Flexible Area + Macro ZigZag Stitches

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Flexible Area + Macro ZigZag Stitches

EO Flexible Area Macro ZZ 5

This fill style places a set of paths with zig-zag stitches on a closed area. The paths of zig-zag stitches are created according to the shape of 1 curved direction line.
Sample Flexible Area Macro ZigZag 1
Sample Flexible Area Macro ZigZag 2
Sample Flexible Area Macro ZigZag 3

How to create an object of this type?

➢Select the tool Create a Flexible Area with Macro Zig-Zag Stitches through any available way:

oOpen the Smart Design window and select the corresponding tool.

oClick on the arrow below the "Create Objects" button and select the corresponding tool.

oOpen the tooltab EMBROIDERY, click on the arrow below the "Flexible Area" button and select the corresponding tool.

 

A context ToolsTab containing the most frequently used properties of this fill style will open.

EO_Flexible_Area_Macro_ZZ_3

 

➢Set the fill properties from the ToolsTab (above) or the Object Inspector (below).

 

➢Digitize the object (through any digitizing method) by inserting the required elements of this object type.

EO Flexible Area Macro ZZ 1

 

➢Confirm and GENERATE stitches.

 

➢If editing is required, just select the Select Object tool on the Main Toolbar.

EO Flexible Area Macro ZZ 2

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About Fill Style Properties

•You can edit (define or modify) all the properties of this object type from the Object Inspector (see below).

•The most commonly used properties are also available on the corresponding tooltab.

•The current value of the properties are displayed on the Object Inspector or the tooltab when an object of this type is being created or when an existing object of this type is selected.

 

 

hmtoggle_arrow1Main Fill Properties

 

OI Area_MacroZigZag_Body

 

 

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This is the color number of the thread/color palette.

You can change the color number from the color bar, from the context tooltab or from the object inspector.

The thread color for this color number is defined (and can be redefined) on the thread/color palette.

The stitches of the selected object will be created using the selected color.

This number is also the needle number of the embroidery machine (for multi-needle machines), unless the needle sequence is redefined.

Change Color Number on a Path with Running Stitches

 
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Change Color Number on a Path with Zig-Zag Stitches

 
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Change Color Number on a Path with E Stitches

 
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It specifies the color number of the thread palette corresponding to the main color of the object.

 

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This property controls the distance between the macro fill tracks.

On Area with Macro Running Stitches

 

Row Spacing: 2.0 mm

 

Row Spacing: 4.0 mm

 
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On Area with Macro Zig-Zag Stitches

 

Row Spacing: 2.0 mm

 

Row Spacing: 4.0 mm

 
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On Area with Macro E Stitches

 

Row Spacing: 2.0 mm

 

Row Spacing: 4.0 mm

 
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It defines the distance between the macro tracks.

 

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Defines the width of the path.

Change the width on a Path with Zig-Zag Stitches

 

Path Width: 1.0 mm

 

Path Width: 1.0 mm

 
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Change the width on a Path with E Stitches

 

Path Width: 1.0 mm

 

Path Width: 1.0 mm

 
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Change the width on a Path with Longitudinal Stitches

 

Path Width: 3.0 mm

 

Path Width: 5.0 mm

 
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It specifies the width of the path object.

 

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This property defines the location of the fill along its axis. A value of 50% corresponds to a centered location.

Change Path Offset on a Path with Zig-Zag Stitches

 

Offset: 80%

Offset: 50%

Offset: 20%

 
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Change Path Offset on a Path with E Stitches

 

Offset: 80%

Offset: 50%

Offset: 20%

 
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Change Path Offset on a Path with Longitudinal Stitches

 

Offset: 80%

Offset: 50%

Offset: 20%

 
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It specifies how centered the fill is relative to its axis.

 

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Set how many stitches or lines of stitches (by length unit) are created during the object creation.

The higher the density is, more stitches will created (and the spacing between them will decrease).

