Introduction Thank you for using our embroidery design software On Screen Designer™. On Screen Designer™ enables you to create original embroidery patterns directly from the screen of your Baby Lock household computerized sewing machine that is equipped with the compatible embroidery function. Before using this software, carefully read the instructions contained in this manual in order to fully understand each of the various functions and the correct operation of this software.
What You Can Do With This Software This software allows you to create original patterns just by using the touch pen (stylus) or pen tablet to draw images and text on the screen of the sewing machine or the tablet and painting the drawing with the desired colors as easily as drawing images and text on paper with a pen. Until now, you could select various characters from those available, combine them, and then embroider the characters.
Chapter 1 Before Use Checking Sewing Machine On Screen Designer™ can be used with the following sewing machines. Check that your sewing machine model and its program version meets the following requirements. Models: BLSO/BLSOG/BLSOG2 Program: KIT II certified * The KIT II certification can be checked by pressing (Settings) key. For more details, refer to the Instruction and Reference Guide provided with the sewing machine.
USB Media Important: Since all data saving media, including USB media, may sometimes fail, we recommend that you make backup copies for all saved data. The sewing machine reads this software and starts it up from USB media. In addition, data created with this application is stored on the USB media. Follow the precautions below when handling the USB media. • For details about available USB media, visit our website “ www.babylock.com ”.
Setting The Sewing Machine To Start Up The Software The sewing machine must first be set so that On Screen Designer™ can be started up. “Application Check” on the settings screen must be set to “ON”. If the sewing machine is turned on with USB media inserted, the machine checks the software on the USB media, and then starts it up. 1 Turn on the sewing machine. 2 Press , and then press 4/8 of the settings screen. 3 On the changes to 4 to display page display, press , and then press so that it .
2 Insert the USB media containing the application into the primary (top) USB port on the right side of the machine. Caution • Do not insert anything other than USB media into the USB media port. Otherwise, the USB media drive may be damaged. • Do not insert USB media containing pattern data other than those saved using this application. (Only .pm7 and .phc data can be used.) 3 Turn on the sewing machine. 4 Press the opening screen.
Key Operations 1 1 Press left. to display the screen shown at the Notes Screen illustrations may vary due to model of machine. • You can use the pen tablet for operations in the settings screen. 2• 1 Adjusts the speaker volume 3 Press and to adjust the speaker volume. 2 Changes the display language Use and to choose the display language. 3 Changes the thread color display 4 (thread brands or color number) Use and to choose the thread color information.
Basic Procedure Overview The basic procedure is described below. For details, refer to the indicated page. 1 4 Draw the lines of the pattern in the patter n drawing screen. (→ page 10) 2 Converting the image data to embroidery data. 5 The embroider y data check screen appears. (→ page 35) Adding color to the pattern. (→ page 26) 3 Specifying the stitching settings. (→ page 31) Specify the width of the satin stitches and the sewing direction of the fill stitches.
Application Screens Pattern Drawing Screen When On Screen Designer™ is started up, the following pattern drawing screen appears. The pattern can be drawn in this screen. 1 Pattern drawing area Draw the pattern within this area. The actual dimension of the pattern area is the size of the extra large embroidery frame (30 cm (height) × 20 cm (width)). Included pen tablet is activated within this pattern drawing area while drawing. 1 2 Use to select the thread color of the lines.
Key Key Name Description Straight line key Continuous straight line key Circle key Press this key to draw straight lines. Reference Page 21 Press this key to draw straight lines that are connected. 15 Press this key to draw circles. 13 Ellipse key Press this key to draw ellipses. 16 Square key Press this key to draw squares. 22 Rectangle key Press this key to draw rectangles.
Embroidery Data Check Screen Once you are finished drawing the pattern, press the convert key in the pattern drawing screen to convert the image data to embroidery data. When the data is converted, the embroidery data check screen appears. 2 3 1 1 The total number of stitches is displayed. 2 The necessary amount of time required to sew the 4 pattern is displayed. (The amount of time needed to change threads is not included.) 7 3 The number of colors are displayed.
Chapter 2 Creating a Sample Pattern In order to get a better understanding of how to use this software, we will describe the procedure for creating the pattern shown at the left as an example. By creating an actual pattern, you can learn to master the operation of this software. 1 1 Drawing the Lines of the Pattern 2 3 4 5 6 1. Drawing a Circle 1 2 Press 3 When the circle is the desired size, remove the pen from the screen. so that it changes to .
