Embroidery Basics Articles

10/28/2016 Understanding Alphabet and Font Options
their column widths using the “Pull Compensation” feature of your software.
4. Alphabets as Designs
This lettering option is mostly used for monograms and other jobs that don’t require
many letters. Each letter is stored like a design in a folder on your computer , and
then they are merged later .
There are many decorative and themed alphabets, such as ones with angels,
flames or circus animals adorning the side of each character . There also are fancy
alphabets, including script styles with glamorous flourishes and block styles that
appear to be made from fence posts.
One of my favorite ways to use alphabets is to combine them with compatible
keyboard fonts. First, I open the alphabet character that will serve as the capital
letter in a word or name. Then, I select a compatible keyboard font from my
software and type in the lowercase characters to make a complete name with a
decorative capital letter .
As previously noted regarding keyboard fonts, sizes, densities and other
characteristics can easily be adjusted within the software. In contrast, editing these
characteristics in alphabets may be more limited, depending on the capabilities of
your particular software package.
Richards Jarden owns embroideryarts.com, a design company that specializes in
high­quality alphabets. Jarden controls aspects of his alphabet creations to
maintain their stitching integrity . For example, the company creates its fonts in
various sizes to achieve the best quality for the customer .
When enlarging either alphabets or keyboard fonts in embroidery software,
columns often get very wide and stitching quality suf fers. Jarden provides
alphabets in specific sizes so that he can digitize larger sizes with a reasonable
column width that’s more pleasing and serviceable.
Alphabets also allow embroiderers to have access to specialty fonts, such as an
entwined two­letter Victorian alphabet. The special alphabet contains a file
consisting of every possible two­letter combination.
There are situations when each of these outlined options for creating embroidery
lettering could be your best solution. Unique lettering can make or break a sale —
as long as you remember its quality always is a factor as well. With all of the options
available in modern embroidery software, it’ s certainly possible to strike a balance
between style and substance.
Deborah Jones is a commercial and home embroiderer with more than 30 years of
experience in the computerized embroidery field. She runs
myembroiderymentor.com and regularly speaks at the Imprinted Sportswear Shows
(ISS). For more information or to comment on this article, email her at
djones@myembroiderymentor.com. Hear Deborah speak on embroidery and
digitizing topics at the 2014 Imprinted Sportswear Shows (ISS). Reduced rates for
the conference program are available if you pre­register: issshows.com.
Keyboard Font Features
KERNING: One idiosyncrasy you’ll notice when using keyboard fonts is the need to
adjust the kerning — or spacing — between the letters. This is most noticeable
when working with script styles that must connect, and you may wonder why they
can’t be programmed to connect automatically .
The lettering in the image above may help you to visualize why kerning is
necessary. It shows the boundaries of each character as rectangles. In some
systems, letters are placed on the screen with their boundaries touching. V aluebased
or manual adjustment is needed to create a pleasing arrangement in certain
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