GB2334264A

GB2334264A - Modifying computerised embroidery designs

Info

Publication number: GB2334264A
Application number: GB9903235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Bennet Kaymer; Martin Bysh
Original assignee: Emnet Embroidery Networks Ltd
Current assignee: Emnet Embroidery Networks Ltd
Priority date: 1998-02-13
Filing date: 1999-02-12
Publication date: 1999-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-12
Also published as: GB2334264B; GB9903235D0; GB9803160D0

Abstract

A method for modifying a computerised embroidery design comprises taking an embroidery design 4 including a plurality of stitch points 3, creating a template file consisting of data which defines lines 2, and applying or overlaying the template file, on a selected area of the design. New stitch points 5 are generated at points of intersection between lines of the design and the template file. The modified embroidery design, incorporating the additional stitch points, can then be displayed, and applied, to material to be embroidered, using an embroidery machine, inserting the additional stitches generated using the computerised method.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR MODIFYING EMBROIDERY DESIGNS The present invention relates to a system for modifying embroidery designs, in particular using a design to produce additional needle penetration points into the embroidery stitching.

Embroidery software currently available allows the user to implement a pattern of stitching while creating an embroidery design. Such software may also provide for the user to change the pattern to one of a number of alternative designs. In these cases, the pattern is generated at the same time as the 'underlying' stitches. The pattern cannot be overlaid on a certain area ofthe design, except that which is predefined during the creation process by selecting specific a stitch area, inputting defining points etc. In such cases, the design is not in stitch data format, so that it can be directly transferred to an embroidery machine. Programs designed for creating these type of designs are usually termed "digitizing software", and the areas where pattern is overlaid are referred to as "patterned fill" or "satin" areas.

The system of the present invention is able to create stitch data from a design created in a digitizing system, and then modify all or part of that design.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to method of modifying a computerised embroidery design, the method comprising the steps of: a) creating an embroidery design including a plurality of stitch points; b) displaying the embroidery design; c) creating a template file consisting of data which defines lines; d) establishing an area of the embroidery design to be modified; e) applying the template file to said area; f) generating additional stitch points from the data in the template file; and g) displaying a modified embroidery design incorporating the additional stitch points in the modified area.

Preferably, a number of embroidery designs and template files are stored in a computer memory which can be accessed in order to load up the desired design to be modified and the template defining the modification details.

The template can be applied to the entire design, or alternatively, it can be applied to a specific area of the design in any given length or diection across the design.

The additional stitch points are preferably generated at points of intersectionof the lines between stitches defined in the design stitch data and the lines defined by the data in the template file. Furthermore, an additional stitch may not be generated if a stitch already exists within a distance less than a predetermined minimum.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for modifying a computerised embroidery design, the apparatus comprising: means for creating an embroidery design including a plurality of stitch points; means for displaying the embroidery design; means for creating a template file consisting of data which defines lines; means for applying the template file to a chosen area to be modified; means for generating additional stitch points from the data in the template file; and means for displaying the modified embroidery design incorporating the additional stitch points in the modified area.

The apparatus may further comprise means for applying the computerised modified design to a material to be embroidered. Preferably, the applying means comprises an embroidery machine, the embroidery machine having a needle for entering the material to be embroidered, at positions of intersection of the lines between stitches defined by the design stitch data and the lines defined by the data in the template file.

An embroidery design is a file which is previously stored in the memory of a computer.

It consists of xy coordinates and commands. Each coordinate is relative to the previous coordinate. The commands within the file include information which can be interpreted by the embroidery machine on which the design is to be stitched, such as "needle up", "needle down", "change colour", "step", "trim" and so on.

A stamp (or template) file is created using a dedicated utility program. The template file also consists of coordinates and commands. The coordinates define lines or vectors. All the coordinates are relative to the centre of the template. They may be relative to each other (vectors), or alternatively, lines could be dispensed with entirely in favour of a bitmap, or a series of geometric objects such as circles, curves etc. Commands included in the template are MOVE and DRAW. The MOVE command moves a pen from one position to another without drawing a line.

The command DRAW creates a line from the current "pen" position to another determined position. The template is applied to the embroidery design as described herein, at which point the commands will be interpreted as embroidery commands.

The commands within the chosen template are interpreted as follows:- "Drawing a line" signifies the placing of stitch points in the underlying, or pre-existing, embroidery design, where the line intersects with the lines defined in the embroidery design stitch data, when stepped through pixel by pixel on a computer screen on which the design is displayed. The stitch to be inserted has the effect of breaking the pre-existing stitch of the embroidery design with which the template intersects, into two pieces at the intersection point. The length of the pre-existing stitch of the design is determined and, if it is below the pre- set minimum, the stitch is not broken. Rather, the tool will simply move to the next point.

