Description and function of the Area tab on the Pro-Stitcher Lite work space
Version PS Connect Beta 24.10.0827
Important Note: If you are using a different version, your screen may look different and your buttons may be in a different location.
Simulation Mode: Photos are with the PSL in Simulation Mode. The crosshairs are green in simulation mode. You cannot quilt in simulation mode. When your tablet is connected to your machine and you are using your software to quilt, your crosshairs will be orange.
Before we take a look at the Area Tab, let’s talk about the area and frame space.
The “area” refers to the designated portion of the quilt where the stitching will occur. This is shown with a pink outline. You can only have one area on the work space at a time. The area is used to set the perimeter of your quilting. There are some features that require having an area placed in order for them to work such as crop, skew, and repeat. It is not necessary to have the area on the work space in order to quilt your design.
The “frame space” is the quilting space where it is safe for your quilting machine to be. You can think of it as your virtual table. This is a dark red outline.
You cannot stitch without the frame space.
The frame space will not move.
It is a visual reminder of the parameters of your frame. If any part of your design is outside of the Frame Space, you will get an error message and you cannot quilt.
Ok, let’s take a look at the options on the Ribbon.
Area>File
Just like on the Design button on the File Tab, the File button on the Area Tab opens a file folder. If you have pre-drawn areas, they will be in their own folder in the C: drive in the Areas folder.
Choose Open to select a pre-drawn area.
Area>Select
Use this button to select the area so that it can be modified. Once the area has been selected the pink area line will turn green. You can now modify tab to make changes to the area. If the area moves it will turn from a solid line to dashed lines. (This tells you the area has been modified in some way.) Press the Select button again to unselect the area. The area line will change from green back to pink when it is unselected. If the area was modified, the area will now show pink dashed lines.
Area>2 Corner
This will form a rectangle or square area with 90-degree corners. Move your machine to one corner of your quilt or block and press the 2 Corner button. This will set the first point of your area. There will be a pink dot on your screen. Next, move the machine to the opposite corner and press 2 Corner again. This will complete the area.
It does not matter which corner you choose to start in. top right, bottom right, top left. or bottom left.
The 2 Corner Area is used to define a square or rectangle area. It is typically used to define your quilt area when setting up an edge to edge (E2E) quilting design.
To do this you will need to change the size of your area in the Right Hand Side Bar.
Area>Right Hand Side Bar
The area tab on the Right Hand Side Bar allows you to change the Width and Height of your area, snap your area points to the grid or clear the area.
To change the Width or Height, touch the box with the numbers. This will bring up a number pad you can use to make changes. After making the changes and pressing Enter, your area will reflect your changes. The area will move the right side if you make changes to the width and the bottom if you make changes to the height. The top left corner of the area stays locked in place during these changes.
Use Snap to Grid for precise placement of points. The grid does not need to be visible to use this feature. You can see in the pictures below that the first point of the area is on the grid lines instead of directly under the crosshairs.
The last option in the Right Hand Side Bar under the Area section is Clear. This is one of many places you can clear the area. If you have been following along you will know that you can also clear the area by going to the File Tab and Close on the Ribbon.
Area>Multi Point
More complex, unique shapes can be created by plotting multiple points. This is a good way to define a section of your quilt for custom work. You can create areas with three or more points such as triangles, hexagons, octagons, and custom shapes.
In both 2 Corner and Multi Point, the point count will be listed on the Right Hand Side Bar under the width and height.
Move your machine to the first place that you want to define in your area. Press the multi point button. Continue this around your area. After you have placed three points, you will have a closed area. Continue around your area and add as many points as you need. You must work in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the area you are creating.
Snap to grid also works with Multi Point.
Area>Frame Space
Just like the 2 Corner Area button, you will use the Frame Space button to set the frame space in opposite corners. When you set the frame space, you are defining the space on the frame that the machine can safely travel. I like to think of it as a “virtual table”. I want the biggest table that I can have to do my work without the machine “falling off”. The frame space also keeps the machine from crashing into the poles of your frame.
Move your machine to the either the very top or bottom of your quilt and several inches or more off of your quilt and press Frame Space on the Ribbon. Next, move to the opposite corner and do the same thing.
After pressing Frame Space twice, your frame space is set. The refresh to frame space icon will also now be at the bottom of your screen.
The Right Hand Side Bar shows the dimensions of your frame space. You cannot change these dimensions like you can change the area dimensions. You can reference the height to know how tall you can make your designs without going outside of the frame space. Please note that other factors are involved when deciding how big to make a design.
The clear button under the Frame space information on the Right Hand Side Bar will clear the Frame Space.
I hope helps you understand how to use Areas and Frame Space.
Happy Quilting Everyone!
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