■ Creating the Desired Circle Undoing If the position or size of the shape is not what you want, the drawn line can be erased so that it can be drawn again. There are many ways of erasing lines, but here we will explain how to use . To undo the last drawing operation, press . The last operation that was performed is undone and the drawing reverts back to the same condition it was before that operation was performed. Notes • • • 14 can be pressed at any time while the image is being drawn.
2. Drawing Straight Lines That Are Connected 1 2 Press 3 Touch the next point where you wish to add a corner. so that it changes to . Touch the point that will be the beginning of the drawing. A straight line is drawn connecting the starting point and the next point touched. 4 Touch the last point to finish drawing the line. A straight line is drawn connecting the last point to the previous point.
3. Drawing an Ellipse 1 2 Press 3 When the ellipse is the desired size, remove the pen from the screen. so that it changes to . From the point that will be the center of the ellipse, drag the pen along the screen until the ellipse is the desired size.
4. Selecting For example, select the section to be deleted here. * Before moving, copying or deleting sections, use the area to be moved, copied or deleted. 1 2 Press 3 so that it changes to to select . From the top-left corner of the section, drag the pen along the screen so that the section completely fits within the red frame (selection frame) that is drawn. * The selection frame appears in red. When the frame is the desired size, remove the pen from the screen.
5. Deleting Lines (Drawing a Half Ellipse) * Here, we will explain how to delete lines using * Before deleting a line using to , press . so that it changes , and then select the section to be deleted. (Refer to page 17.) 18 key. (Refer to * Lines can also be erased by selecting the page 23.) 1 Press . The lines within the selection frame are deleted.
6. Moving 1 Follow the procedure described in “4. Selecting” to select the section to be moved. 2 Touch inside the red frame (selection frame) with the pen, and then drag the pen along the screen to move the selection. When the section is moved to the desired location, remove the pen from the screen. 3 Notes • If the section could not be moved to the desired location, again touch inside the selection frame with the pen, and then move the section to the desired location.
7. Copying 1 Follow the procedure described in “1. Drawing a Circle” to draw a circle. 2 Follow the procedure described in “4. Selecting” to select the section to be copied. 3 Press * 4 5 . The selected section is copied. The operation sound allows you to check whether or not the key was correctly pressed. (Refer to page 8 about adjusting the operation sound volume.) Touch inside the red frame (selection frame) with the pen, and then drag the pen along the screen.
8. Drawing Lines Freehand If the freehand line key is selected, the pen can be used to freely draw lines on the screen as easily as drawing images and text on paper with a pen. 1 Press so that it changes to . (When the application is started up, this key already appears as .) 2 Draw the images with the pen. With the freehand line key, lines can be drawn freely; however, circles and straight lines cannot be drawn perfectly.
10. Drawing a Rectangle 1 2 Press 3 When the rectangle is the desired size, remove the pen from the screen. This completes the drawing. so that it changes to . From a point that will be a corner of the rectangle, drag the pen along the screen until the rectangle is the desired size. To draw a rectangle or square Use to draw rectangles. The rectangle is drawn with the line connecting the starting point and the ending point as the diagonal.
■ Creating the Desired Drawing Unnecessary lines and lines not drawn as desired can be erased by pressing also be deleted by pressing . Lines can , as described in “5. Deleting Lines (Drawing a Half Ellipse)” on page 18; however, to erase detailed sections or if the desired area cannot be surrounded by a selection frame, press . Use the appropriate method as necessary. Erasing Lines Using 1 2 Press so that it changes to . Touch the screen. appears.
Working With Detailed Sections Working within the enlarged area makes it easier to draw or erase detailed lines. Working Within the Enlarged Area 1 1 Press so that it changes to . The blue frame and the enlarged area appear. The section of the pattern within the blue frame is shown enlarged. 1 Enlarged area 2 The blue frame indicates the section that is enlarged. 2 2 With the pen, touch the part of the pattern in the pattern drawing area that you want to enlarge.
Precautions on Drawing • Do not try to fill an area with lines, otherwise the drawing cannot be converted to embroidery data. • Color can only fill an outlined area. Be sure to design the area that you wish to fill with color so that it is outlined. In addition, a very small area (thin area) cannot be filled. • After selecting the color of an area, lines of the drawing other than those drawn freehand cannot be edited or added.
2 Adding Color to the Pattern Next, we will add color to the lines and areas. 1. Selecting the Line Color 1 Press * 2 3 . When the application is started up, the line color is black. The screen shown at the left appears. Touch the thread color showing the desired color. For this example, select black. When a color is selected, the palette is automatically closed. The color of the lines in the pattern and changes to the selected color.
