Path + ZigZag Stitches

<< Click to Display Table of Contents >>

Navigation:  Embroidery Digitizing > Objects TYPES & Fill STYLES > Object PATH >

Path + ZigZag Stitches

EO ZigZag Path 5

This fill style places zigzag stitches on a path defined by straight or curve segments. Paths can be open objects or closed objects.

Sample Path ZZ Stitch 1
Sample Path ZZ Stitch 2
Sample Path ZZ Stitch 3

How to create an object of this type?

➢Select the tool Create a Path with 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 Embroidery ToolsTab, click on the arrow below the "Path" button and select the corresponding tool.

 

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

EO_ZigZag_Path_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 ZigZag Path 1

 

➢Confirm and GENERATE stitches.

 

➢If editing is required, just select the Select Object tool on the Main Toolbar.
EO ZigZag Path 2

icon-info-1

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 Path_ZigZag_Body

 

 

emb summary 20

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

 
emb summary 1

 
emb summary 2

Change Color Number on a Path with Zig-Zag Stitches

 
emb summary 29

 
emb summary 30

Change Color Number on a Path with E Stitches

 
emb summary 104

 
emb summary 105

 

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

 

emb summary 31

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

 
emb summary 32

 
emb summary 33

Stitch Density on a Path with E Stitches

 

Density: 0.4 lines / mm

 

Density: 1.0 lines / mm

 
emb summary 111

 
emb summary 112

Stitch Density on a Path with Longitudinal Stitches

 

Density: 2 lines / mm

 

Density: 4 lines / mm

 
emb summary 160

 
emb summary 161

Stitch Density on an Area Path with Pattern Fill Stitches

 

Density: 2 lines / mm

 

Density: 6 lines / mm

 
emb summary 241

 
emb summary 242

 

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

 

emb summary 34

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

 
emb summary 36

 
emb summary 35

Change the width on a Path with E Stitches

 

Path Width: 1.0 mm

 

Path Width: 1.0 mm

 
emb summary 113

 
emb summary 114

Change the width on a Path with Longitudinal Stitches

 

Path Width: 3.0 mm

 

Path Width: 5.0 mm

 
emb summary 162

 
emb summary 163

 

It specifies the width of the path object.

 

emb summary 37

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%

 
emb summary 38
emb summary 39
emb summary 40

Change Path Offset on a Path with E Stitches

 

Offset: 80%

Offset: 50%

Offset: 20%

 
emb summary 115
emb summary 117
emb summary 116

Change Path Offset on a Path with Longitudinal Stitches

 

Offset: 80%

Offset: 50%

Offset: 20%

 
emb summary 164
emb summary 165
emb summary 166

 

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

 

emb summary 43

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

 
emb summary 41

 
emb summary 42

 

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

 

hmtoggle_arrow1Stitch Effects Properties

 

OI Path_ZigZag_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%

 
emb summary 45

 

Random Edge Side B

value: 15%

 
emb summary 46

 

Random Edge Both Sides

value: 25%

 
emb summary 47

 

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

 
emb summary 49

 

2-colors variable density

 
emb summary 50

 

3-colors variable density

 
emb summary 51

 

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

 
emb summary 52

 
emb summary 53

 

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

 
emb summary 56

 
emb summary 57

Edge Modulation Selector & Editor

emb summary 55

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%

 
emb summary 60

 
emb summary 60a J

 

Last End: Diamond

Length: 6mm. Amplitude: 100%

 

Last End: Diamond

Length: 4mm. Amplitude: 150%

 
emb summary 62

 
emb summary 62a J

 

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)

 
emb summary 61

 
emb summary 61a J

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

 

emb summary 63

 

emb summary 64

 

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

 

emb summary 22

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

 

emb summary 5

 

emb summary 6

Repeat on Zig-Zag Stitches:

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

 

emb summary 66

 

 

 

It specifies the overlapped stitches to highlight those stitches.

 

hmtoggle_arrow1Adjustment Properties

 

OI Path_ZigZag_Underlay

 

OI Path_ZigZag_Adjustment

 

 

Underlay is also known as base layer. It is used to tighten the fabric enough to avoid its deformation when stitching on it. The underlay stitches should remain hidden under the main fill.

OI Adjustment_Underlay3_ZigZag

You can select the proper type of underlay and its properties according to the fabric / material and the design properties. Underlay types include: centered, edge, zig-zag, parallel, etc.

 

 

Centered Underlay on Path with Zig-Zag Stitches

 
emb summary 70

 

Edge Underlay on Path with Zig-Zag Stitches

 
emb summary 71

 

Double Zig-Zag Underlay on Path with Zig-Zag Stitches

 
emb summary 72

 

Hidden layer of stitches to tighten fabric enough to prevent warping.

 

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%

 
emb summary 91

 
emb summary 90

 

 

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%

 
emb summary 77

 
emb summary 78

 

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

 
emb summary 93

 

Proportional Split

 
emb summary 94

 

Random Split

 
emb summary 95

 

Splits stitches when the stitch length exceeds an indicated 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

 

emb summary 80

 

emb summary 81

 

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

 

emb summary 18

 

emb summary 19

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

 

Before applying the filter

 

After applying the filter

 

emb summary 82

 

emb summary 83

 

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

 

emb summary 85

 

emb summary 86

 

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

 

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

 
emb summary 88

 
emb summary 89

 

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 PATH object.

•Concepts about Classic Digitizing.