April 2009 - Posts

• Art to stitches - what kind of art works well

  Q:  You hear stories of beautiful embroidery designs created from sketches on a bar napkin.  Is that true? A:  Though I may have had gotten ideas from sketches, the better the art, the better the embroidered design will be. Your software undoubtedly can import a wide array of art.  The two most common catagories of art are raster and vector art. Raster artwork consists of JPG, BMP, TIFF, Photoshop files and images obtained through MS Word or PowerPoint files.  Though these files are the most common to be found, the main problem with these files are that they make digitizing less than 100% accurate, and, it changes the FUN FACTOR to actual WORK!!  Raster images rely on pixels and screen resolution, and when you enlarge a raster image, the detail, or the pixels do not generate to the larger size; just like a stitch file.  When you increase the size of a 2,000 stitch design to double it's size, you still only have 2,000 stitches and a design that doesn't look too good.  The same thing happens when you try to increase the size of a raster image.  If you double the size of a 1" image at 72 pixel-per-inch, or ppi (usually mistaken with dots-per-inch), you wind up with a 2" image, but now it's clarity is 36 ppi and the edges get dithered, or looks to be created by little squares with jagged edges. Vector artwork consists of AI, CDR, EPS and DXF files.  Vector artwork is mathematically generated by drawing programs such as Adobe Illustrator (AI files) and Corel Draw (CDR files); they both can produce the generic vector files as EPS and DXF.  As a matter of fact, digitizing embroidery designs is very much like working with those two programs.  Embroidery programs create wireframes (segments) that hold information that dictate what type of stitch type to use; it also knows what density, underlay, stitch length, pull compensation, etc. to use per the digitizers value input.  The previous mentioned art drawing programs typically do the same thing, but, not for stitch types, but for art segments.  Each segment that is created consists of a fill color, border color and weight of the border line.  In the previous example, we doubled the size of a raster image to only find out that the image looks worse.  However, when you increase or decrease the size of a vector image, the fill and border of that segment is mathematically calculated to be resized proportionately.  Here are images of a raster image and a vector image.  Notice how easy it would be to follow the perimeter of the vector file versus the perimeter of the raster image.  And, this raster isn't that bad, imagine if there were 3-6 colors involved.  If your embroidery software supports vector drawing tools, you can first use those to better define the lines of the raster image to make the digitizing process a bit easier.  It takes more time, but, I feel better prep = less editing.  Q:  OK, now that I know the difference between vector and raster art, where do I get the vector art? A:   Over the past 5 years, due to technology, it has been much easier to obtain vector art from your customer, or their graphic artist. Keep in mind, most everyone that has a business card has had that art created by a graphic artist .. or, someone that SAYS they are a graphic artist !! ha  If you can locate the printer where they had their business cards done, you are close to obtaining their vector art faster than David Caruso solves his crime on CSI: Miami. Before I tell you the MAIN reason that I like vector art, I want to warn you about one pitfall that can occur when dealing with vector art and those people that call themselves graphic artists .. and, those occasional mistakes made by people who know what they are doing.  When someone creates a vector logo, typically, they will add text to the logo .. they don't create the text, they use their keyboard lettering and the fonts stored on their computer under START>CONTROL PANEL>FONTS.  The fonts that are stored on your computer are true-type fonts; they are used for emails, writing BLOGS and, they are used by all your computers programs.  These fonts are in vector format so you can control them like you do the segments that you create in the graphics programs.  But, because it is programmed for keyboard lettering, in your drawing program, they are automatically grouped together and must be treated differently.  Because the true-type font is programmed and saved on the computers hard drive, if a graphic artist sends an art file to a customer, and that file includes a font that the customer doesn't have, the customer will not be able to view the design as the artist does; in short, if I use a font 'you ain't got,' your computer will substitute another font for it.  Your system will REPLACE the unknown font with your default font, probably Arial or Tahoma, but, that is not the proper lettering intended to be used for the design.  So, when I get designs to digitize that contains a true-type font that is not loaded on my computer, when I attempt to open the file in Adobe's Illustrator, the first thing it tells me is that, "This file contains a font not found on your computer, it will be replaced with Arial."  IF I don't catch this, I digitize the art, using the wrong font, and, my customer thinks I'm smoking funny cigarettes when they view the design!!  