2. Selecting the Area Colors 1 Press * 2 3 Press . when the following message appears. The screen shown at the left appears. Touch the thread color showing the desired color. For this example, select red. * To quit selecting a color, press . Notes • The color selected for the lines is not available in the palette of colors for the areas. The color selected for the lines cannot be selected for an area.
4 When a color is selected, the palette is automatically closed. The color changes to the color selected with . changes to , indicating that an In addition, area can be filled with the selected color. * After the color of an area is selected, lines of the drawing other than those drawn freehand to close openings cannot be added, edited or their color changed. To change a line, continue pressing until the drawing returns to the condition before the first color of an area was selected.
Color Is Not Correctly Added Only outlined areas can be filled with color correctly. If an area will not be filled with correct color or will not be filled with color at all, that area is not completely surrounded by lines. Use to correct the lines so that the areas are outlined. Correcting Example The area inside the ladybug was also filled with the background color. Because the drawing of the shape of ladybug is not completely enclosed, we must search for the openings and close them.
3 After finding the opening, press to . 4 Within the enlarged area, close the opening in the line. 5 Change the color of the area with the incorrect color as described in steps 1 through 5 of “2. Selecting the Area Colors” on page 27. so that it changes After colors are specified for all areas, specify the stitching settings * If the stitching settings are not to be specified, continue with the procedure described in “4 Converting to Embroidery Data” on page 35.
3 Specifying Stitching Settings Lines of the drawing are sewn with satin stitches and areas are sewn with fill stitches. The following settings can be specified. 1 Satin stitch (lines): thickness and stitch density 2 Fill stitch (areas): sewing direction and stitch density If the drawing data is saved, the settings can be changed after a trial embroidery of the design is sewn. (Refer to “Saving Image Data” on page 42.) 1.
2. Specifying the Width of Satin Stitches 1 Press or beside . (The default setting is 2.0 mm when the application is started up.) To select a narrower width, press wider width, press . . To select a makes the width narrower by 0.5 Each press of mm. Each press of makes the width wider by 0.5 mm. A setting between 1.0 mm and 3.0 mm in 0.5 mm increments can be specified. Setting examples 1.0mm 2.0mm 3.0mm 3.
4. Specifying the Stitch Density 1 Press or beside . (The default setting is 100 % when the application is started up.) To select a coarser density, press density, press . 90 % ← → 100 % ← → . To select a finer 110 % Setting examples 90 % (coarse) 100 % (standard) 110 % (fine) Notes • It is recommended that a finer stitch density be selected if a detailed drawing is created. • If areas of the embroidery shrinks when a trial embroidery of the design is sewn, specify a coarser stitch density.
Additional Functions Reducing the Pattern Size The size of the created pattern can be changed. Select a size from 50%, 70% and 100%. Notes • The pattern can also be enlarged or reduced from the embroidering or embroidery-editing screen of the sewing machine. If the desired size cannot be selected with this software or if a specific size is required, adjust the size from the sewing machine. 1 Press in the pattern drawing screen. The screen shown at the left appears. 2 Press or beside .
4 Converting to Embroidery Data Now, the created image data can be converted to embroidery data. 1 Press . The following message appears. 2 If the image data is correctly converted to embroidery data, the embroidery data check screen shown at the left appears. The pattern moves to the center of the embroidery pattern display area and the embroidery data is displayed.
Viewing an Image of the Embroidered Pattern 1 Press 2 An image of the pattern as it will be embroidered appears. . 1 Press these keys to display the pattern in the various sizes of embroidery frames. The embroidery frames that appear in gray on the gray keys cannot be selected. 2 Press this key to display the pattern enlarged. 3 1 2 36 Press to return to the previous screen.
5 Saving the Embroidery Data The embroidery data can be saved on USB media. Notes • Saved embroidery data cannot be recalled with On Screen Designer™. To recall data and edit it with On Screen Designer™, save the image data on USB media before converting it to after the conversion to return to embroidery data or press the pattern drawing screen, and then save the image data on USB media. (Refer to “Saving Image Data” on page 42.) 1 Press 2 The screen shown below appears.
■ If the Embroidery Data Cannot Be Saved If the screen shown at the left appears, the embroidery data cannot be saved because the USB media is full or the embroidery data being saved is larger than the amount of space available. To be able to save the embroidery data, previously saved embroidery data must be deleted. * To quit saving, press . Deleting Saved Data 1 Press * To change the USB media, press 2 The following message appears. . .