Stitch Density on a Path with Zig-Zag Stitches

 

Density: 3 stitches / mm

 

Density: 6 stitches / mm

 
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Stitch Density on a Path with E Stitches

 

Density: 0.4 lines / mm

 

Density: 1.0 lines / mm

 
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Stitch Density on a Path with Longitudinal Stitches

 

Density: 2 lines / mm

 

Density: 4 lines / mm

 
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Stitch Density on an Area Path with Pattern Fill Stitches

 

Density: 2 lines / mm

 

Density: 6 lines / mm

 
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It specifies the number of stitches or lines of stitches arrays of the object.

 

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Zig-Zag stitches can be standard type (normal, satin stitch) or z-type, in which stitches are parallel between them and the odd stitches will produce the forward movement.

 

 

Normal type

 

Z-type

 
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It defines the type of Zig-Zag stitches to use.

 

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If enabled, fill stitches proceed in both directions.

When a row is completed, the next one is generated in the opposite direction.

 

 

Disable Toggle Direction

 

Enable Toggle Direction

 

1.From left to right (red)

2.From right to left (green)

3.Goes to the next row (blue)

 

1.From left to right (red)

2.Goes to the next row (blue)

3.From right to left (green)

 
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This property applies to:

•Flexible Area + Macro Running Stitches

•Flexible Area + Macro ZigZag Stitches

•Flexible Area + Macro E-Stitches

•Flexible Area + Macro Programmable Stitches

•Flexible Area + Sequin Fill

•Flexible Area + Multi-Sequin Fill

•Area + Matrix Sequin Fill

 

It changes the direction of the stitches from one array (track) to the next one.

 

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Sets the maximum stitch length used for the internal connections (pass between programmable stitches, etc).

 

It sets the maximum stitch length used for passes or connections.

 

hmtoggle_arrow1Stitch Effects Properties

 

OI Area_MacroZigZag_StitchEffects

 

 

It turns irregular the edges of the object.

OI Effects_RandomEdge

Properties:

•Side: Specify the object side where to apply the effect.

•Value: Adjust the width percentage affected by the effect.

 

 

Random Edge Side A

value: 40%

 
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Random Edge Side B

value: 15%

 
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Random Edge Both Sides

value: 25%

 
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Add a random (irregular) effect on the border of the object.

 

Define density variation curves in order to obtain effects such as color fades including up to 3 colors.

OI Effects_VariableStitchDensity

Assign up to 3 overlapped fills to the same object with different density variation pattern and a different color.

 

1-color variable density

 
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2-colors variable density

 
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3-colors variable density

 
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It specifies a density variation curve to obtain color grading or blending effects.

 

This option inclines the stitches of a Zig Zag, You can modify the slant angle.

OI Effects_SlantStitches

 

 

Disable slant effect

 

Enable slant effect: 35 degrees

 
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It applies a slant to the section, which produces a similar effect to that of the Z stitches.

 

Change the border shape of an object according to a pre-defined geometric shape: sin wave, square wave, ramp, triangle, curve, globe, etc.

OI Effects_EdgeModulation

Properties:

•Side: Specify the object side where to apply the effect.

•Value: Adjust the width percentage affected by the effect.

 

Sample of Edge Modulation

 

Edge Modulation: No

 

Edge Modulation: Square Wave

 
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Edge Modulation Selector & Editor

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Properties:

•Side: Select the side of the Path to apply the effect (Side A, Side B, Both Sides).

•Direction: Define the direction of the effect (Normal or Invert) from the first node to the last one. The result of this property will only be visible in those effects that do not have a horizontal symmetry such as ramps.

•Symmetry: Specify how the effect is applied to both sides of the Path. There are two options: Mirror and Parallel.

oMirror: Produce a symmetrical modulation.

oParallel: Produce an identical modulation on both sides.

•Amplitude: Specify the modulation size (measured in percentage) of the column width.

•Count or Length: Count repeats the effect pattern a specified number of times. Length keeps the original size of the effect pattern and repeat it as many times as possible throughout the path length.

