Embroidery design resize calculator
Scaling a stitch file is not like scaling a picture. See how size, stitch count and density change before you resize.
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New size
Good to know
Why a stitch file does not scale like a picture
A picture has pixels that can be stretched. A stitch file has stitches with real lengths, and thread has a real thickness. Make a file 20% bigger and each stitch gets 20% longer, but the thread does not get thicker, so the fabric shows through. Make it 20% smaller and the same stitches are crowded into less room, so the design gets dense and stiff.
Rebuilding versus scaling
Good software rebuilds a design at the new size, adding or removing stitches to keep the density right. Fills need roughly the square of the scale in stitches (twice the size is about four times the stitches), while satin columns and lettering change roughly in step with the scale. The calculator shows both: the stitch count if the design is rebuilt, and the density change if you only scale the existing file.
Rules of thumb
- Changes of up to about 25% are usually safe.
- Satin columns wider than about 7 mm can snag; wide shapes are better built as fills.
- Small lettering loses detail quickly: do not shrink it below the font's minimum height.
Questions
How much can I resize a design safely?
Up to about 25% bigger or smaller usually works. Beyond that, density or gaps start to show, and the better choice is to rebuild the design at the new size.
Does ThreadType rebuild designs at a new size?
Yes. In the lettering designer and the appliqué generator you choose the letter height, and the stitches are generated for that size, so you are not stretching an old file.
Why does the stitch count change when I rebuild?
A bigger design has more area to cover, so it needs more stitches. A smaller one needs fewer. Fills grow fastest because their stitch count follows the area.