Brother Pe Design 7 Manual

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
The functions for each button are described below.
1 Open Image File
Click this button to open a previously saved 
image file and paste the image in the Design 
Page.
cFor details, refer to “Importing image data 
into Layout & Editing” on page 18.
2 From Clipboard
Clicking this button pastes the image on the 
Clipboard into the Design Page. This function 
can only be used when there is an image on the 
Clipboard.
3 From TWAIN device
Click this button to import an image from a 
TWAIN device (such as a scanner or digital 
camera) connected to your computer, then 
paste it in the Design Page.
cFor details, refer to “Importing image data 
from a TWAIN device” below.
4 Use Current image
Click this button to use an image opened in the 
Original Image Stage. This function can only be 
used when an image is opened in the Original 
Image Stage.
5 Previous
Clicking this button closes the current dialog 
box, and returns to the How do you want to 
produce embroidery? dialog box. 
6Cancel
Clicking this button closes this dialog box. 
→If any button other than Previous or 
Cancel is clicked, the image will be 
imported and pasted into the Design Page 
of the Original Image Stage, and the Cut 
out to Line Image dialog box appears, 
allowing you to choose colors for outlines.
cFor details on the next stages, refer to 
“Line Image Stage” on page 196, “Figure 
Handle Stage” on page 199, then “Sew 
Setting Stage” on page 209.
Importing image data from 
a TWAIN device
TWAIN is an application interface (API) 
standardization for software that controls scanners 
and other devices. Design Center supports TWAIN 
standardized devices, allowing you to control the 
device and import the image directly.
1.Check that the scanner or other TWAIN 
device is correctly connected to your 
computer.
2.Click File, then Select TWAIN device.
→The Select Source dialog box appears.
3.From the Sources list, click the desired device 
to select it.
4.Click Select to choose the selected device 
and to close the dialog box.
5.Click File, then Input from TWAIN device.
→The driver interface for the device 
selected in the Select Source dialog box 
appears. 
6.Specify the necessary settings for importing 
an image, and then import the image.
→When the image transfer between the 
scanner (or other device) and the driver is 
completed, the imported image will be 
pasted in a Design Page of the Original 
Image Stage. 
aNote:
If no TWAIN device is installed, there will be 
no names displayed in the Sources list. 
First, install the driver software for the 
TWAIN device that you want to use.
bMemo:
To quit the operation and close the dialog box, 
click Cancel.
aNote:
For information on using the driver interface, 
refer to the help manual for that interface, or 
contact the manufacturer of the interface.
bMemo:
If the image currently displayed in the Design 
Page has not yet been saved, you will be 
asked whether you want to save it.
!!scr94.bmp!! 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
Line Image Stage
After opening the image, continue to the Line Image Stage, where the color(s) that will be used to create the 
line image (outline of the image) will be selected. In the Line Image Stage, you can edit the image using the 
pen and eraser tools. You may also want to use these tools to create outlines that are easier to draw by hand, 
for example, free-hand writing. Use the zooming tools available to display the image enlarged or reduced.
For details on the image appropriate to extract outlines, please refer to page 196.
Extracting the outlines of 
an image
Toolbar button: 
1.Click  , or click Stage, then To Line 
Image.
→The Cut out to Line Image dialog box 
appears.
→If you were in the Figure Handle Stage, 
you are returned to the Line Image Stage, 
unless you have modified the image in the 
Figure Handle Stage. In that case, a 
message will appear, asking you to 
confirm that you want to abandon the 
changes made in the Figure Handle 
Stage.
bMemo:
 To display the image enlarged (or reduced), 
move the 
ZOOM slider up (or down). When 
the image is enlarged, you can scroll 
through it to display different parts.
 We recommend using a 16-color image, 
since it may be difficult to pick colors from a 
256-color or truecolor image during the 
conversion to the Line Image Stage.
When using a 256-color or truecolor image, 
use the 
Tone slider to adjust the image.
 The number of colors in the image data can 
be reduced or the image noise (distortions) 
can be reduced. By applying an even 
gradation to make the image smoother, you 
can select colors more easily, even from 
image data that was taken from a scanner 
or other device and does not have clear 
outlines.
1) The image window displays the 
image resulting from the current 
settings.
2) Move the Tone slider to set the 
amount of color reduction 
(posterization). Set to High to show 
the original image. Set towards Low 
