Gammill Creative Studio 6.0 Manual
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Technology Basics11 Gammill, Inc. | 2015 M-S-0001 - CreativeStudio 6.0 User Manual - Rev 00 11 | Page Introduction Equipment cable only fits into one connection) or color coded (like the mouse & keyboard cables) or they are very well labeled (X, Y, Z connections). Additional equipment you may want to purchase: Surge Protectors are highly recommended for the computer and controller. Universal Power Supply (UPS) is a type of battery backup device that maintains power even when the incoming power supply fluctuates. This is helpful for areas that sustain frequent power disruption. For use on the Statler computer an UPS of 600 VA or larger is recommended. It is not recommended that an UPS be placed on the supply to the controller. UPS systems are not capable of the large instantaneous currents required by the controller and can actually cause damage to the controller. Thumb drive (also called Jump Stick, Travel Drive or Removable Disk Drive) is a form of removable media like a disk drive. Files are copied from the source (home) computer to the thumb drive, and then from the thumb drive to the destination (Statler) computer.
Getting Started with CreativeStudio® 12 1.1.2 Terminology Terminology - Be sure you understand the following terms and concepts because they are used throughout the manual. Power Up means to turn on the Controller (red switch first, then green), Stitcher and then turn on the computer CPU. Be sure the monitor and the speakers are on also. It takes a minute, but the Desktop screen will appear on the monitor. Power down means to turn everything off. Dont just turn off the power! Exit gracefully by saving your work (save the project), exiting CS (click on the exit X), shut down the computer (click on the Start button, choose Shutdown) and then turning off the power to the monitor, speakers, and controller (green switch first, then red). “ Click ” usually refers to using the computer mouse to choose an object on the screen by pressing the left mouse button quickly. If the object is a command button, this executes the command. If it is a pattern or boundary, it selects it. Clicking on any of the quilting icons will initiate that technique. The term click can also mean pressing a button on the keypad (on the sewing head) or it can mean touching an icon (if you have touch screen capabilities. Tap - is functionally equivalent to click, if using a touchscreen monitor. Tapping a command button will execute the command. Tapping a pattern or boundary will select it. Tapping any of the quilting icons will initiate that technique. Touch & hold also refers to a touchscreen monitor, and is similar to Right-click when using a mouse. During some quilting techniques, touch & hold will display additional commands. “ Select ” means to choose. If using the mouse, this is a single click. If using the keypad, this is pressing a button. If using a touch screen, it is tapping the screen. “ Highlight ” and “Select ” are used interchangeably because selecting an object generally highlights it. Swipe means to drag your finger or stylus across the touchscreen monitor. A “ dialog box ” (aka ‘window ’ ) contains instructions, questions or descriptive information about something. CS uses dialog boxes to group information that belongs together, like the dimensions of a pattern. A “ dropdown box ” is a dialog box that appears when a command is selected and there are choices associated with the command. The choices appear in a box which is usually just below the command so the association is clear. A “ popup box ” is a dialog box that appears when the system needs to ask a question or give instructions. It can ‘pop up ’ anywhere on the screen. “ Properties ” (also called details ) are descriptive pieces of information. “ Object ” is a catch-all term for anything that can be described. It is a very general
Technology Basics13 Gammill, Inc. | 2015 M-S-0001 - CreativeStudio 6.0 User Manual - Rev 00 13 | Page Introduction Terminology (but techy) term that could mean a million things, so CS tries to avoid it by using more specific terms. “ Tool Tips ” are little boxes that pop-up and give the name or a short description of something. To look for tool tips, hold the cursor over an icon for a couple seconds and see if the tip appears. Not all objects have tool tips, but most icons do. “ CAD Screen ” also called the Preview Area , is the big, white, open area where the images of the patterns will appear. “ Quilt Group” is a term used to describe an area of the quilt top to be quilted. Quilt groups contain all the information (boundaries, reference points, sizing, positioning) needed to stitch a particular area of the quilt. “Design Group” is a special type of Quilt Group, created when an image is imported into the project. Once the image is imported, patterns can be placed