When the graphic artist sends out files, they must convert the grouped text segments to outlines or curves (the terminology depends on what program you are using), this breaks down the true-type font into simple segments so anyone can view the file as it was intended to be seen.  Here is one reason I like customers to send us not only a vector file, but, also the corresponding raster, typically in JPG format.  Raster images are like camera shots of the vector file.  I can quickly view the raster image, and, if it doesn't match the corresponding vector, I know the artist doesn't know the difference between stitches and shinola! Once you get the vector art in the proper format, digitizing on most systems becomes a heck-of-a-lot easier.  Remember, I mentioned that if you digitize with your embroidery tools, you are creating vector segments that carry embroidery stitch type information?  Well, imagine if I can introduce a vector file into my embroidery software, click on it, and TELL it what stitch type I wanted it to be .. pretty cool, huh?!  Well, we do, and you can.  Someone took the time to create the art in vector format, how arogant am I to think that I can recreate their artwork better than them??!!  I use their vector segments to create embroidery segments by simply selecting the vector image, and telling what stitch type I want it to be. Now, keep in mind that vector art creation is mucho-mucho different than embrodiery design creation .. they use layers on layers on layers, and, if I were to digitize like that, the CIA would use my embroidery in their bullet-proof vests rather than Kevlar; not to mention how FUN my customers would have trying to sew a design like that.  Look at the elephant vector and raster image to the left.  From all those vectors, we get the more simplified JPG, or raster image.  Here is an instance when I would MUCH rather have the JPG to digitize from versus the vector file.   The above vector is an example of a file that would be a nightmare to digitize from, and, a file where I could not use the existing vector segments to convert to embroidery segments.  So, when the vector segment allows it, I will use those to create my embroidery segments, when it doesn't, I can either alter the segment and then use it,  simply create it with my embroidery tools, or prefer to use the raster image to digitize from.  When it is between option and , my decision is made by whichever is quicker .. and, then me recreating only the area I need is usually faster.    The vector file to the left demonstrates easy to select segments that can be changed to embroidery segments.  The art looks simplified, but you can achieve great results with a little embroidery knowledge and experimentation with your digitizing skills as seen on the embroidery file to the right. Vector versus Raster artwork in review: -  Vector art is great because it is resolution independent, has smooth, easy to follow curves, small file sizes, and can be easily converted to embroidery segments. -  Raster art does have its advantages.  They are the most common digital photo images, and, they allow for color correction easier than vector files do .. this is important if you get into direct-to-garment shirt printing. Best regards, Rick Macali / 407 509-2400 www.inhousedigitizing.com www.embdesignsnow.com <-- coming soon Posted Apr 24 2009, 09:30 AM by RMacali with 3 comment(s) Filed under: rick, digitizing, embroidery, macali, design, digitizing art, best art, art, digitizing technique

• Starting an online business

  Q:  I heard that online businesses were a fad and that in time physical storefronts will emerge on top again. A:  Ask your local travel agent what they think of it being a fad !! Online stores are more popular than ever before, as a matter of fact, I was working on a deal with a large franchise department store (hint: starts with a big red "K") and they told me that they are looking to not only expand their online business, but to do MORE business online than they do in their box stores.  That really says something, especially when you look at who owns them. There are many similarities in opening a storefront and an online store.  There's the initial investment, product, marketing, advertising, website design, computers, etc. One of the differences between the two is that you can open your doors to the world with an online store much quicker than you can a storefront.  And, I do mean to the WORLD.  Our online digitizing business has serviced almost all the 50 states, 2 US territories, 2 countries within the UK and patch factories in China, of all places.  I would never be able to do that from our storefront in Celebration, FL.  Online businesses do, however, seem to run a bit more lean than a storefront can afford to.  For example, I used to have 5 t-shirt kiosks in a major tourist mall in Orlando, and on the weekends when our stock was busting out of the kiosks, we had banner sales days.  Then Monday would come, we would do inventory, order shirts, embroider or screen print them and fill the shelves again on Wednesday .. do I have to tell you what our Monday and Tuesday sales were?  You guessed it, down in the dumps.  