Satin Column

Description

Satin column are used for borders, letters or small fill areas.

Satin with randomized stitch length and staggered split stitches — Satin swirl

Creation

Ink/Stitch offers several methods to create satin columns. Method 1 does no conversion but render a stroke as a satin. Methods 2 to 5 convert to a manual satin column which can then be modified as necessary. Method 5 allows for more customization.

Methods

Stroke rendered as Satin: for even width satin columns
Stroke to Satin: for even width satin columns
Stroke to Live Path Effect Satin: modifiable satin column with optional patterned outline
Zigzag to Satin: satin column creation for graphic tablets and touch screens
Fill to Satin: create satin columns from fills
Manual Satin Column: take full control over every part of the satin column

1 - Render a stroke as satin

This feature will be part of an upcoming Ink/Stitch release. It is not yet integrated in Ink/Stitch.

This method renders paths with a stroke color directly as satins and is therefore the easiest one to create uniform width satin columns.

Add a stroke color to a path object (with no fill).
Set contour width to the size of the desired satin stitch (the value should be larger than 1.5 mm, see preferences for a deeper insight of the minimum satin width value)
Run `Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params
Open the Satin Column Tab and activate Custom Satin Columns

The position of the nodes can influence how the satin is rendered:

Stroke to satin. Same path with different node setups

2 - Stroke to Satin

Add a stroke color to a path object (with no fill).
Set stroke width to the width of the desired satin stitch.
Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Satin Tools > Convert Stroke to Satin
Use as-is or customize rungs and/or rails

Get more information about Stroke to Satin

3 - Stroke to Live Path Effect Satin

This can be used to create a satin which can either have a patterned outline or to create a satin which is easier to adapt in width. Please note, that once you use auto-routing on this type of satin, the live path effect will be applied and the path can only be adapted manually afterwards.

Use Path > Object to path to convert this to a standard satin column.

Get more information about Live Path Effect Satins

4 - Zigzag Line to Satin

This method is convenient when you use a a touch screen or graphic tablet.

Get more information about Zigzag to Satin

5 - Fill to Satin

Fill to Satin can be used to convert a fill into a satin column. It is a semi-automatic function and requires additional manual work.

Get more information about Fill to Satin

6- Manual Satin Column

A satin column is defined by a shape made of two mostly-parallel lines. Ink/Stitch will draw zig-zags back and forth between the two lines. The thickness of the column will be based on the distance between the two lines.

Combine two strokes with Path > Combine or hit Ctrl+K.
Check path directions.Both rails should run in the same direction. If not, Ink/stitch by default will automatically reverse one of them, but you will have better control if you reverse one of them, which is done by selecting one point of one rail with the Node Editor Tool (N) and run Path > Reverse. This will reverse only the selected rail.
Use node or rung method as described below.
Then select your satin column and run params through Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params or a custom shortcut key.

Stitch direction control

Node Method

Depending on the complexity of your design, this method might be time consuming, because the two paths must have the same number of points. This means that each path will be made up of an equal number of Bezier curves. Each pair of points (one on each rail) acts as a “checkpoint”: Ink/Stitch will ensure that a “zag” ends up going from one point to the other.

Rung Method

The rung method will give you more control over the way the satin column is rendered. Good positioning of points on each of the two lines helps getting the stitch directions right. However, there are situations where you need to add direction lines (“rungs”) for satin columns:

Some tricky corner areas
Complicated drawings where moving points is both difficult and time consuming
Special situations where you want the stitch directions to be weird

Manual addition of rungs

Make sure the existing satin column path (with the two subpaths) is selected with the Node Editor tool.
Press P or select the Pencil Tool.
Hold Shift.
Click once at the start of the rung.
Click a second time at the end of the rung.

Original design by Liv Iko edited by EDUTECH Wiki

Info: We strongly recommend to use at least three rungs. If you use exactly two rungs (and two rails) it is hard for Ink/stitch to decide which is which.

Start and end position

Satin columns automatically start at the nearest point to the previous element and end at the nearest point to the next element.

To disable this behavior open the params dialog and disable one or both of the start/end at nearest point options.

Alternatively add a start or end point manually by attaching a command to the satin column.

Parameters

Running Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params will give you the possibility to fine-tune your satin column and to use underlay.

Satin Column supports three kinds of underlay, of which you can use any or all simultaneously.

Read also this excellent article on satin column design.

Asymmetrical parameter

Some satin column parameters are asymmetrical, meaning that different values can be applied to the two rails.

For example, the “Random percentage of satin width increase” is an asymmetrical parameter. If a single value is entered, it applies to both rails; if two values are entered separated by a space, the first applies to the first rail, and the second applies to the second rail.

Some of these params are not part of the recent release.

Satin Top Layer

Some parameters will be part of an upcoming Ink/Stitch release. It is not yet integrated in Ink/Stitch.

General Settings

Custom satin column

Must be enabled for these settings to take effect.

Method

Select Satin Column

Stitch length and placement

Stitch length

Maximum stitch length

Stitches wider than this will be split up (split stitches).

Minimum stitch length

Stitches smaller than this value will be removed.
Overwrites the global minimum stitch length setting.

Split stitches

Split Method

Split stitches apply, when a maximum stitch length is set and the stitch length exceeds this value. Options:

default
Simple
Staggered

Random Jitter for split stitches

Randomizes split stitch length if random phase is enabled, stitch position if disabled.

Random Phase for split stitches

Controls whether split stitches are centered or with a random phase (which may increase stitch count).