 

Change the width of the Zig-Zag stitches along a path according to a pre-defined geometric shape.

 

Add a shape effect to the ends of a Path and customize it.

OI Effects_EndShapeFirst

OI Effects_EndShapeLast

Properties:

•Name: Shape type used in the first and the last end of a Path. Choose any of the options in the drop-down menu.

•Length: Defines the length of the selected shape. The higher the value, the longer the shape on the path.

•Amplitude: Percentage of the column width. A 100% amplitude corresponds to an effect that duplicates the column width.

 

 

First End: Point.

Length: 2mm. Amplitude: 100%

 

First End: Point

Length: 4mm. Amplitude: 100%

 
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Last End: Diamond

Length: 6mm. Amplitude: 100%

 

Last End: Diamond

Length: 4mm. Amplitude: 150%

 
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First End: Round Wide

Last End: Arrow

Length: 4mm. Amplitude: 100% (both ends)

 

First End: Round Wide

Last End: Arrow

Length: 8mm. Amplitude: 100% (both ends)

 
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Add a shape effect to the ends of a Path.

 

Round a closed angle to avoid a spiky shape

OI Effects_RoundSharpAngles

The lower the percentage is, the higher the sharped angle detection gets.

 

 

Disable Round Sharp Angles

 

Enable Round Sharp Angles

 

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It rounds a corner with a closed angle to avoid a spiky shape.

 

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This is the number of overlapped stitches.

On Running Stitches, Longitudinal Stitches, etc:

Available options are:

oSmall Steps: Repetition is performed in a stitch-by-stitch basis: step forward, step back and step forward again.

oLong Steps: Repetition is performed from beginning to end, repeating all the path backwards and finally forwards.

 

Small steps

 

Long steps

 

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Repeat on Zig-Zag Stitches:

You can can also select the side (A, B, Both) and set a repeat value.

 

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It specifies the overlapped stitches to highlight those stitches.

 

hmtoggle_arrow1Adjustment Properties

 

OI Area_MacroZigZag_Adjustment

 

Correct the fabric shrink effect (caused by several factors, such as the stitch density, the type of fabric, the thread pull, etc) by by enlarging the stitches that tend to shrink when being embroidered. Basically, the stitches are stretched on their ends.

OI Adjustment_PullCompensation

Properties are:

•Side: You can select the side (A, B, Both). Recommended value is Both.

•Type: Fixed or Proportional:

oFixed: You can set a fixed value, independent of the stitch length.

oProportional: This type varies according to the stitch length.

 

Fixed type, Value: 0.6 mm

 

Proportional Type, Value: 15%

 
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Enlarge stitches to prevent shrink effect because of the thread tension.

 

Compensate the lack and the heaps of stitches when the stitch direction of Zig-Zag stitches changes noticeably (sharp curves). The program creates intermediate stitches in curves or tight corners to avoid an unnecessary amount up of stitches (in the smaller edge) and spaces (in the larger edge). Intermediate stitches are only created if the object requires it (trigger at threshold).

OI Adjustment_ShortStitches

Properties are:

•Levels: The maximum number of intermediate stitches to create when required.

oLevel Value: Distance of the intermediate stitches, relative (percentage) to the stitch length.

•Layout options: centered or hidden

oCentered: intermediate stitches will be centered between the last and the next stitch.

oHidden: intermediate stitches will be orientated towards the next stitch.

•Trigger at: Set the minimum opening value (larger side / smaller site) to create intermediate stitches.

 

 

Levels: 1, Value: 85%, Trigger: 70%

 

Levels: 3, Value: 85%, Trigger: 70%

 
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Add intermediate stitches in sharp curves to prevent an unnecessary amount up of stitches.

 

Split stitches in several parts on Zig-Zag stitches, when the stitch length exceeds the indicated value. It offers an approximation to the Zig-Zag style on objects that are wider than recommendad for Zig-Zag.

