You can modify embroideries in several ways: Selected stitches can be deleted, copied, repositioned, rotated, resized and flipped. Stitches can be inserted from the clipboard. In addtion it is possible to change single thread colors or the whole thread chart. Threads can be combined or splitted, and the stitch order can be adjusted. While all these changes are available to preview their effect, saving modifications is only supported for some file formats, currently Janome JEF, Brother PES and PEC, Melco EXP, Tajima DST, and Pfaff PCS. So be sure to save a design into an appropriate format before performing permanent changes. Of course you can use StitchBuddy to simply convert between file formats, i. e. save a PES file to use it on a Janome embroidery machine.
Deleting: To delete selected stitches, select the menu item "Edit" > "Delete" or use the corresponding tool bar icon.
Copy / Paste: To copy or cut selected stitches into the clipboard, just use the menu item "Edit" > "Copy" resp. "Cut". Stitches can be inserted from the clipboard using the menu item "Edit" > "Paste". The section will be inserted with a slightly offset and already selected to support additional modifications more easily.
Move: To move a selected part of the design click on the selection and drag the mouse. Release the mouse button at the final position. Alternatively use the arrow keys (cursor keys) to reposition selected stitches by 0.1 mm. Longer or shorter distances can be entered in a dialog, which will be presented after selecting the menu item "Design" > "Move Selection..." or click the corresponding toolbar item.
Rotate: To rotate selected stitches by 45 degrees around the center of the selection, use the menu item "Design" > "Rotate Selection" > "45° Left" / "45° Right" or click the corresponding toolbar items. To rotate a selection by a variable angle clockwise or counter-clockwise, use the menu item "Design" > "Rotate Selection" > "Variable...".
Resize: To change the size of selected stitches, use the menu item "Design" > "Resize Selection..." or click the corresponding toolbar item. StitchBuddy does not change the stitch count when resizing a selection. Making a selection too small might result in a design too dense and might even cause needle breaks. On the other hand making a selection to large might result in a loose design with holes. Therefor the resizing is limited to +/- 15% and it is not recommended to make larger adjustments.
Flipping (Mirror): To flip selected stitches left-to-right or upside-down, just select the menu item "Design" > "Flip Selection" > "Left/Right" or "Up/Down" or use the corresponding tool bar icons.
Center: To center a design, just select the menu item "Design" > "Center" or use the corresponding tool bar icon. A variable number of jump stitches is inserted to center the design inside its hoop.
Baste: To add basting stitches, just select the menu item "Design" > "Add Basting...". You can specify the distance to the design and the stitch length. Afterwards a rectangle is stitched in black before starting the design to attach a stabilizer or check the design's alignment. A basting can easily deleted after selecting it with the "section" mode.
Changing palettes: A design has an assigned color palette from which all thread colors are taken. By default this is the internal palette of an embroidery file. You can assign a different color palette and StitchBuddy will map all internal colors to the most similar ones automatically. For more information, please refer to this chapter.
Changing colors: Colors of threads can be changed by clicking the corresponding buttons on the right side. The Mac OS X color selector is shown and you can choose a color in different ways. However you pick a color, the most similar one of the design's current palette will be used automatically. For more information, please refer to this chapter.
Combining / Splitting threads:
Threads can be combined by deleting color changes.
Right-click on a thread you want to combine with the previous one.
Now select the context menu item "Skip Color Change", and both threads will be combined.
To split threads a color change needs to be inserted.
Right-click a stitch and select the context menu item "Insert Color Change".
Alternatively you can select one or more stitches and use the menu item "Design" > "Insert Color Change before Selection".
The current thread will be splitted before selected stitches.
Changing the stitch order:
To change the stitch order of threads, drag and drop items of the thread list right of the design.
Alternatively you can right-click a thread in this list and use the corresponding context menu item.
Please keep in mind that changing the stitch order might cause unwanted results if threads are overlapping.
Converting: StitchBuddy is able to export some file formats (currently JEF, PES, PEC, EXP, DST and PCS). Of course this feature can be used to save modifications, like color changes, rotations or flipping. Additional you can use this function to convert emboideries between different formats. StitchBuddy will perform some tasks to ensure a proper conversion: Internal colors are adjusted because a different palette has to be used (JEF and PES/PEC only), and stitches may be splitted to meet limitations of the target file type.
All modifications performed after saving the design can be undone.
Always check the hoop size and position of a design before actually stitching it! StitchBuddy will remind you when saving a file, but this dialog can be dismissed for the future. To reactivate the warnings check the corresponding option in StitchBuddy's preferences.
Always make backups before modifying embroidery files!