Wendy, I have more to add. Based on feedback from my customers and what I have seen, the AMAYA is capable of great small lettering. The key to lettering of any size is breaking it down. Lettering is comprised of column stitches and some walk stitches that travel between elements. I am a firm believer that columns should be at least 1mm (10 pts) wide. This prevents a lot of thread breaks. The first thing that I recommend is measure (with the ruler tool) the column width of the lettering after its up on the screen. Most block fonts are consistent in width so you can pretty much pick anywhere to measure. With scripts and serifs, look for and measure the narrowest section. If its not 1mm, then I add column width until it is. If so much column width is needed that it causes the insides of letters to close up, then its time to think about making the lettering larger. With lettering under 1/4" the stitch length is important. The goal is to keep those travel or underlay walk stitches centered under the column so they don't pop out and help keep the columns straight. 15-20 pts works well and as lettering gets larger so can the stitch length. Density and underlay will also have an effect on quality but that's another topic in itself. I do agree with Jeff that the Micro fonts are the best ones for small jobs. Good luck! Janel Harris Dimensional Designs http://www.dimdesigns.com -----Original Message----- From: wl solomonson [mailto:wlsolomonson@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 2:30 PM To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [amayausers] Small Lettering Jeff, Info.like this is so helpful for me as a newcomer to the emb. world and you, on more than one occassion, have taken the time to explain something in pretty good detail! That is truly appreciated on my part and I will be adding this e-mail to my well worn cheat-sheets. I think part of my frustration lies in the training I've had, some of the information was so vague and I've ended up doing alot of "what if" sewing until I figure it out. That has it's rewards when I conquer a problem but I really wish there would be more substance to the training Melco offers new customers. I know there are alot of issues to consider in offering training but a totally green person such as myself might need a lot more hand holding during the learning process. This list, and a couple of others I belong to, have been invaluable to me as I continue to learn. Wendy Itchin' To Stitch MN >From: "Jeff Banks" <jebanks@xxxxxxxxxxxx> >Reply-To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: <amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: Re: [amayausers] Small Lettering >Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 09:56:22 -0700 > >Wendy, > > Small Lettering is something that has been a struggle for people for as >long as I have been working for Melco. Not just on Melco machines, but in >general, on all machines. Many embroiders swear to the rule that small >lettering should be digitized. I feel that if the correct "recipe" is used, >good results can be obtained with keyboard lettering as well. > > I have collected information over the years that when I use this >information properly, I can produce pretty decent small lettering on the >Amaya. > > Below is a quote on the recommended sizes from Tom Moore of Strawberry >Stitch Designs. He has been doing this for many years and is the author of >Digitizing 101. > >"5mm ( .20" ) number is for mixed case (upper and lower case) direct >embroidery to a fabric and is the number you should be able to produce with >quality. It also states you can go as small as 4mm ( .16" ) if >the letters are all uppercase. I also teach if you are sewing letters over >a >fill or on top of polytwill ( similar to what patches are made of ) then >you >can go down to 3mm ( .12" )" > > Use a 70/10 Sharp or 65/9 Sharp needle. I also use the DBXK5 needles as >the >larger eye helps with the thread passing through the needle. As the Amaya >is >tuned and adjusted to the Organ brand of needles, I suggest staying with >Organ. I also like the Titanium coated as they produce less friction which >also produces less heat. (Heat=Threadbreaks). > > On knits, cotton etc. use Solvy for topping. Backing used is generally at >least one piece of medium cutaway, but it really depends on the garment. On >more stable types of garments tear away works fine. > > Generally, stay with a plain block type of alphabet. The Micro Block >alphabets within the Design Shop software were recently re-digitized for >specific use at small sizes. Others can be used, but insure you check the >Alphabet Code Sheets in the Design Shop Help system to insure it is >intended >for the size you are sewing. This AM I used the Micro Block CP, at .15", No >added underlay, 120% column width and a 4.5 density. I also used the Micro >Times and Mini Block at their minimum size recommended in the Alphabet >codes >sheets, but I used a density of 4.5. I used 60 weight ARC Poly thread with >a >70/20 Sharp DBXK5 Titanium Organ needle. I sewed it on Pique Knit using >the >words, "HI THIS IS A TEST". I also used Micro Block on an ARC at .20 with >the sentence "Hello, This Is A Test Of Small Lettering". I had excellent >results with all. NOTE: Density really depends on the thread colors used as >well. A black on white may need more density to get a good look than a >orange on white etc. > > One step further is to go to a 50 or 60 weight thread. The smaller the >thread, the crisper and finer it looks. You generally have to use more >density when going to a smaller diameter thread, but the result is >excellent >and worth it when possible. I find the smaller the needle and thinner the >thread, the better the results. > >Jeff Banks > Melco Embroidery Systems > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "wl solomonson" <wlsolomonson@xxxxxxxxxxx> >To: <amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 7:09 AM >Subject: Re: [amayausers] E_mail may still not be working properly > > > > Larry and Connie, > > I agree too! We have to be picky as it is inevitable that one day we >will > > have a customer that is the same way. I have no solutions for this at >all > > but in my 'playtime', as I sew-out small lettering, I hope to come >across >a > > solution that works for me. If this happens I will definitely share >however > > in my opinion it is a machine issue that Melco should be constantly >working > > to improve. They've been the leader in machine technology with the Amaya >so > > why not be the leader in this area as well? Just my two-cents on the > > subject. > > Wendy > > Itchin' To Stitch > > MN > > > > > > >From: Captain Gold <captaingold@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > >Reply-To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > >Subject: Re: [amayausers] E_mail may still not be working properly > > >Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 21:33:34 -0500 > > > > > >I agree about the small lettering. I get very picky about how it looks. >I'd > > >love to hear how others combat this issue. > > > > > >Connie Bechtel > > >Wyvern Productions > > > > > >At 08:50 PM 1/12/04, you wrote: > > >>Just got the wild idea to check all past history posts after I didn't > > >>get one reply to my question about a carhart jacket supplier. Found > > >>there was a reply that I didn't get in my mail. Thanks for the info. >But > > >>in doing that research I found a reference from late 2001 about >backing > > >>'wet laid'. Can someone please explain what that is in reference to. > > >>Read a lot about problems and I would like to thank all of you who > > >>helped make the Amaya what it is today. After the regional tech got a > > >>few problems ironed out early my machine runs real well, my hat is off > > >>to ALL. The only big problem I have is with small lettering and >probably > > >>the biggest part of that problem is ME, I have been told I am to picky > > >>for my own good but after all it's my name going out with the job. > > >> > > >>Larry Butler > > >>The ice_man@xxxxxxxxxxxxx in Pa. > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- >To unsubscribe, e-mail: amayausers-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >For additional commands, e-mail: amayausers-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > _________________________________________________________________ Find out everything you need to know about Las Vegas here for that getaway. http://special.msn.com/msnbc/vivalasvegas.armx --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: amayausers-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For additional commands, e-mail: amayausers-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: amayausers-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For additional commands, e-mail: amayausers-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx