To get a better understanding of embroidery digitizing and its high demand in recent times, it is imperative that we should have a look at the history of embroidery.
What is embroidery? The art of decorating a fabric with the help of a needle and thread is called embroidery. It is believed that the art of embroidery was in practice even centuries ago.
In recent times, archeologists unearthed the remains of heavily embroidered hats and clothes. On further examination, it was revealed that it belonged to the Cro-Magnon era which existed in 30,000 BC
Today, we live in the age of digital industrialization.Every process that we undertake on a day to day basis is digitized, including embroidery. The multi-needle embroidery machines available today can stitch a pattern on a number of cloths in a row. This results in an increase in productivity and a decrease inproduction cost.
In the past, embroidery was done manually using hands. This required a lot of time and labor which was not good for the business. The introduction of machines for embroidery made the task much easier.
What is embroidery digitizing?
Embroidery digitizing is the process of converting an embroidery pattern into a machine-readable form. In this process, an embroidery artwork is converted into a digital file using software. The embroidery machine then reads the file and understand the path of the needle.
Almost all embroidery machines have software of their own. This allows us to control the functions while reading the instructions from a digitized file.
The Digitizing Process
As mentioned earlier, embroidery digitizing is the process of converting embroidery patterns into a machine-readable form. Specialized software likeWilcom or Pulse is used by the digitizer to create a series of commands that guides the machine while sewing the pattern. The process is done stitch by stitch and thus digitizing complex designs can be time-consuming. The entire route is mapped as you go around the artwork placing the needlepoints.Once all the points are defined the file is saved and uploaded to the machine.
The entire process may sound simple, but it is not so in reality. Each stitch needs to be processed with the mechanical attributes of the machine. Once every stitch is complete, you will be able to see the embroidery pattern on the screen. An expert embroidery digitizer is needed to understand the position of each stitch so that every second can be saved while embroidering the design.
Can a Non-Artist Become a Digitizer?
People with an artistic bend of mind can understand designs much better than a non-artistic person. But to undertake embroidery digitizing, you need not be an artist. This is because embroidery digitizing does not involve designing an artwork from scratch. It is all about converting an already existing design into a machine-readable format. The task of an embroidery digitizer is to follow a particular set of rules to make the design machine readable.Thus, to become an embroidery digitizer no prior experience in art is required.
Where to Learn Embroidery Digitizing?
Embroidery digitizing appears to be tough and confusing initially. But remember that embroidery digitizing is a skill which can be acquired through practice. No course or school teaches embroidery digitizing better than learning it yourself practically. Professional embroidery digitizers have either learned it from their seniors or through trial and error method.
As for the time required to learn embroidery digitizing, you can learn it in a week to do basic designs. Within a weeks’ time, you can completely comprehend the software and its functions and can start working on the design.However, to work as a professional embroidery digitizer,you should practice a lot and it can take years to master the skill and create designs that are master pieces which other digitizers cannot copy.
Majority of the people try out embroidery digitizing to experience something new. But in reality, embroidery digitizing can be a very dry task. Because of this reason, most of the people stop practicing after a few days. To become a successful embroidery digitizer, you need a lot of dedication, and determination as well as the will to succeed.
How toStart Practicing Embroidery Digitizing?
Before you start practicing embroidery digitizing you should do thorough research and clear all your doubts. Focus on your goal of becoming an embroiderydigitizer. Buy a home embroidery machine of any good brand along with the software. Read the instruction carefully and make sure that the software you have purchased is compatible with the machine.
First, install the digitizing software on your computer. Once installed, study the software properly to figure out what each button is used for. Every software will have an instruction manual. You can go through that to get a better idea.
Once you have figured out the software and its installation you should get some good design to practice. It is advisable to select simple designs that are easy to practice. Slowly start practicing till you have mastered the art. Remember, that learning takes time and you cannot learn everything in one fortnight.
Once you have digitized the file, test it in an embroidery machine to see the outcome. If you have not achieved satisfactory result, you should continue practicing till you attain perfection. Some embroidery designs can be difficult which makes digitization also a complicated process. Thus, it is best to start slow and move up the ladder. Once you have mastered the art of digitizing and can digitize a simple design, you can consider yourself as a beginner level digitizer.
For all those who wish to master the art of embroidery digitizing, we wish you all the best. As for the rest if you need master pieces, feel free to get in touch so we can create designs for you that will stand out compared to what’s in the market.
