Chapter 16 Version 1.5 Features Contents: New Version 1.5 Screen Overview...p.16-2 View Preferences - New Hoop Settings...p.16-2 View Preferences - New Canvas Settings... p.16-11 Keyboard Shortcuts...p.16-13 Stitch Sequence Viewer Settings...p.16-15 Stitch View Enhancements...p.16-16 Color Sequence Viewer...p.16-18 Background Image Options...p.16-18 New Print Option...p.16-22 Save JPG of the embroidery design...p.16-24 Import II and Export II...p.16-25 General Improvements...p.16-27 16-1
Generations User Guide New Version 1.5 Screen Overview After launching Generations Automatic Digitizing Software Version 1.5, a new design screen will open along with the new features. In Version 1.5, your design screen will look a little different. The picture below shows a digitized children s design that was created in Generations. You will notice that a new toolbar appears at the right hand side of the design screen called the Punch Bar. Please refer to the Chapter 15 instructions for these new tools. View Preferences - New Hoop Settings The View Preferences for Generations Version 1.5 have been updated and enhanced - new hoops settings have been added as well as an improved new layout. 16-2
Access the new Hoop layout and options: 1. Go to View on the Menu Bar and Left Click. 2. Scroll down to select View Preferences and Left Click to select. - or - Press P on the keyboard to go directly to the View Preferences Dialog Box. Once the View Preferences Dialog Box is open, Left Click on the Hoop/Original Point tab. In Generations 1.5, the hoop and original point settings have been improved. 16-3
Generations User Guide The first box in the Hoop/Original Point Tab is the Custom Hoop Setting. 1. To select a custom hoop, Left Click inside the white circle next to Custom Hoop. This will input a small black dot next to Custom Hoop. 2. To change the size of the custom hoop, place your cursor inside the box next to Width or Height. Left Click hold and swipe your cursor over the existing number to highlight it. 3. Once the number is highlighted, type in the size that you desire. If you would like a circle or a square, place a Left Click inside the white box next to 1:1 Aspect Ratio. This will keep Width and Height in proportion. 4. To change the corners of the Custom Hoop, use the slider bar to change the curve of the corner. To move the slider bar, Left Click hold and drag the slider along the line between Rect and Circle. Note: Moving the slider bar closer to Circle will give you a more curved corner, whereas moving the slider bar closer to Rect will give you a sharper corner. The second box in the Hoop/Original Point Tab is the Machine Hoop Type. 16-4
1. Each Machine Manufacturer will have a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to the left of the machine manufacturer s name. This will expand or contract the machine hoops for viewing. 2. To view or select hoops within a specific brand, Left Click on the plus (+) sign next to the desired brand. The plus sign(+) will now change to a minus (-) sign. 3. Once the minus sign appears next to the hoop, the hoop types will be expanded under the specific machine manufacturer. 4. Some machine manufacturers will have the hoop sizes directly under the machine type. Others will have to expand the hoop names. 5. To expand the hoop names, Left Click on the plus sign (+) next to the hoop name and a list of hoops will drop down under the hoop name. You will know you are at the end of the hoop types if there is no longer a plus sign next to the hoop. 6. To minimize the hoops, just Left Click on the minus sign (-) next to the Machine Manufacturer or Hoop Type and the list will contract. 7. Once you have located the desired hoop, Left Click on the hoop size to highlight - this will choose which hoop you would like to display. 16-5
Generations User Guide 8. To view the hoop with a horizontal layout or vertical layout, just Left Click inside the white circle next to Horizontal or Vertical to place a small black dot in either layout. You can also change, add or delete hoops from this hoop preference. Change an existing Hoop: Once selected on a hoop type, you can change/alter the hoop to your settings. 1. Make sure you have a hoop selected and highlighted with a Left Click. 2. Left Click on the button with 3 dots. 3. This will open your hoop settings for the hoop that is selected/highlighted. 16-6
You are able to change the display name, corner settings and width and height. 1. To change the Display Name, Left Click hold and drag over the name to select. 2. Once the name is highlighted, type in the new name you would like to name the hoop. 3. To change the Corner Settings, Left Click hold and drag the slider bar right or left on the horizontal line. Moving the slider towards Circle will make the corners more curved and moving the slider towards Rect will make the corners more sharp. 4. To change the Width and Height of the hoop, Left Click hold and drag over the unit you would like to change. Once it is highlighted, type in the desired number. 5. To make the hoop proportionate (circle or square), place a Left Click inside the white box (to place a checkmark) next to 1:1 Aspect Ratio. This will keep the Width and Height locked to each other. 6. Once you are finished changing your selected components, Left Click on OK - this will save the new settings to the selected hoop. Left Click on Cancel to stop any changes. Add a Hoop: Add a new hoop to any Machine Manufacturer or create your own hoop manufacturer. 1. To add a new hoop to a Machine Manufacturer, Left Click on the Manufacturer to make sure that it is selected. 2. Once the Machine Manufacturer is selected, Left Click on the button with the plus sign. 16-7
Generations User Guide 3. This will open new hoop settings for the Machine Manufacturer you have highlighted. 4. The Machine Manufacturer name is inserted by default when you have a Machine Manufacturer name highlighted. To add a hoop within this manufacturer, do not change the manufacturer s name. Note: If you would like to create your own hoop types or create a new manufacturer that does not already exist, Left Click hold and drag your cursor over the FactoryName to select. Once the name is highlighted, input the desired name. 16-8 5. Input the TypeName by placing your cursor inside the white box next to this setting and Left Click. Once the cursor is in the appropriate white box, type in the name you would like to see appear. Example: Artista Medium (for Bernina).
