Tajima DG software - Correct Color Changes

Using the Coloreel technology will require the designer to position the color changes correctly.

When the Coloreel ITCU puts color to the thread, it takes place almost 3 meters ahead of where the thread reaches the needle to form a stitch. This fact is challenging to calculate where the thread changes are to be placed on the thread for many reasons. Among them are thread and bobbin tension. The thread consumption is controlled by the actual need for thread from the embroidery machine, and the digitizing for Coloreel will need to be different when it comes to placing the color changes.

The best practice is to make color changes within the underlay stitching, later covering the change with visible stitch segments.
A color change within at least +/-25 cm or 10 inches is considered safe. But the more underlay you add for a color change, the safer it gets. +/- 25 cm. (50 cm) equals approximately 167 stitches at three mm stitch length. Plan to make the color change in the middle of the underlay stitches to make variations of the color change invisible.

More information and ways to ensure the color change quality for Coloreel design files are available here...

Two different ways of handling color changes in underlay stitching.

1. Use manual underlay stitch segments:

• Use separately created underlay segments.
  • Using automatic underlay makes it harder to pinpoint the correct color change position.

In this example, one solid yellow satin path segment is followed by a green complex fill segment. Both segments are colored using Coloreel Solid swatches.

I used a loose density complex fill as underlay stitching for the yellow satin and a loose density (20 pt) complex fill with perpendicular stitch direction to the top green area. The first and second yellow segment was colored with a Coloreel Solid yellow color. The third segment is colored with a Coloreel Striped (percentage) color where the first color of the swatch is the same yellow as the satin segment, and the second swatch color is the same green color as the fourth segment. That way, I know for sure that:

1. The count of underlay stitching is 195 stitches, making the total underlay a secure "invisible" thread length.
2. The color change from yellow to green will occur at 50% of the underlay stitching, making the margin or color change variation secure.

2. Use automatic underlay stitching:

In the same example, the automatic underlay stitching is used.

The yellow satin segment is set with Contour and Perpendicular underlay and colored with a yellow Coloreel Solid swatch.

The green complex fill segment is colored with a yellow and green Coloreel Striped (percentage) swatch, with the first color being the same yellow and the second the green. The percentage amount of the color change is adjusted, using the slider, to color approximately half of the underlay stitching in yellow, followed by the green color.