Stagger this many times before repeating

Stitches are staggered so that neighboring rows of stitches don’t all fall in the same column (which would create a distracting valley effect).
Setting this dictates the length of the cycle by which successive stitch rows are staggered.
Fractional values are allowed and can have less visible diagonals than integer values.
Active only when split method is staggered

Minimum length for random-phase split

Defaults to maximum stitch length. Smaller values allow for a transition between single-stitch and split-stitch.

Short stitches

Short stitch distance

Shortens stitchen when the distance between consecutive stitches is smaller than this value (mm).

Short stitch inset

Stitches in areas with high density will be inset by this amount (%)
Short stitch inset can take multiple values separated by a space.
When multiple values are set, the satin column will use these to level consecutive short stitches

Pull compensation

Pull compensation (%)

Additional pull compensation which varies as a percentage of stitch width. Two values separated by a space may be used for an asymetric effect.

Pull compensation (mm)

Satin stitches pull the fabric together, resulting in a column narrower than you draw in Inkscape.
This setting expands each pair of needle penetrations outward from the center of the satin column by a fixed length.
Two values separated by a space may be used for an asymetric effect.
Negative values lead to the opposite effect.

Push compensation

Satin stitches push out to the ends, which results into a longer columns than drawn in Inkscape.
This settings shortens the column by the given amound (mm) at start and/or end.
Two values separated by a space may be used for an asymetric effect.
Negative values lead to the opposite effect.

Satin width

Random percentage of satin width increase

Lengthen stitch across rails at most this percent. Two values separated by a space may be used for an asymetric effect.

Random percentage of satin width decrease

Shorten stitch across rails at most this percent. Two values separated by a space may be used for an aysmmetric effect.

Density

Zig-zag spacing (peak-to-peak)

The peak-to-peak distance between zig-zags

Random zig-zag spacing percentage

Amount of random jitter added to zigzag spacing

Travel stitches

Stitch length

Stitch length (in mm) of the underpaths from section to section

Running stitch tolerance

Determines the acceptable distance from the path. A lower tolerance will bring the stitches closer together. A higher tolerance allows for stitches to be farther away from the path. A higher tolerance may mean sharp corners may be rounded.

Running stitch position

Position of underpath from between the rails. 0% is along the first rail, 50% is centered, 100% is along the second rail.

Randomizing

Random seed

Change the result of random stitches.
If empty, the seed is the element ID.
Re-roll if you are not happy with the result.

Stitch direction, starting and ending position

Reverse rails

Enabling this may help if your satin renders very strangely. Options are:

Automatic: detect and fix rails with opposing directions (default)
Don’t reverse , disable automatic detection
Reverse first rail
Reverse second rail
Reverse both rails

Swap rails

Swaps the first and the second rails of a satin column. Affecting which side the thread finishes on as well as any other sided property.

Start at nearest point

Start at nearest point to the previous element. A start position command will overwrite this setting.

End at nearest point

End at nearest point to the next element. An end position command will overwrite this setting.

Lock stitches

Minimum jump stitch length

Shorter distances to the next object will have no lock stitches.
Overwrites the global minimum jump stitch length setting.

Allow lock stitches

Enables lock stitches in only desired positions

Force lock stitches

If checked, lock stitches are sewn after this element,regardless of the minimum jump stitch length value.

Tack stitch

Determines the type of tack stitch.
Tack stitches are small stitches at the beginning of a stitch. They help to secure the beginning of the thread.
Read more

Lock stitch

Determines the type of lock stitch.
Lock stitches are small stitches at the end of stitch. They help to secure the end of the thread.
Read more

Scale tack stitch / Scale lock stitch

Some lock stitches have a scaling option in either mm or percent.

Custom path

This setting is only available for custom lock stitches.
Enter a custom mm or svg path.
The first node of an svg path will not be emboirdered, but represents the first (tack) or last (lock) stitch of the element.
Read more

Commands

Trim After

Determines if the thread is trimmed after sewing this object.

Stop After

Determines if the machine is stopped after sewing this object. Before stopping it will jump to the stop position (frame out) if defined.

Center-Walk Underlay

This is a row of running stitch down the center of the column and back. This may be all you need for thin satin columns. You can also use it as a base for more elaborate underlay.

Params - Center-Walk Underlay Example

Repeats

Defines how many times to stitch along the path

Odd number: stitches will end at the end of the path
Even number: stitching will return to the start of the path

Odd numbers of repeats will reverse the stitch direction of the satin column, causing it to start and end at the same position.

Stitch length and placement

Stitch length

Running stitch tolerance

Stitch length

Stitch length (in mm)

Stitch placement / Pattern

Running stitch position

Position of underpath from between the rails. 0% is along the first rail, 50% is centered, 100% is along the second rail.

Contour Underlay

This is a row of running stitch up one side of the column and back down the other. The rows are set in from the edge of the column by an amount you specify. For small or medium width satin, this may serve well enough by itself.

Params - Contour Underlay Example

Stitch length and placement

Stitch length

Running stitch tolerance

Stitch length

Stitch length (in mm)

Size

Inset distance (fixed)

Shrink the outline by a fixed length, to prevent the underlay from showing around the outside of the satin column.
Negative values are possible.
It is possible to enter two space separated values to define different values for each side

Inset distance (proportional)

Shrink the outline by a proportion of the column width, to prevent the underlay from showing around the outside of the satin column.
Negative values are possible.
It is possible to enter two space separated values to define different values for each side

Zig-Zag Underlay

This is essentially a lower-density satin column sewn to the end of the column and back to the start. Added with contour underlay, you get the “German Underlay” mentioned in this article. For wide columns or challenging fabrics, you can use all three underlay types together.

Params - Zig-Zag Underlay Example