Note: You do not need to input a TypeName - you can leave this blank should you not want a specified TypeName. 6. Input the DisplayName by placing your cursor inside the white box next to this setting and Left Click. Once the cursor is in the appropriate white box, type in the name you would like to see appear. Example: 130x100 (for the Bernina Artista Medium). 7. To change the Corner Settings, Left Click hold and drag the slider bar right or left on the horizontal line. Moving the slider towards Circle will make the corners more curved and moving the slider towards Rect will make the corners more sharp. 8. To change the Width and Height of the hoop, Left Click hold and drag over the unit you would like to change. Once it is highlighted, type in the desired number. 9. To make the hoop proportionate (circle or square), place a Left Click inside the white box (to place a checkmark) next to 1:1 Aspect Ratio. This will keep the Width and Height locked to each other. 10. Once you are finished inputing your selected components, Left Click on OK - this will save the new settings to the selected manufacturer. Left Click on Cancel to stop any changes. Delete a Hoop: 1. Left Click on the Hoop style or Manufacturer that you would like to Delete. 2. The hoop will be highlighted. 3. Left Click on the button with the minus sign to delete the hoop. 4. Once this is Left Clicked, the hoop that was selected is now permanently deleted from the Machine Hoop Types. 16-9
Generations User Guide New Design Center Point: You can now choose your design to start and stop at the bottom and center of your embroidery design. Underneath the Auto Center preference, just Left Click inside the white circle next to Bottom Center. If you choose the design to start and stop at the Bottom Center, you can also change the Vertical Offset by inputting a number within the appropriate box. A positive offset will set the start and stop point below the bottom center and a negative offset will set the start and stop point above the bottom center. 16-10
View Preferences - New Canvas Settings Please refer to Chapter 3 & 14 for other View Preference Settings In Generations Version 1.5, you can now view your workspace area in one color and the non-workspace area in another color within the Canvas Settings. To change the color of your work area, Left Click on the color button in the Background Color box to bring up your Windows Color palette. Left Click on a color you desire for the background work area. If you would like to choose other colors than the basic colors, just Left Click on the Define Custom Colors button to view more colors. Left Click OK when finished. 16-11
Generations User Guide To change the color of your non-workspace area, Left Click on the Color Button in the View Color box to bring up your Windows Color palette. This View Color is for when you change the maximum work area in the Hoop/Original Point Tab. This shows the non-workable area for your embroidery design. Left Click on a color you desire for the non-workspace area. If you would like to choose other colors than the basic colors, just Left Click on the Define Custom Colors button to view more colors. Left Click OK when finished. Note: Change your maximum work area in the Hoop/ Original Point settings in the View Preferences. Hint: If you change your Maximum work area, turn off the Auto Center and type in your own original point and hoop center. Make those measurements half of what your Max Work Area is. For example, if the Max Work Area is changed to Width=300 and Height=200, change the original point and hoop center to X=150 and Y=100. 16-12
Keyboard Shortcuts In Generations Version 1.5, you can now program and save your own customized keyboard shortcuts. 1. Left Click to select Help on the Menu Bar. 2. Scroll down to select and Left Click on Keyboard Shortcuts -or- press down the CTRL key on your keyboard and the K key. A new dialog box will appear on your screen called Customize Shortcut Keys. 3. The Menu Catalog will allow you to change between the different Menus available in Generations. Each Menu will have different Menu Commands to choose from. 4. To change the Menu Catalog, Left Click on the drop down arrow next to the Menu that is currently selected. A drop down box will appear with the different menus that you are able choose from. Left Click on the Menu type that you would like to change. 5. The Menu Commands box is associated with the Menu type that is selected. The Menu Commands box has a scroll bar to scroll through the different commands available within the selected Menu type. 6. To choose a Command to customize (program), Left Click on the appropriate command to highlight. 7. Once the command is highlighted, there is a quick description of what the command s function is below the 16-13
Generations User Guide Menu Commands box. 8. The Current key box displays what the current shortcut key is. 9. To delete this shortcut command and program your own, Left Click on the Delete Shortcut Key button. 10. To input the new shortcut key, type in the new key. If you would like to use the SHIFT, CTRL, and/or ALT keys as part of the shortcut key, hold down the appropriate key(s) while pressing the desired letter key on the keyboard. 11. Once you have input the desired new shortcut key, Left Click on the Use This Key button to program the new key. \ 16-14