If, however, the stitch length of the embroidery design is above the pre-set minimum, but the length of one of the resulting processed stitches formed by inserting a further stitch, would be below the pre-set minimum, then insertion of the further stitch does not take place.

Alternatively, the pre-existing stitch, which would create a stitch below the minimum length on insertion of further stitch, may be deleted afterwhich the new stitch may be inserted.

A bitmap implementation would use an "on bit" or a series of bits to indicate the placing of new stitch points.

The system for modifying embroidery designs will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is an illustration showing how the system generates new stitch points to modify an embroidery design.

The system utilises a computer program into which a predetermined embroidery design is loaded. A pre-made template is loaded by the user from a menu within the computer program.

The embroidery design is displayed on a visual display unit of a computer. The user can then interactively define the area to which modification of the design is wanted, by, for example, zooming in and out, and scrolling the design displayed. The user can then choose to carry out one of three different modification processes, these being: 1. Patternate the whole design at a given angle referred to as "stamp fill" or "area patternmaking"; 2. Patternate a selected area of the design in a given direction; or 3. Patternate the design along a line of a given length and direction, referred to as "stamp line" or "line patternmaking".

The computer program then interprets the chosen template and generates the new stitch points in order to modify the design. The method of which is described below.

The user can then choose to transfer the modified design to an embroidery machine directly. Alternatively, the user can save the design on a storage medium for transferring the modified design to an embroidery machine at a later date.

The method by which the computer program interprets the template, and generates new stitch points will now be described with reference to Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows the method of patternation of an embroidery design along a given length and direction. The original design, prior to patternation, consists of stitches made up by the needle penetrating the material at embroidery design points 3. Pattern-making lines 4 are placed across the design linking each design point 3 as can be clearly seen in the figure. The user firstly enters a line 1 which determines the angle and length at which pattemation is to take place across the design. The "current pen position" is initialised to the start of the user-entered line 1 when using the line patternation tool. The design pattern is rotated to the direction of the user-entered line 1. The patternation tool then processes the design pattern on a selected template 2 (from DRAW and MOVE commands) in the direction of the user-entered line 1.

The design pattem is then modified. Additional stitch points are generated on the design at points 5 where the design pattem stitch data intersect with the data defining lines in the template file. The program carries out a checking routine at each stage, to make sure that no two stitch points are placed too close together.

When the method is applied to a material containing an embroidery design to be modified, an embroidery machine is programmed such that the needle of the embroidery machine enters the material at points where the template pattern intersects with xy movement along the pattern-making lines 4 linking one stitch point 3 to another.

If the user chooses to pattemate a selected area of the design at a given angle (method 2 above), a series of lines are created parallel to the line input by the user and covering the selected area. The "current pen position" in this case is the centre of the visible area of the design when using the patternation fill tool (the stating point could, however, be any arbitrary position in the design). The area of the design is then covered in a spiral process, or by any other type of transversing method. Otherwise, the process is similar to that described about with reference to Figure 1.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of modifying a computerised embroidery design, the method comprising the steps of: a) creating an embroidery design including a plurality of stitch points; b) displaying the embroidery design;

c) creating a template file consisting of data which defines lines; d) choosing an area of the embroidery design to be modified; e) applying the template file to said area; f) generating additional stitch points from the data in the template file; and g) displaying a modified embroidery design incorporating the additional stitch points in the modified area.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step a) comprises loading an embroidery design from a computer memory in which at least one predefined embroidery design is stored.
3. A method according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein step c) comprises loading a template file from a computer memory in which at least one template file is stored.
4. A method according to any one claims 1 to 3, wherein the template file can be applied to the entire embroidery design.
5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the template file can be applied in any given length and direction across the embroidery design.
6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the additional stitch points generated in step f) are produced at points of intersection of the embroidery design stitch data and the lines defined by the data in the template file.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein an additional stitch point is not generated if another stitch is located within a distance less than a predetermined minimum.
8. Apparatus for modifying a computerised embroidery design, the apparatus comprising: means for creating an embroidery design including a plurality of stitch points; means for displaying the embroidery design; means for creating a template file consisting of data which defines lines; means for applying the template file to a chosen area to be modified; means for generating additional stitch points from the data in the template file; and means for displaying a modified embroidery design incorporating the additional stitch points in the modified area.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus further comprises means for applying the computerised modified design to a material to be embroidered.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the applying means comprises an embroidery machine, the embroidery machine having a needle for entering the material to be embroidered, at positions of intersection of the embroidery design data and the lines defined by the data in the template file.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the embroidery machine further comprises spacing means for determining the positions of the stitches to avoid stitches being made whose distance apart is less than a predetermined minimum.
12. A method of modifying a computerised embroidery design substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
13. Apparatus for modifying a computerised embroidery design substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.