How to Import, Crop, and Resize Bitmap Images for Embroidery

This guide will walk you through the initial steps of importing a bitmap image into your project. You will learn how to open an image, use the import dialog to crop it, and adjust its size and resolution before it is placed on the design area as a backdrop.

Bitmap images are raster graphics made up of individual dots of color (pixels). These are the most common image types, such as photos you take with a camera or images you find on the internet (e.g., JPEGs, PNGs, BMPs).

Step 1: Open Your Bitmap Image

The procedure to begin is simple:

1. From the main toolbar, click the Open icon.
2. Navigate through your computer’s files to locate the bitmap image you wish to use.
3. Select the image file and click Open.

Step 2: Using the Import Dialog

After opening the image, a new Import dialog box will appear. This dialog shows a preview of your image and provides several options to prepare it before it’s brought into your workspace.

A) Cropping to a Specific Area

If you only need to use a portion of the image, you can crop it directly within this dialog. You have two methods:

• Using the Handles: Click and drag the square handles that appear on the outer edge of the image preview to resize the selection area.
• Clicking and Dragging: For a new selection, simply click and drag your mouse cursor over the part of the image you want to keep. This will create a new cropping box.

To cancel your changes and reset the selection to the full image, click the Reset icon (the circular arrow).

B) Adjusting Image Size and Resolution

On the lower part of the dialog, you can change the dimensions and resolution of the image that will be imported.

• Width: The width of the final imported image.
• Height: The height of the final imported image.
• DPI (Dots Per Inch): The resolution of the image. A higher DPI results in a higher quality image, which can be important for auto-tracing features.

To apply a change, edit a value in any of these fields and press the “Enter” key. The other values will update automatically to maintain the image’s original proportions.

Note: If you have already cropped the image using the steps above, these resizing options will apply only to the selected portion of the image.

Step 3: Understanding the Automatic Backdrop Size Limit

High-resolution images require significant computer resources (RAM and processing power). To ensure smooth performance on a wide range of computer hardware, DRAWings PRO XII has a built-in safety feature.

• The software automatically detects high-resolution images upon import and scales them down to fit within a predefined “Backdrop size limit.”
• The default limit is 29.5 cm (11.6 inches) for the longest side.

You will notice this when you import a large image; its dimensions in the Width or Height fields will be automatically reduced to this default value.

Step 4: Importing at a Higher Resolution (Optional)

You are not forced to accept the automatic resizing. If you have a high-end computer or require the image at its original, larger size, you can override the limit:

1. After the software automatically scales the image down, simply edit the Width or Height values in the import dialog back to your desired size.
2. Press “Enter” to confirm the change. The image will now be imported at the larger size you specified.

Useful Tip: If you consistently work with large images and find yourself manually resizing them often, you can change the default Backdrop size limit permanently from the main software options menu.

After preparing your image by cropping or resizing it, you can proceed with the available handling options in the dialog to convert it for your embroidery project. These subsequent options are covered in other tutorials.