12. Once you are finished with programming the commands with new shortcut keys, Left Click on OK to input all your changes. To cancel any changes, Left Click on the Cancel button. Stitch Sequence Viewer Settings Now, you can customize your stitch sequence viewer size to appropriately fit your design screen. 1. Place your cursor on the right hand side of the Stitch Sequence Viewer Bar - between the scroll bar of the viewer and the ruler bar. 2. Your cursor will turn into a 2 way arrow. 3. Once your cursor is a 2 way arrow, Left Click hold and drag to the left or right to increase or decrease the size of the Stitch Sequence Viewer. Release the Left Click when you have attained the desired size. 16-15
Generations User Guide Stitch View Enhancements In Generations Version 1.5, the stitch view allows for some view enhancements. When you have selected to view your design in the stitch view with the needle penetrations on, you can view commands on screen. 1. Left Click to select View on the Menu Bar and then scroll to select View Stitch - or - select the View Stitch Icon on the View Toolbar with a Left Click. 2. Left Click on the Needle Penetrations Icon on the View Toolbar. To turn this off, just Left Click on the Needle Pentrations Icon to exit out of that view. 16-16
In this View you will see color change and trim functions directly on your design. The color change function is designated by a rainbow and the trim function is designated by a scissors - just like in the stitch sequence viewer. Also, insert functions at stitch points when using a right click in the edit mode. 1. While in the Stitch View and the Needle Penetrations are on, Left Click on the Edit Mode Icon to edit stitches - or - Left Click to select Stitch on the Menu Bar and then scroll down to select Edit Stitches Mode. 2. Once in the Edit Stitches Mode, move your cursor over the desired stitch to edit. Once the cursor has turned into a cross hair, Left Click on that stitch - the stitch will be marked with a Red Cross. 3. Once the desired stitch is marked, move your cursor back over the stitch point. The cursor will turn into a Cross Hair. 4. Once the cursor is a Cross Hair, Right Click on the Marked Stitch Point and the Stitch Tools will appear. 5. When the tools appear, scroll down to select Replace Stitch(es) By. This will activate 3 options - Normal, Jump, and Trim. 6. Scroll over and Left Click on the desired action (Normal, Jump, or Trim) - your stitch will be replaced by the action that was chosen. 16-17
Generations User Guide Color Sequence Viewer In the Color Sequence Viewer, you can now view the colors of the current embroidery design with thread catalog colors and thread catalog numbers. When the Thread Catalog is activated in the View Preferences, the design will show the appropriate thread colors in the Color Sequence Viewer. 1. To view the thread name and number, place your cursor over the desired color chip on the Color Sequence Viewer. 2. Once the cursor is over that color chip, hold your cursor in place until the color name and number appear. This color name and number are according to the specified thread chart that is activated. Background Image Options When using an image as a template or viewing your image in the background, there are many new features and Enhancements that have been included with Generations Version 1.5. Lock Image You can lock the image into place on the design work area - this will prevent the image from accidental moving around on your design screen. This is great for any manual punch application. 1. To lock the image into place, Left Click on the Background Image (image template). When you place a Left Click on the image, there will be 8 black nodes that surround the image - this is how you know it is selected. 16-18
2. After the image has been selected, Left Click on Edit on the Menu Bar and scroll down to select Lock Image. Once you Left Click on Lock Image, the image is locked into place and cannot be moved around unless unlocked. 3. To unlock the image, Left Click on Edit on the Menu Bar and scroll down to deselect Lock Image with a Left Click. The image is now unlocked and can be moved freely. Lighten or Darken the Image When using an image as a template, you can increase or decrease the brightness of the image by using the + and buttons on your computer. 1. Left Click on the Background Image (image template) to select the image. The image will be surrounded by 8 black nodes. 2. Once the image is selected, you can now change the brightness with the plus (+) and minus (-) keys on your keyboard. 3. To darken the image, use the plus (+) sign key. Use one keystroke at a time to darken. Hint: if you are using a laptop, you may have to use the Shift key in conjunction with the + key. 16-19
Generations User Guide 4. To lighten the image, use the minus (-) sign key. Use one keystroke at a time to lighten. Embellish printed canvases with stitches Combine embroidery with printing! Use an image to print on your fabric and embellish it with stitching. By using an image as a template, you can draw on it using the new Generations Punch Tools. Use the Continuous Line tool to scribble on images or use any of the other manual punch tools to truly create unique embroidery. 1. To bring an image in as a template, Left Click on the Insert Image Icon on the Create Toolbar - or - Left Click to select Create on the Menu Bar and scroll down to select Insert Image. 2. The Select Graphic Dialog Box will appear to choose your image. Left Click on the desired Image and then Left Click to select OK. 16-20