to increase the color reduction.
3) The more the Noise Reduction 
slider is moved to the right (MAX), 
the smaller the area where the noise 
is reduced.
aNote:
If you started with the Figure Handle Stage 
by opening a Figure Handle Stage file, you 
cannot go to the Line Image Stage. 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
2.Click the outline color(s) that you want to 
convert into black outlines.
→When the pointer is moved over the 
image, the shape of the pointer changes 
to .
→The selected color appears in a box on 
the right side, and   appears in the 
check box to show that the color is 
selected.
To extract the color boundaries, click Detect 
Outlines check box.
3.Click Preview to preview the line image in the 
Design Page.
4.Click OK.
→All of the selected colors are converted to 
a black outline (line image), which is 
displayed in the Design Page of the Line 
Image Stage.
Drawing a New line image 
freehand
Toolbar button: 
1.Click  , or click File, then New Line 
Image.
→If the current Design Page has already 
been saved or has not been edited, a new 
Design Page immediately appears in the 
Line Image Stage.
→If the current Design Page has not been 
saved, you will be asked whether you 
want to save the changes.
c“Saving embroidery patterns” on 
page 234, and “Drawing a New figure 
handle image freehand” on page 202
bMemo:
 When the extracting color boundaries using Detect Outlines, the colors are converted 
to line image as shown below.
 You can repeat step 
2. to select up to five 
colors. If more than five colors are selected, 
only the last five colors selected remain in 
the list.
 To deselect a color, clear the corresponding 
check box.
bMemo:
If necessary, the settings can be changed. 
After changing the settings, click Preview to 
preview the outline with the new settings 
applied.
bMemo:
 To quit the operation and go back to the 
Original Image Stage, click 
Cancel.
 It is recommended to select just as many 
colors as necessary to create a clear outline 
of the image.
 If you do not like the result, select the menu 
command 
Stage – To Original Image to go 
back to the Original Image Stage, and then 
create the line image again.
bMemo:
In the Line Image Stage, the file will be saved 
as a .pel file. 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
Drawing and erasing 
outlines
Drawing outlines
1.On the Tool Box, click the button for the pen 
with the desired thickness.
→The shape of the pointer changes to 
.
2.To add a dot, click once. To draw a line, drag 
the pointer.
Erasing outlines
1.On the Tool Box, click the button for the eraser 
with the desired thickness.
2.Move the pointer over the line that you want to 
erase, and then hold down the right mouse 
button.
→The shape of the pointer changes to 
.
3.Drag the pointer to erase the line.
bMemo:
To draw vertical or horizontal lines, hold down 
the   key while moving the pointer.
Shift 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
Figure Handle Stage
After creating the outline, which is simply a collection of dots (or pixels) in the Line Image Stage, continue to 
the Figure Handle Stage, where the dots are automatically connected to create lines that can be edited. In the 
Figure Handle Stage, you can use the Point Edit tool to move, delete and insert points, or you can use the Line 
tool to draw lines.
Changing settings for 
converting to outlines
Toolbar button: 
1.Click  , or click Stage, then To Figure 
Handle.
→If you were in the Line Image Stage, the 
Figure Object Conversion Setting 
dialog box appears.
2.Select a setting under Resolution.
This setting determines how detailed the 
generated figure handle image will be. 
Basically, the line image is converted into 
pieces of broken lines. To create more details, 
more points are needed on the broken lines, 
which also increases the size of the file.
In general, Normal provides a sufficient 
resolution without making the file too large.
If selecting Coarse gives a satisfactory result 
for a particular image, select this setting in 
order to keep the file as small as possible.
Select Fine only if the image contains many 
small details, and the Normal setting does not 
give a satisfactory result.
3.To replace the black outlines with figure 
handle lines along the center of the outlines, 
select the Thinning Process check box, and 
then use the slider to select the degree of 
detail.
To replace the black lines with figure handle 
lines following the border of the outlines, clear 
the Thinning Process check box.
4.Use the SIZE slider to set the size.
bMemo:
When the slider is set to Much, even very 
thick black lines will be replaced with a line 
along the center.
aNote:
You will not be able to enlarge the image 
beyond the limits of the Design Page area. If 
necessary, click 
Design Page Property, 
and then change the Design Page size in the 
dialog box that appeared.
ON
OFF 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
5.To select a specific part of the image, click 
