Stitch Sprint Help › Getting started
Overview
What Stitch Sprint is
Stitch Sprint turns artwork into machine embroidery files and checks every stitch file before it reaches the machine. It is built for multi-needle machines that sew DST files, and tuned on an SWF. It runs on your computer as an app with its own window, and your artwork stays on your computer. It runs on a Mac today; the Windows version is in testing.
It takes:
- Vector artwork: EPS, AI, PDF and SVG.
- Picture logos: PNG and JPG (also GIF, BMP, TIFF and WebP). These are traced to outlines first.
- Typed text: names, teams and slogans in any font on your computer, or in the 31 fonts that ship with the app.
- Existing stitch files: DST, and PES, PEC, EXP, JEF, VP3, XXX, U01, TBF, SEW, HUS and EMD, to check, fix or place in a design.
It gives:
- a DST for your machine (and PES, JEF, EXP, XXX or U01 when asked);
- a preview picture, a safety report and a production worksheet (PDF) for every design;
- a design file (
.design) that opens again to change the design; - a customer proof (PDF) with the design on the garment and a price;
- a cut file (SVG) for applique fabric.
What it does on its own
- Chooses the stitch for each shape: fill (tatami) for wide areas, satin columns for narrow ones (lettering, outlines, borders), a triple run for very small lettering.
- Adds underlay, pull compensation and short stitches on curves.
- Plans the sewing order so each connected area sews as one path, with travel hidden under stitching still to come and trims only where travel would show.
- Names the nearest Isacord thread for each colour, which needle it goes on, and the needle order.
- Adjusts the stitching for the fabric (twill, pique, performance knit, fleece, towel, nylon) and for caps.
- Marks the places to check before sewing.
The main features, and where to read about them
| Feature | Wiki page |
|---|---|
| Designs of several pieces (artwork, text, DSTs) | Designs and pieces |
| Names from a list (team orders) | Designs and pieces |
| Reading artwork and picture logos | Artwork import |
| Typed text, arcs, badges, outlines | Lettering |
| How fills, satin and runs are built | How it digitizes |
| Fabrics, knockdown, caps, hoops | Fabrics, hoops and the machine |
| Isacord threads and needles | Threads |
| The safety check and the DST doctor | Safety check and doctor |
| Worksheet, proof, prices, other formats | Output files |
| The shop's stitch files | Library |
| Layers, stitch player, realistic view | Views, layers and the player |
| Applique and tackle twill | Applique |
| Signing in, computers, cancelling, the free alpha, the Founders Edition | Your subscription |
| Telling us how a design sewed, photos, feature requests | Feedback |
| Something not working | Troubleshooting |
| What it can't do yet | Known limits |
| Words used in these pages | Glossary |
Which version you have
The line at the top right of the window ends with the version ("Stitch Sprint 0.26.1"). Treat every new design as a test sew until you trust it.
Where things are kept
| What | Where |
|---|---|
| Saved designs (the saved designs folder) | Documents/Stitch Sprint. File > Show Saved Designs opens it |
| Files that failed the check | rejected inside the saved designs folder |
| Settings, shop name and prices, library folders | On a Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Stitch Sprint |
| App log | On a Mac: ~/Library/Logs/Stitch Sprint.log |