3. This will now take you to the Image Processing Box. Override the Image Type and place a Left Click inside the white circle next to Image As Template. This will bring in your image just as a picture and will not Generate any stitches in your design. 4. Once the image is in the design screen, you can now use the manual punch tools to embellish the print. 16-21
Generations User Guide Hint: Use this with the lock image feature and the lightening or darkening image feature for additional help in embellishing the image. View the Canvas in 3-D Mode With new Generations 1.5, you can View the Background Image in the 3-D mode so that you can see a rendered view of your stitching with the Image in the Background. If you would like to turn the image on or off in the background, Left Click on the Hide/View Image Icon on the View Toolbar. Print Image With the original image showing in the background, you can print that image on your worksheets. The image will show up on your print worksheet as long as you have the background image showing - if it is hidden, it will not print. If you would like to turn the image on or off in the background, Left Click on the Hide/View Image Icon on the View Toolbar. New Print Option With Generations Version 1.5, you can now print your whole page Landscape without having to go into your Print Options. Left Click on File on the Menu Bar and then scroll down to select Print. From the Print Options Setup Box, you can choose to print Landscape. To print Landscape, just place a Left Click inside the white box next to Print Landscape to place a checkmark. 16-22
Now, your worksheet will print the whole page Landscape rather than just the design. See the example below. 16-23
Generations User Guide Save a JPG of the Embroidery Design Email designs quickly and easily by saving a Generations design as a JPG! Save the embroidery pattern as displayed on your design screen as a picture file so you can share it with all your friends. 1. To save the current embroidery pattern on your screen as a JPG, Left Click to select File from the Menu Bar and scroll down to select Save As. 2. Once in the Save As Dialog Box, choose the desired folder to save the file in from the folder tree on the left hand side of the dialog box. Once the file folder is opened, Left Click on the Drop Down Arrow next to the File Types (T) Box and select JPEG Files (*.jpg, *.jpeg). 3. Once the file type is selected, type in a file name in the File Name (N) Box and then Left Click OK. 4. The JPG will now be saved in the directory that you chose with the name you saved it as. 16-24
Hint: The JPG that is being saved is the design work area only. The program saves your design image as a JPG at the current zoom you have selected. Import & Export II There is a new Import and Export Function in Generations Version 1.5 - it is Import II and Export II. These functions are primarily for DST stitch files. The Import and Export II functions have been enhanced for DST stitch files. 1. To Export to a DST using the Export II function, Left Click on the Drop Down Arrow next to the Export Icon on the Standard Toolbar. Scroll down and Left Click to select Export II. 2. The Save As Dialog Box will appear after you choose Export II. Choose the appropriate drive and file folder that you would like to save the design to. Remember that this will save the design as a DST, not a GEN file. 3. Type in a file name in the File Name Box and then Left Click on the Save Button. This will now save your design as a DST in the desired directory. 16-25
Generations User Guide 1. To Import a DST using the Import I function, Left Click on the Drop Down Arrow next to the Import Icon on the Standard Toolbar. Scroll down and Left Click to select Import II. 2. The Open Dialog Box will appear after you choose Import II. Choose the appropriate drive and file folder that you would like to open the design from. Remember that this will open the design as a DST, not a GEN file. 3. Left Click on the File Name that you would like to open and then Left Click on the Open Button. This will open your DST into Generations. Hint: Using the Import and Export II is great for ultra complex designs and very large designs. Hint: Once the Import or Export II has been selected, each time the Import or Export Icon is used, it will default to the Import or Export II dialog boxes. To go back to the Import or Export I, use the drop down arrow next to the Import and Export Icon to select Import or Export I. 16-26
General Improvements When using some of the manual punch tools, holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard while making Left Clicks will allow you to punch areas with straight lines in 15 degree increments. While using the Ruler Tool, notice that there is a box behind the measurement unit to highlight the numbers - this makes it easier to see the numbers on screen. Generations has also included the Angle of which you are measuring - this is below the measurement unit. In Stitch View, while viewing the needle penetrations, you can now see Embossed Units without having to switch to the Embossed View. 16-27