Pick Area, drag the pointer ( ) across the 
image in the Design Page to select the desired 
area.
6.Click OK.
→The figure handle image is displayed in 
the Design Page of the Figure Handle 
Stage.
c“Drawing a New line image freehand” on 
page 197, “Sew Setting Stage” on 
page 209, “Changing the grid settings” on 
page 236, and “Specifying the Design 
Page size” on page 201
Changing the display of the 
background image
The image that remains in the work area can be 
displayed or hidden, or a faded copy of the image 
can be displayed.
1.Click Display, then Display Templete, and 
then select the desired setting.
To display the line image, click On.
To display a faded copy of the line image, click 
Faded.
To hide the line image, click Off.
Changing the size and position 
of the background image
The size and position of the template image can be 
adjusted.
1.Click Display, then Modify Template.
→A red line and handles appear around the 
template image.
bMemo:
The Figure Object Conversion Setting 
dialog box appears again when the mouse 
button is released.
bMemo:
To close the dialog box without applying the 
changes to the settings, click Cancel.
aNote:
If the outline data cannot be created from the 
image when moving from the Line Image 
Stage to the Figure Handle Stage, even after 
various outline conversion settings are 
specified, return to the Line Image Stage, and 
correct the outlines in the line image or apply 
corrections from the image.
bMemo:
We recommend using a 500 x 500 dot image, 
since there is a higher possibility of the 
message “Complex Image” appearing while 
processing the outlines of large or complex 
images.
bMemo:
 This function is not available if the design 
was created by skipping the Line Image 
Stage.
 Press the shortcut key ( ) to switch 
between displaying the image (
On) to 
displaying it faded to hiding the image (
Off).
bMemo:
The status bar shows the dimensions (width 
and height) of the template image.
F6 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
Moving a template image:
1.Move the pointer over the image.
→The shape of the pointer changes to  .
2.Drag the template image to the desired 
location.
Scaling a template image:
1.Move the pointer over one of the handles.
→The shape of the pointer changes to 
, ,  or , depending 
on the handle that the pointer is over.
2.Drag the handle to adjust the template image 
to the desired size.
Specifying the Design Page 
size
In the Figure Handle Stage, you can select a Design 
Page size according to the size of hoop that you will 
be using with your sewing machine, or you can 
customize the size to fit even very large embroidery 
patterns.
1.Click Option, then Design Page Property.
→The Design Page Property dialog box 
appears. 
2.Select the Design Page size.
To adjust the Design Page size according to 
the hoop size, select Hoop Size, and then 
select the desired hoop size from the selector.
To specify a custom Design Page size, select 
Custom Size, and then type or select the 
desired width and height for the Design Page. 
(The setting range is 100 to 1000 mm (3.9 to 
39.4 inches).)
3.Click OK.
bMemo:
  is for scaling the width.
  is for scaling the height.
  and   are for scaling both 
dimensions at the same time. (The height-
to-width proportion is maintained.)
 If the   key is held down while a 
handle is dragged, the image is enlarged or 
reduced from the center of the template 
image.
Shift
bMemo:
 The preview area shows the setting 
changes that you make.
 When 
Hoop Size is selected, the sewing 
machine image shows the orientation of the 
Design Page (hoop) in relation to the 
machine.
aNote:
When Hoop Size is selected, do not select a 
size larger than the maximum embroidering 
area for your machine.
bMemo:
 To return to the default settings (100 × 100 mm (4 × 4) of Hoop Size), click Default.
 To close the dialog box without applying the 
changes to the settings, click 
Cancel.
aNote:
 Custom Design Page sizes cannot be 
saved for version 5 and earlier.
 The selected size will be applied to every 
new Design Page, until the settings are 
changed.
bMemo:
The measurements for values displayed in the 
application can be in either millimeters or 
inches. For more details, refer to “Changing 
the measurement units” on page 236. 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
Drawing a New figure 
handle image freehand
An empty Design Page can be created in order to 
draw a figure handle image or to create patterns 
from outlines taken from a previously saved .pem 
file.
1.Click File, then New Figure Data.
→If the current Design Page has already 
been saved or has not been edited, a new 
Design Page immediately appears in the 
Figure Handle Stage.
→If the current Design Page has not been 
saved, you will be asked whether you 
want to save the changes.
c“Importing image data from a TWAIN 
device” on page 195, “Saving embroidery 
patterns” on page 234, and “Drawing a 
New line image freehand” on page 197
Editing outlines

