The embroidery editor: first steps

Open the editor

In the menu, click Editor (or Open the editor on Home). The editor fills the screen. The top strip has ← Back to dashboard, My files and the green Support button.

Tip: Use an up-to-date Chrome or Edge. They give access to the fonts installed on your computer and show the thread in 3D.

Parts of the screen

• Top bar: New, Open, Import, Library, My files, Save to server, Save, Undo, Redo, Export (DST, PES, JEF, SVG) and the Design name field.
• Position and size bar: measurements in millimeters, percentage, mirror, rotate, align and group. See Size, position and hoop.
• Tools (on the left): Select, Pan, Reshape, shapes, columns, Rectangle, Ellipse, Text and Angles. See Drawing tools.
• Drawing area in the middle, with the zoom buttons and the thread color palette below.
• Right panel: Object properties, Objects, in stitching order, Background image, Hoop and View.
• Footer: Simulate, speed, estimated stitching time and the summary (stitches, size and colors).

Create your first design

1. Click New to start with a blank canvas.
2. Pick the Text tool, click the drawing area and type the name in the right panel. See Text and fonts.
3. Adjust height, font and stitch type in Object properties.
4. Choose your machine’s hoop under Hoop to check that it fits.
5. Click Simulate to see the order the machine will stitch in.
6. Type a name in Design name and click DST, PES or JEF to download. See Save and export.

Open a design you already have

• Open replaces what’s on screen with a file from your computer (.bordado, DST, PES or JEF).
• Import adds the file to the current design, for example to combine a ready-made design with a name.
• My files opens the embroidery saved in your account.
• Library brings up the ready-made designs and your own. See Ready-made designs.

Handy shortcuts

• Ctrl+Z undoes and Ctrl+Y redoes.
• Ctrl+S saves to the server; Ctrl+D duplicates; Delete removes the selected object.
• + and − zoom in and out; 0 shows the whole design; 1 shows actual size; B shows the whole hoop.
• Hold the space bar and drag to pan with any tool.

Tips

• The editor keeps your latest design in the browser itself. If you close the tab by accident, opening the editor again on the same computer brings it back. Still, use Save to server so you don’t depend on it.
• Hovering over a button shows a short explanation. In the footer, a hint explains how to use the selected tool.

See also

• Text and fonts
• Save and export (DST, PES, JEF)
• Size, position and hoop