training"},{"value":337,"label":"How to Training - Advanced"},{"value":336,"label":"How to Training - Operator"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rectangArray-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\/3126","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\/3153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"categories-kb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingsxp.com\/embroidery\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories-kb?post=3126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}