Selecting outlines
1.
Click   on the Tool Box.
→The shape of the pointer changes to 
.
2.Click the outline that you want to select. 
→When the pointer is moved over the 
outline, the shape of the pointer changes 
to .
3.To select an additional outline, hold down the 
 key and click the other outline.

Moving outlines
1.
Select the outline that you want to move. 
→When the pointer is moved over the 
outline, the shape of the pointer changes 
to .
2.Drag the outline to the desired location.

Scaling outlines
Scaling manually:
1.Select the outline that you want to resize.
bMemo:
 The size of the Design Page is the currently 
selected size.
 To retrieve data from a saved .pem file, use 
the menu command 
File – Import Figure.
bMemo:
In the Figure Handle Stage, the file will be 
saved as a .pem file.
bMemo:
 When the outline is selected, handles 
appear and the outline appears in red.
 The outline will not be selected if an empty 
part of it is selected.
 To deselect the outline, select a different 
outline, or click in a blank area of the Design 
Page.
bMemo:
You can also select outlines by dragging the 
pointer across the outline that you want to 
select. As you drag the pointer, a selection 
frame is drawn. All outlines that are completely 
contained in that selection frame are selected 
when the mouse button is released.
bMemo:
 To move the outline horizontally or vertically, 
hold down the   key while dragging it.
 Pressing the arrow keys moves the 
selected outline 0.5 mm (about 0.02 inch) in 
the direction of the arrow on the key. 
Holding down the arrow key for the desired 
direction continues moving the outline in 
that direction.
Handles
Ctrl
Shift 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
2.Move the pointer over one of the handles of a 
selected outline or group of outlines.
→The shape of the pointer changes to 
, ,  or , depending 
on the handle that the pointer is over.
3.Drag the handle to adjust the selected 
outline(s) to the desired size.
Scaling numerically:
1.Select the outline that you want to resize.
2.Click Edit, then Numerical Setting, then Size.
→The Size dialog box appears.
3.To change the width and height proportionally, 
select the aspect check box.
4.Select the whether the width and height will be 
set as a percentage (%) or a dimension 
(millimeters or inches).
5.Type or select the desired width and height.
6.Click OK.
c“Changing the measurement units” on 
page 236

Flipping outlines horizontally or 
vertically
1.
Select the outline that you want to flip 
horizontally (up/down) or vertically (left/right).
2.To flip the outline horizontally, click Edit, then 
Mirror, then Horizontal, or click   on the 
Toolbar.
To flip the outline vertically, click Edit, then 
Mirror, then Vertical, or click   on the 
Toolbar.

Rotating outlines
Rotating manually:
1.Select the outline that you want to rotate.
2.Click Edit, then Rotate, or click   on the 
Toolbar.
→The handles around the selected outline 
are replaced by small squares at the four 
corners of the selected outline.
3.Move the pointer over one of the four rotation 
handles.
→When the pointer is moved over a rotation 
handle, the shape of the pointer changes 
to .
4.Drag the rotation handle clockwise or 
counterclockwise to rotate the outline in 1° 
increments.
bMemo:
  is for scaling the width.
  is for scaling the height.
  and   are for scaling both 
dimensions at the same time. (The height-
to-width proportion is maintained.)
 If the   key is held down while a handle 
is dragged, the outline is enlarged or 
reduced from the center of the outline.
bMemo:
 Select 100% to leave the outline 
unchanged.
 If the 
aspect check box is selected, 
changing one dimension automatically 
changes the other so that the proportion of 
the width and height remains unchanged.
Shift
bMemo:
 To preview the outline at the new size in the 
Design Page, click Preview.
 To close the dialog box without applying the 
changes to the settings, click 
Cancel.
aNote:
 You cannot enter a size that will cause the 
outline to exceed the size of the Design 
Page.
 The minimum value is 1.0 mm (0.04 inch). 
						

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Manually Creating Embroidery Patterns From Images (Design Center)
Rotating numerically:
1.Select the outline that you want to rotate.
2.Click Edit, then Numerical Setting, then 
Rotate.
→The Rotate dialog box appears.
3.Type or select the desired rotation angle.
4.Click OK.

Deleting outlines
1.
Select the outline to be deleted.
2.Press the   key, or click Edit, then 
Delete.

Cutting out outlines
1.
Select one or more outlines.
2.Click , or click Edit, then Cut.
→The selected outlines are removed from 
the work area.

Copying outlines
1.
Select one or more outlines.
2.Click  , or click Edit, then Copy.
→The selected outlines are copied onto the 
Clipboard and are ready to be pasted.

Pasting a cut or copied outline
1.
Click , or click Edit, then Paste.
→The outlines saved on the Clipboard 
(using the Cut or Copy command) are 
pasted into the work area.

Undoing an operation
1.
Click , or click Edit, then Undo.
→The previous operation is canceled, and 
the pattern reverts to its condition before 
the operation was performed. (You can up 
to 20 Undos in Design Center.)

Reverting an undone operation
1.
Click , or click Edit, then Redo.
→The previously canceled operation is 
canceled, and the pattern reverts to its 
condition before the operation was 
canceled. (You can up to 20 Redos in 
Design Center.)
bMemo:
To rotate the outline in 15° increments, hold 
down the   key while dragging the 
rotation handle.
bMemo:
 The angle can also be specified by moving 
the pointer over the red arrow inside of the 
circle, then dragging the red arrow to the 
desired angle. When the pointer is moved 
over the red arrow, its shape changes to 
.
 Select 
0 degree to leave the outline 
unchanged.
bMemo:
 To preview the outline at the new angle in 
the Design Page, click Preview.
 To close the dialog box without applying the 
changes to the settings, click 
Cancel.
aNote:
The range of values that can be entered is 
between 0 and 359 degrees, in 1-degree 
increments.
Shift
Delete
bMemo:
Since the removed outlines are saved on the 
Clipboard, you can paste them back using the 
menu command 
Edit – Paste.