How to ...
Convert a Photo to a Chart

Convert a Photo to a Chart
1. Open StitchCraft, and click the Photo button on the startup screen. The Photo button gives you the options for converting an image into a new chart. If you already have StitchCraft open select Import, New Chart from Photo.
2. If you have anything on your Windows Clipboard the Photo Convert - Source dialog box opens.

If you have pasted the image onto the clipboard from a graphics program, select From Clipboard.
If you want to open the image from the hard drive, select From Disk Drive. Click Next.

3. The Open Import File dialog box opens.

Locate the file that you wish to import and then double click on it.

4. The Photo Convert - Type dialog box opens.

Select the type of chart that you would like to create then click Next.

5. The Photo Convert - Palette dialog box opens.

Select the brand and type of thread then click Next.

6. The Photo Convert - Material dialog box open.

If you want to change the colour of the material and select a certain brand of material click on Select Colour. The Material Colour Picker dialog box opens. Select the colour and click Ok. Once you're happy click Next.

7. The Photo Convert - Size dialog box opens.

Select the size that you want the chart to be, there are several standard sizes ranging from Tiny to Huge.

The standard sizes eg Medium, Large etc when sewn are equivalent in area to standard metric paper sizes below.

Scan Size will create a chart the exact dimensions of the imported image (only available for some image formats).

The Units button will allow you to select the measurement units of your choice.

Enter the Count of the material then click Next.

8. The Photo Convert - Background dialog box opens.

Select whether you would like to keep the background, remove the white or remove the black in the background. Click Next.

9. The Photo Convert - Detail dialog box opens.

There are a variety of options to help you customise the conversion of your photo.
* Design Colours: You can select or specify the maximum number of thread colours that will be used in the chart. There is also the option to use Gray or Sepia colours only, this enables you to turn a colour photo into a sepia or black and white chart.
* Design Detail: Modifying the detail used in the conversion will help control the complexity of the chart. The more detailed the conversion the more likely it is that you will have isolated areas of individual stitches or only a few stitches together.

10. Click Next.

The Conversion will then be performed, within a minute or two you should see the chart on your screen. You can now modify the chart using the various design tools and save your finished chart. If you are not entirely satisfied with the chart it is easy to change the conversion options and redo the conversion. See Redo Photo Conversions.