Connectors
Whether you have the older version, or newer levels, you’ll find the connector properties setup is very similar. The core functionality, is the same. To simplify things, first you need to understand the basics: ‘Inside Object’ is the mode you need to be in, if you want to effect parameter changes on your keyboard text. The initial values you see, are the default, or ‘template’ setting you may have applied. This initial setting controls the overall creations within your designs. In embroidery, this is rarely static so you will probably find yourself making adjustments to text or objects from time to time. Once you have the mode set to ‘Inside Object’ , you can master the process by just creating some text, selecting it and playing with the values. Remember, the only time you see the values for lettering objects, are when you have them selected.
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Connectors Once you have the mode set to ‘Inside Object’ , you can master the process by just creating some text, selecting it and playing with the values. Remember, the only time you see the values for lettering objects, are when you have them selected.
You can have the text selected in one of these modes to effect changes.
Trimming
jump jump jump jump jump
jump
You can apply one of 3 modes: Off: No trimming will occur This image shows you the little jump connectors which are actually just the thread you’ll see as the machine hops from letter to letter without trimming. It’s just exaggerated here so you can see. Below, you can see what your actual letters may look like with connectors set to ‘off’ . This runs continuously with no trims or lock stitches (tie off stitches)
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Connectors You can apply one of 3 modes: Always : Every letter will have a trim.
Trim Trim
Trim
Trim Trim
Trim
Denotes a ‘trim’ has been effected. The broken jump line, indicates machine movement to the next position after the trim...so, in effect this is just showing you ‘no thread’ between the letters. Denotes ‘ tie’ (lock stitches) usually at the beginning or end of designs. You will usually see these follow in the next object after a trim.
If you are in trueview mode, you will see the tie-off (lockstitches) as shown. You may notice that no ‘trim’ indicator appears when you initially apply ‘always’. It will appear in relation to the next object in your design, or if you have ‘Auto Start/End’ On.
These little indicators just make it easier for you to visually check designs. Setting to ‘always’ is generally fine if you always do larger type text, where you absolutely want trimming all the time. Auto Start/End
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Connectors You can apply one of 3 modes: ‘If Next Connector’
This mode, gives you the best of both worlds, and allows you to effectively be the most economical, and have the fastest and most productive stitchouts. Your setting here may vary from design to design, depending on the lettering sizes or font types you use most. Different font styles, and sizes may require changes to these settings from design to design, so do not expect to just have one setting that applies to all, unless you have a specific template, for a specific few design conditions. space exceeds 4mm (trim is effected)
(jumps) where space is less than 4mm Embroidery conditions are usually at least 70% relative, and 20% general, and 10% standard the way I see things. This means you will be applying parameter changes a great deal of the time on average, so its good to spend time practicing. In the metric system, applying parameters is easy. The smaller the value = ‘less space’ between letters. You can just make a test layout, select the text, change some spacing and start to apply changes like 1mm,2mm,3mm. These are simple spacing changes. If you need to be more precise, you can use values like 1.5, 1.8. The metric system is based on units of 10's , so its not very difficult to learn. All you need to remember, is that ‘trims’ will be effected as soon as the space between letters exceeds the ‘distance’ or ‘ space’ parameter you have keyed in.
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Connectors You can apply one of 3 modes: ‘If Next Connector’
You can select the text, and continue to play with different values. Take note each time, and you’ll see the indicators change. This is a bit like ‘braille’ , allowing you to speedread your designs visually and make sure you have the trims where you want them.
You can also opt to have your letters connect by ‘ runstitch’ . This is great when you are perhaps working on piques or other types of similarfabrics and you don't really want connecting stitches to show. If your letters are closer, and you use a value like 0.8, you can effect a penetration between letters. This can allow cleaner lettering in cases, effectively hiding the connections. Generally, you may find making your own templates more effective, because you can tailor parameters more exactly. The tie in/off settings are very similar to the trim settings.
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Connectors Connectors ‘ After Objects ‘
Text Object Text Object
If you want to control spacing ‘After object’ , then you need to understand that the software looks at the ‘text object’ as ‘an object’ although it is a group of objects. Text Object Text Object
This little understanding is a bit icky for many to grasp, but once you have it in your mind, its very easy to effect changes on your text or objects. If you set it to ‘ If next Connector>’ , then this gives you exactly the same effects as with the ‘trim’ parameters as explained previously, except this mode of ‘After Object’ effects change over ‘ text groups’ and individual stitch objects. In essence you have the same controls, acting on 2 different levels. To practice this, you just need to create a few stitch objects, together with lettering objects...place them at experimental intervals, select all and try differing values.
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Connectors Connectors ‘ After Object’
{
OBJECT
{
OBJECT
OBJECT
Remember, in this mode the software ‘sees’ a text string as ‘an object’
By creating a few objects, and practicing a while, you can easily master the basics of ‘ connectors’ . The parameter modes for tie in/off are very similar, and you can experiment with the settings on a few created objects. Remember to always select the objects you want to effect the changes on, or the software will just effect change according to the template settings you have saved.
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A Note on Metric Measurements.
The 10 units that compose 1 millimeter, are what you will generally see as defining the density input in most software. In the image, let’s say you look at 2cm. Between 2 and 3 cm , you will read each of the bars as: 2.1mm /2.2mm/ 2.3mm ---on to 2.9mm and 3cm will follow.
The 10 parts of 1 millimeter are comprised of : 0.1mm 0.2mm 0.3mm 0.4mm 0.5mm 0.6mm 0.7mm 0.8mm 0.9mm 1.0mm follows this decimal indicator of zero ‘0’ :commonly , its called 1mm
So, if you have 3 millimeters, and 4 parts of a millimeter, it would read as 3.4mm You will see Pull Compensation default at 0.2mm. This is 2 parts of the size of 1millimeter. These are very small increments. Its easy to remember, because it increases ..so, if you’d like your pull compensation to be more, you would key in eg 0.4 or 0.6 and you will see that factor increase.
The smallest parts of the bars, which are very tiny increments are what you may see referred to as 0.45 with the (5) part being 5 parts of the very small increments which are again just in parts of 10. In most cases, you’ll see if you input eg 0.8 and press ‘enter’ , then you’ll see 0.80 Do not get alarmed. This just means that the software is operating to two decimal places. The metric system is very precise, and concise and very much more accurate than working with inches , and fractions.
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The notes are just basic guides to some normally daunting tasks. Practice makes you capable, but constant practice makes you great!