There's a perception at work in selling to the public .. they see a cart in the middle of a mall hallway filled with product that is beautifully merchandised, and they are drawn to it, but, when the cupboards were bare, so were the sales.  Online stores have the benefit of LOOKING stuffed, when in fact, they may drop ship their product from a distributors warehouse upon each online sale.  No one has to know how large or small your company is.  No one has to know your physical hours, either.  Many designs from my west coast customers come in when I'm eating dinner here on the east coast; we get to work the next day, tackle the designs while they are still sleeping or just waking up .. it's a beautiful process.  No customers know if it was me, or Sal, or Mike, or Paul that digitized their logo, they just know that the process was seamless and they got what they paid for.  However, you still have to be careful for certain things when running an online business.  There used to be a commercial that ran when I was watching my pathetic Cleveland Indians that showed 4-5 colleagues all geeked-up about their new online business venture, they huddled around the computer just as their site was about to go live, and BAM, a sale .. how excited they were.  Then another, and another, and another .. and, then 1000 and then 1000 more .. so many sales that they failed because they didn't plan for that type of online success .. WELL, I'm hear to tell you that it doesn't happen exactly like that.  Just because you open an online store, or blog, or personal page it doesn't mean you're going to be the next "Subway Jared."  Advertising is expensive and time consuming.  If no one knows you exist in cyberspace, do they hear the tree fall?  When you walked into the mall, there were 5 t-shirt stores that competed with each other, in cyberspace, there are millions all over the country and world .. YOU can't grow a business if no one can find you.  You have to differentiate your store from the rest of the pack, and that takes some specialized know-how.  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a great tool for making your site appear first on the search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN Live, etc.).  In order to grow and survive, you need to appear on the first page of the search engine sites if your means of advertising is only online efforts.  We believe our digitizing business has an advertising edge  because I travel to 8 trade shows each year where I meet hundreds of people at each show, speak at 10 events each year, write blogs like this for Ann the Gran, and we are active on embroidery lists where we cultivate business by helping others and showing our knowledge and expertise.  So, you may not see us on the first pages of the search engines, but, we take a different advertising route. I probably wouldn't have brought this up here, but, the grief I just went through, I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy (if I had any!).  Choose a quality hosting company.  Visit them.  See where they store their servers.  Believe me, these server companies are more secure than Fort Knox.  These buildings are lightening proof, earthquake proof, fire proof, flood proof, bug proof .. A techie might say, "my site is on rackspace that is main-piped to the net."  What that means is that their website files are on a secure server that is directly linked to the internet.  Imagine the internet as a large pipe that stretches from Washington D.C. to San Francisco, and smaller pipes tap into it that feed to each state, and then smaller pipes tap into the state pipes that feed major cities and their surrounding areas.  Luckily, all the "pipes" are so large, that, today, there is little if any wait time when you send an email, instant message, or upload an order to your favorite digitizing site. Due to our customer size now, I just had to purchase our own server that I keep at a facility in Orlando where I rent rack space.  They keep the server for me connected to the internet with a guaranteed 99.999% "up" rate (they almost guarantee their connection will never be down).  They love my server as if it were their own.  They feed it, water it, keep it clean and out of harm's way .. all for the price of a small fortune, but, it is worth it.  Your site, is your life and your server and hosting company are your life lines.  If they fail, you are OUT OF BUSINESS.  We started to migrate our site from our old server to the new one on Friday night before Easter, it wasn't done until Tuesday morning .. I was OUT OF BUSINESS that whole time.  Lessons to take away from this article: 1. Don't skimp on your hosting company, server, web site designer or all-in-one site package. 2. Seperate yourself from the crowd by having a killer website that is easy to use. 3. Get found on the internet by SEO or other advertising means. 4. Lastly, come up with a short domain name that states what you do, take it from Mr. www.inhousedigitizing.com that long names are a pain to get customers to the first time. Good luck with your online business .. it was not just a smart move for us, but, a saving grace for our business as a whole. Best regards, Rick Macali / 407 509-2400 www.inhousedigitizing.com www.embdesignsnow.com <-- coming soon to include stock designs, digitizing training and much more Posted Apr 17 2009, 10:00 AM by RMacali with 4 comment(s) Filed under: rick, macali, online, server, business, internet, online business

