I got to thinking about using fonts, and I want to make sure I'm not doing this the hard way. When I want to use a purchased font for a name for example, I open the font, go to the first letter, copy and paste it into a new file and save it. Then I go to the next letter, copy it, then open the saved first letter, and paste the second one next to it and so on. Then I adjust the spacing and alignment and it takes forever. Is there an easier way?

You might look into the free program from Embrilliance software called Embrilliance Express. You can import .bx files into the program & then type your words from your keyboard. If you have purchased fonts in the past, you may want to go back to the various sites & see if they now offer the.bx files. I use the purchased program Alpha Tricks & it has made my life so much easier when using lettering. Many Cuties here also use the programs with great results.
Here are some links to videos explaining the free program.

https://www.google.com/search?q=e...

If you are interested in purchasing the full Alpha Tricks program, it is on sale through today.
http://embrilliance.com/store/ind...

2 comments

by powagrl 10 Jul 2017

Sorry, the sale is through tomorrow, July 11, 2017.

by parkermom 10 Jul 2017

Thanks so much. I will absolutely look into that.

I will create what I will call a "master alphabet row"...that is all of the letters of the alphabet saved into one file in a single line. To do this, I open the "a" then merge the "b" and follow with all the letters and put them in a single row across the bottom and save that file...then when I am ready to spell out the words in another project...I open the master alphabet row file, choose the letter I need from the alphabet row and use copy/paste the letter and then place it where I want it...then choose the next letter from the alphabet row and copy/paste it and move it where I need it to go...Doing this enables me to select letters I need from the alphabet row. This means I don't need to keep going back to the original alphabet folder and get one letter at a time, over and over...It takes a bit to set up the alphabet row file, but once it is done...it is done for the next time I want to use that alphabet...I hope this makes sense...Then when I am done with my lettering, I delete the alphabet row below and then save the new design file.

2 comments

by asterixsew 10 Jul 2017

Thanks for your detailed advice

by parkermom 10 Jul 2017

What a great idea. Thank you

Usually you can open more than one embroidery design in one go by just clicking on the desired ones. That works for alphabets as well. At least that's what I do in Embird or 6D. Then you can arrange them as wished.

In Embird frequently used alphabets can be "mapped" and after that be used in the same way as built-in alphabets, complete with automatic aligning them along lines, or in circles, etc.
I don't know if PE-design has the same possibilities (don't even know if 6D has it - I never looked since I could do it in Embird).

1 comment

by parkermom 10 Jul 2017

I'm not sure what mapped is in relation to alphabet files. But I'll look into that. Thank you.

Do you have any embroidery softwear? as has been said below its easier with some. I have PE design and can use any font in my laptop

2 comments

by parkermom 10 Jul 2017

I have PE Design too, and use the fonts on my laptop, but I didn't know if there was an easier way to use purchased fonts than the long drawn out process I use. Thank you.

by asterixsew edited 10 Jul 2017

I have stopped buying fonts as I download free fonts that I like and them put them through PE design. Cheaper and faster. Think the way you are dl and oh so slowly setting out each letter is how its done

I used to do it that way, but now have Embird which has it's own lettering system. Now I just type in the words and it creates them all lined up already. However, it is limited in how many different fonts you can use and you have to buy the font. It also has a function that allows you to use any TT font too, but a lot of them don't stitchout nicely. I think there is a way to use these lovely purchased fonts in the program, but I haven't taken the time to learn how. There might be lettering programs out there, but I just don't know of them. Maybe someone can help us out with this.

1 comment

by parkermom 10 Jul 2017

I don't have Embird, but maybe I need to look into that. Thank you

I would open a file with the first letter and then merge the next letter doing my spacing as I go along. I make the second letter a different color. Now I have 2 letters. Merge the third letter and make it the same color as the first letter. Continue on with the letters alternating colors. When you have finished your word, you can easily adjust any of the letters as they are alternating colors. When you are pleased with your spacing you can change the word or name to all one color

1 comment

by parkermom 10 Jul 2017

thank you. I will try that.