Help with Small Font - Thread Shredding

[Di]

Can anyone look at a design for me? I am sewing on high end pique knit polos. The logo itself stitches out great, but the lettering keeps shredding the thread. I was hoping someone could look at the design and tell me how to fix the problem.

Jonathan (melco tech) is willing to look at it for me but won't be able to until tonight or tomorrow but I really need to get the shirts done today.

Thanks,
Di

[Di]

P.S. I'm using Design Shop V7

[signman]

Make sure 'short stitches' is shut OFF...and minimum stitch size is 10.(under properties, our default seems to be 0 so we check it every time) Lettering that small-too many stitches in one spot as it sews...density 4.5 or higher (5, etc.-fewer stitches the better) and no underlayment unless absolutely necessary (check the font listing page)
We also float a piece of solvy on top of pique shirts-less waste than hooping a larger piece. Keeps the thread up 'on' the pique so less density looks better.

[Rod or Sharon]

Welllll...you didn't say which font, how small, what underlay is being used, what stitch length is being used in both the underlay and top stitching, which font, what pull comp is being used, which font, using min column width settings, which font, what kind of backing, presser foot height, speed, orientation of needles, which font, no burrs on the needles, using sharp or ball point needles, solvy, hooping taut and more and did I ask which font?.....and yes John I am taking a breath now....
[email protected]

Rod Springer
Amaya Tech & Trainer

[signman]

ROD....back off on the caffeine a bit...LOL...get some decaf, qualudes or something...
slow day over there, eh?

[Rod or Sharon]

Sorry guys, Rod isn't on caffeine--he is on lack of sleep and overload. We are trying to get our home ready for Open House on Sunday and he is trying to get his "Honey Do" list completed. We found another home on a couple of acres we are trying to get. He has had to do everything from paint trim to clean the garage. It isn't his favorite thing to do so he sneeks in here to the computer to play with all of you when I have to go run an errand. Sneeky little bugger isn't he!!! Maybe I need to go give him some caffeine!
Sharon

[signman]

oh, oh....he's busted! LOL
good luck with the new home-we've been thinking a nice little place in the 'country' with a huge garage would do it for us...but sales are down so bad...no bank would touch us-and housing/building sales are so bad here in town-we'd never be able to sell what we have! Fortunately...last year we paid off our mortgage 19 years early!

[levelbest]

I had the oxygen on standby Rod. LOL.

[Di]

Font: Century
Size: .40"
Underlay: Center Walk (Stitch length: 25 pt.)
Density: 5 pt.
Column With Adjustment/Pull Comp: 125% (X & Y)I did this to make the stitches longer. Should I have adjusted by Points instead?
Max Legnth: 70 pt.
Min Length: 4 pt. (Both the Max and Min Length can't be changed unless I Click the Auto-Split box under Properties).
Stabilizer: Cut-Away (The kind Fred Lebow made that crosses both ways... if that makes sense).
Topping: Water solvy
Pressure Foot on XT: 2 clicks up from bottom (not pushing down of fabric, just resting on top).
Needle: New Ball Point Titanium 70/10
Hooping: Taut
Speed: 1000 spm
Orientation of needles: Not sure what you mean??

Thanks for your help.

Rod, I'll email the design to you if that's ok.

di

[signman]

Under your 'column width adjustment' (in properties, column) there's your min width- set that to 10.
Rod taught us that-makes a BIG difference in small lettering!

[Di]

Thank you so much for your help. I made the suggested adjustments and the letters are stitching well, except they still tend to shred in the begining and/or end of the letters (tie in/tie off). I'm chose "Tie In/Tie Off Only When Necessary" Style 1 for both, Width 6pts, and Number of stitches 2.

Which brings up another question. The lettering is in black thread. The shirt colors are more light/earthy colors which is why I chose to trim between each letter. Am I making this harder than I should? Should I just have the letters connect "At closest point"? If so, should I put the letters closer to each other so it's not so noticeable?

Or should I still trim between letters and figure out what the problem is?

I'm willing to send the design to anyone who wants to have a look at it.

[signman]

To trim or not to trim...that is the question.....well, on pique knit-most of the time we don't see the connection and customers don't complain. Just slows you down 20 seconds or so every time you trim. Time adds up! Also, every trim means another stop and start, tie in and tie out-and chance for a 'tail' you need to clip off.

[levelbest]

Graphic design wise... Do not trim, kern your letters more closely (tighten up the space between the letters). Then use closest point.

Professionals do not leave big gaps (unless by design) between letters. It will give your work a more sophisticated look. Your clients won't be able to necessarily tell you why it looks better but they will notice.

It's one of the things that seperates us from our competition. I personally adjust the lettering by hand on every design we send out that calls for it. I see AWEFUL design out there done by embroiderers who let the letters stand as they are typed and when you look at it, you could drive a mack truck between the characters. Major cringe material.

So, not only will it look better, but it will save you in many cases from trimming or at least cut down on the amount.

[signman]

Take a close look at lettering when you type it in...most fonts are 'spaced' by an imaginary 'box' around each letter. So if you get a capital A next to a W...it looks like John says-room to drive a truck. Kerning by hand (click on the individual letter, then move it sideways) allows you to 'overlap' those imaginary boxes and fill in that space. Computer programs don't 'see' graphically what we do-so the 'visual' effect is something we add. I see a LOT of it in sign work with big letters-'fast and cheap' signs don't step back and take a look at the final product before cutting it. Same with embroidery-if YOU don't like how it looks-neither will the customer.

[Di]

I have chosen to bring the letters closer and NOT trim. I did a test stitch and will all the suggestions from before, the letters stitched out beautifully. And I have to agree, it does look better with the letters closer and not trim than it did with the letter farther with trim.

Thanks for all your help!!!!!