• Basic embroidery digitizing

  Q:  How does the embroidery machine know where to put all the stitches? A:  You just scan the image and the software analyzes the art and tells the machine where to place the stitches. Well, that's what our customers think.  I wish it were that easy.  Actually, I don't .. if it were that easy, I wouldn't have a job!! An embroidery artist (digitizer) analyzes a piece of art, and quickly, he/she can tell you how they think the design will run best, and with the fewest stops (trims or color changes).  The digitizer then uses embroidery software to define areas and segments into the three basic stitch types:  run, satin or fill.  The differences between digitizing abilities among digitizers are typically based on the knowledge of, and the use of the different densities and stitch lengths of these stitch types. RUN STITCH:  Consists of one stitch between two points or needle penetrations.  Varies in length, but, should be no shorter than .8 mm or longer than 12 mm.  Run stitches are used for detail in a design or travelling from one part of the design to the other; also for small lettering reminiscent of cross stitch lettering.  Most digitizing softwares have patterned run stitches for beautiful detail work. SATIN STITCH:  Formed by closely arranged zigzag stitches.  Usually the stitches are set perpendicular to the column they are creating, but, they dont have to.  The suggested width of a satin stitch can vary from as small as .8 mm wide to 8 mm wide.  Satin stitches are used to outline fill areas, area definition, but most commonly for the use in creating names. FILL STITCH:  A series of running stitches closely placed together to cover large areas.  Different patterns can be created by changing the stitch angle, stitch length, and the repeat sequence of the stitches.  Most digitizing softwares offer many different patterns built in to the program. The knowledge of the above stitch types is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creating an embroidery design from art.  The end design should not only look good, but, also embroider well.  No one wants to babysit an embroidery design that breaks thread every 1,000 stitches .. embroidery is then not fun, but, aggravating work.  It has been said that if you put 6 qualified digitizers in a room, gave them the same piece of art, and asked them to create the design for the same garment at the same size, you would get 6 different approaches to the same design.  Assuming all 6 digitizers were competent, you should get 6 nice looking designs, all with different characteristics.  There are digitizers that are more artistic than others.  Most of the time, I appreciate the more artistic look versus a flat looking embroidery.  If I were to create steps of HOW I approach each design, they would look something like this: Study the design and its components:  find what segments/colors are hidden by things on top of them and work form the background forward.  Embroidery is much like a landscape painting, it is not often you would expect the painter to paint the trees in the foreground THEN try to add the lake in the background. Take into consideration the fabric/garment:  hats generally need to be digitized in a different order/direction than do shirts.  Different materials may also pose different complexities as to how to digitize the design.  Stretchy fabrics may dictate that you work in, and complete small areas to complete the design.  This will cause more color changes/trims, but your design will look better because of it. Start digitizing by dropping the needle:  I like to drop the needle right from center and run to where I'm going to start my digitizing; most of the time, I will outline the area of the whole design to a. capture the work area and reduce the push and pull of the fabric and b. attach my backing to the garment immediately for better stabilization.  And, depending upon the fabric/garment I may lay down a cross-hatch underlay for the whole design to eliminate the need for it per color.  This will be discussed in another post. Insert the color:  after the prep work is done, the digitizing process is fairly simple when you understand the stitch types, their uses and limitations.  Complete each color, working from the background foreward, until all the color is laid in.  Add the detail, and the outlining:  Once your color is laid in, it will look like a colorful mess.  Your outlines and detail will bring all your hard work into focus.  The detail is usually black, or dark in color, and creates the coloring book effect that really creates the embroidery design. For more artistic work, for example flowers, water color scenes, you may not have detail on 100% of your design, it may just be on certain elements. I hope this primer on basic digitizing has enlightened some of you to a. the elements involved and b. the process by which typically each digitizer goes through. Until next time .. best wishes, Rick Macali www.inhousedigitizing.com RMacali@inhousedigitizing.com   Posted Apr 10 2009, 11:00 AM by RMacali with 11 comment(s) Filed under: rick, fill, digitizing, satin, embroidery, macali, design, run