OI Adjustment_AutoSplitStitches

Auto Split types are:

oFixed: Stitches are split according to a fixed length. The defined value does not change along the stitches.

oProportional: Uses a percentage to split the stitches.

oRandom: Applies a random distribution on the split divisions.

Properties:

•Trigger at: Allows to set a value in which the split stitches will be applied.

•Stitch Length: It is the value (displayed in mm) that shows where the stitch splits.

•Proportional: It is the value (displayed in %) that shows where the stitch splits.

 

 

Fixed Split

 
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Proportional Split

 
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Random Split

 
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It splits stitches when the stitch length exceeds the established value.

 

Compensate the corners by pulling the stitches automatically. It improves the result in objects with corners with sharp angles.

OI Adjustment_CornerCompensation

 

 

Disable Corner Compensation

 

Enable Corner Compensation

 

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Compensate sharp corners by pulling stitches automatically.

 

Filter the small stitches of the object (smaller than the indicated value).

OI Adjustment_DeleteSmallStitches

Options are:

oAutomatic: The filter is enabled and the minimum stitch length used is the general value set in Options And Preferences.

oUser defined: The system will delete stitches shorter than the indicated value.

Sample of Delete Small Stitches: Path with Running Stitches

 

Before applying the filter

 

After applying the filter

 

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Sample of Delete Small Stitches: Column with Zig-Zag Stitches

 

Before applying the filter

 

After applying the filter

 

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It deletes the stitches that are smaller than a predefined value (unnecessary & inconvenient).

 

Internal path or sequence of stitches automatically generated by the program required to travel from one location of the object to another one (connections of regions) while producing the stitches of the object in order to avoid long jumps. Those stitches will be hidden under the main fill.

OI Adjustment_UnderPath

Available options are:

oCenter Walk: The position of the under is set to the center (for normal density fills).

oEdge Walk: The position of the under is set at a certain distance from the edges (for low density fills).

Properties are:

•Stitch length: Defines the stitch length of the under path. The higher the value, the greater the stitches are apart from each other.

•Edge Distance: Defines the distance of under path to the edge.  

 

 

Center Walk, Stitch Lenght: 1.0 mm

 

Edge Walk, Distance: 0.7 mm

 

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Not visible internal connections (paths) between different parts of a complex area.

 

Area close to the border free of stitches. The exclusion margin avoids small stitches near the edges, as they may produce an irregular finishing aspect.

OI Adjustment_NoStitchesNearBorder

 

 

Disable Avoid Stitches near Border

 

Enable Avoid Stitches near Border

 

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It defines a exclusion margin free of stitches.

 

This is the type of connections to add between consecutive arrays or tracks of stitches (when connecting one track to another).

OI Adjustment_InternalConnectionSequin J

Available options are:

oRunning Stitch

oTrim

oJump

oLock

oJump and Edge

Use connection from:

Specify the distance to trigger the indicated Internal Connection.

 

It defines the internal connections type.

 

Number of stitch or lines that will overlap on 2 adjacent regions of an object.

OI Adjustment_OverlapJunction

When the program divides the object in regions to fill with stitches (usually when considering the entry and exit point of the object), the limit between both regions may result in unfilled spaces when sewing the design. This property adds more stitches to avoid or compensate that undesired effect.

The value is generally 1 line, but according to the type of fabric to sew you might have to consider increasing this value.

 

 

Overlap Lines: 1

 

Overlap Lines: 2

 
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Number of stitches or stitches lines that will overlap to prevent empty spaces inside an object.

 

Insert tack-down stitches to prevent unfixed stitches when connecting far parts of the object.

OI Adjustment_LockStitchesInternalConnections

Types of Lock Stitches are:

oClassic

oStar

oTwist

oCross

oArrow

Properties:

•Length: Specify the lock stitch length for Classic type.

•Scale: change the size of the lock stitch.

•Repetition: Define the number of times to repeat the lock stitch.

 

It adds stitches to fix the thread, recommendable on thread trims and color changes.

Read also

•Concepts about the FLEXIBLE AREA object.

•Concepts about Classic Digitizing.