3 A list of saved embroidery data is displayed. * Press 1 * 2 3 When saving onto USB media containing data other than embroidery data, such as image data, nothing is displayed. 4 , and then change the USB media. To quit recalling, press . Select the pattern to be deleted. 1 If a pattern is selected to be deleted, the size of the data for the selected pattern is displayed. 2 The page number for the displayed list and the total number of pages are displayed.
6 To delete the selected pattern data, press * 7 To stop the process, press . . The embroidery data is deleted, and if the required amount of free space is made available, the new embroidery data is automatically saved. If the amount of free space is not enough, another saved embroidery pattern must be deleted. * When saving onto USB media containing data other than embroidery data, such as image data, it may not be possible to save the new embroidery data, even after embroidery data is deleted.
Chapter 3 Other Functions Tracing a Picture using the Pen Tablet You can draw beautiful pictures using the pen tablet, even if you are not very good at drawing. Find a favorite picture and print out onto paper to use for a tracing pattern. 1 Connect the pen tablet to the sewing machine. Refer to the Instruction and Reference Guide included with the pen tablet for the details on how to use the pen tablet. 2 Select a favorite picture for creating an embroidery pattern.
Saving Image Data Saved data that has been converted to embroidery data cannot be recalled with On Screen Designer™. To recall data and edit it with On Screen Designer™, save the image data on USB media before converting it to embroidery data or press after the conversion to return to the pattern drawing screen, and then save the data. 1 Insert USB media into the USB port located on the right side of the machine. Caution • Do not insert anything other than USB media into the USB media port.
■ If the Image Data Cannot Be Saved If the screen shown at the left appears, the image data cannot be saved because either the USB media is full or the embroidery data being saved is larger than the amount of space available. To be able to save the image data on the USB media, previously saved image data must be deleted. * To replace the USB media or quit saving, press . Image data is deleted in the same way that embroidery data is deleted. For details, refer to page 38.
1 4 A list of saved image data is displayed. 5 Select the image data to be recalled. 6 The following message appears. Caution Do not turn off the machine while this message is displayed, otherwise saved data may be lost. In addition, do not try to remove the USB media while recalling data, otherwise the USB media may be damaged. 2 1 The page number for the displayed list and the total number of pages are displayed. 2 Each page of the list shows 15 image data. To view the next page, press 7 .
Clearing The Screen All operations that were performed can be stopped and the screen appears as it did when On Screen Designer™ was started up. 1 Press 2 The following message appears. 3 To delete the data, press * 4 . To stop the process, press . . The screen appears as it did when the application was started up. Notes • Before resetting the screen, the currently displayed data is deleted. Be sure to save any necessary data before resetting the screen.
Closing The Application To Use The Sewing Machine You can close the application to use the sewing machine without turning the machine off, then on again. 1 Press 2 The following message appears. 3 To close the application, press * 4 . To stop closing the application, press . . The home screen appears. Notes • Before closing the application, the currently displayed data is deleted. Be sure to save any necessary data before closing the application.
Correcting Shrinkage When created embroidery data is sewn, areas of the embroidery may shrink. If this occurs, correct the shrinkage. ■ Shrinkage The size of the pattern is enlarged and areas (fill stitches) shrink along the sewing direction. Since areas shrink while lines (satin stitches) are sewn with the size before shrinking, the lines and areas are no longer aligned. In order to prevent this, adjust the length of the lines so that they are in the sewing direction and are larger than the original data.
Chapter 4 Troubleshooting ERROR MESSAGES If an operation is performed incorrectly, the buzzer sounds and an error message appears. If an error message appears, follow the instructions given in the error message to correct the problem. (The message that is displayed can be cancelled either by pressing performing the operation correctly.) 48 or 1 5 This message appears when a pattern is being saved. This message appears when image data is being converted to embroidery data.
13 9 This message appears when first pressed. is This message appears when you try to use incompatible media. 10 14 These messages appear when the size of the pattern data to be saved exceeds the amount of space available on the USB media. This message appears when you attempt to select a pattern after the USB media in which the pattern is saved has been changed. 15 This message appears when an error occurs with the USB media. 11 This message appears while the USB media is transmitting.
Information on Memory Usage The amount of memory currently used is indicated in the scale bar at the top of the screen. Create or edit your embroidery designs using the scale indicator effectively. 1 Storage capacity indicator 1 Notes • Frequent use of freehand line drawing and erasing tends to cause high memory consumption. • An image with intricate outline may not be converted to embroidery data. • A thick line cannot be created.