Swatch printing - How to find correct length for gradient swatch

Good practice for finding the correct length setting when using effect swatch in Swatch printing.

When you use Swatch printing to print gradients to a design, the CCP calculation doesn't apply. You need to set the length of the thread to be colored to comply with the coloring of the design.

Swatch printing gradient swatches to a design is not suitable for larger designs but is a way to speed up the production of small designs or designs with smaller parts of gradient colors and traditional embroidery thread. (Multi Thread)

This method is a good practice to use. The example used was created using this article.

• Start by importing the Swatch library file containing the gradient swatch to the ITCU. The Full Operator Manual, section 6.1 Swatch printing, gives instructions on how to do this.
  • Importing the Swatch library file from the Operator panel in the Swatch print view is also possible by clicking the three-dot icon and choosing Import from USB.
• Click the Library name in the left menu and then click the thumbnail of the Swatch.
  
  • On the Swatch Printing screen, a Swatch length (mm) is displayed, the length of thread the ITCU will use to print the Swatch.

• • Click the Swatch length (C) to enter a number to adjust the Swatch print to a size complying with the design to be embroidered. Make a sample embroidery using a similar fabric to the one that is to be embroidered.
    • Click the "Start print" button, and when the Coloring progress bar is shown, pull the thread to where the correct color (start of the printed Swatch) appears. No start marker is printed, so you must track where the Swatch starts. Pull the beginning of the correct color 70 mm past the eye of the needle, then start the embroidery machine.  
    • Study the embroidered sample to determine whether the colors are shifting too early or too late.
      • If the colors are shifting too early, you need to make the Swatch being printed to a longer piece of thread:
        • Stop the Swatch printing.
        • Pull some thread to have a larger piece of white yarn to find easier where the Swatch print is starting.
        • Click the Swatch length again and enter a higher number to make the length of the swatch print longer. Then click the "Start print" button to start the Swatch printing again, with the Swatch printed to a longer piece of thread. Ensure the longer part of the white thread is pulled to ensure you are embroidering the correct Swatch.
      • If the colors are shifting too late, follow the above, but reduce the numbers to be lower.
    • Repeat until you find the correct number for the design.