on top of the image to preview the placement. “ Project” is technically a computer file but figuratively is more like a binder with tabbed sections that contain all the patterns, quilt groups, preview areas and notes needed to complete a whole quilt. Encrypted Patterns are pattern files that have been coded with a machine controller serial number or a dongle serial number, so they will run only on that machine. Encryption protects pattern designers by ensuring that people who have purchased one pattern can not make copies and distribute it to others. Encrypted patterns are protected in CS by using special project file types and using special exported pattern file types. Removable Media is a device that holds computer files and can be moved from one computer to another. It makes copying files from one computer to another very easy. Thumb Drive is another name for removable media. UR is an abbreviation for Upper Right. Similarly, UL is upper left, LL is lower left, LR is lower right. These abbreviations are used often when defining boundaries - a concept to be explained soon!. Tip: These are tips that explain how to use the software to resolve real life quilting issues. After all, this is about quilting ! Design It Yourself - These are tips for experienced CS quilters who appreciate keyboard shortcuts and want to do their own pattern designing using the extensive CreativeStudio capabilities. 69 101 66 82 67 139 11
Getting Started with CreativeStudio® 14 1.1.3 Navigating Navigating can be done with a mouse, a touch screen monitor, a keyboard or the keypad (on the stitcher) but most of it is done using the mouse or touchscreen. “Click means to quickly press (and let go of) the left mouse button. Double click means to click twice in rapid succession. Double clicking on a file will open it. Double clicking on a folder will open it too, displaying the contents of that folder. Right click means to quickly press (and let go of) the right mouse button. Right clicking some objects will make a dialog box appear. The dialog box contains properties (which are details or characteristics) that describe the object. Tap means to quickly tap the monitor touchscreen. Tap & Hold will often product the same results as a right click if there are additional commands accessible. Drill down means to open folders starting from the top level, working down one level at a time. This can be done using double clicks or by clicking once on a special + icon that appears in front of the folder name. (Examples in the next section). Drag means to press the left button, hold it down and move the mouse. Positioning the cursor over something on the screen (an object of some kind) and dragging it will generally move it from one place to another. Swipe means to drag your finger or stylus across the surface of the touch screen monitor. “ Scroll ” generally applies to text rather than an image (but not always). It means to move the text on the screen so you can see what is before or after it. CreativeStudio ® uses scrolling to navigate dialog boxes. If Scroll bars appear on the right edge of the screen or dialog box, you can move up by clicking on the up arrow, and down by clicking on the down arrow. There is a bar between these two arrows which shows your relative position in the dialog box. “ Scrolling ” can often be done using the mouse instead of commands. To scroll up, roll forward on the mouse roller (away from you). To scroll back, roll backwards (toward you). If using a touch screen monitor, swipe up to scroll back and swipe down to scroll forward. “ Zoom ” means to change the size of an object on the screen by getting closer (zoom in) or farther away (zoom out). Zooming generally applies to images instead of text (not always). “ Zooming ” can often be done using the mouse roller instead of commands. Roll it forward to zoom in, and backward to zoom out. Zooming is used in the preview areas. “ Panning ” generally applies to the screen images instead of text. It means to move 1212
Technology Basics15 Gammill, Inc. | 2015 M-S-0001 - CreativeStudio 6.0 User Manual - Rev 00 15 | Page Introduction Navigating the image on the screen in any direction without changing the size, scale or proportion. Press and hold the mouse roller wheel and move the mouse. The cursor shape becomes a hand. Notice the pink cuff on the hand icon? Nice work Matt! Panning will be used in CreativeStudio®in the preview areas. “ Hovering ” means to hold the cursor over an icon or other object for a couple seconds, and see if a little box appears (called a tool tip) that gives the name or a short description of that object. Selecting files means to choose. Usually this will also highlight the object. When working with files, a single click will select a file. Double clicks open the file. To select more than one file at a time, use the control key (Ctrl). Click on the first file, then press and hold the Ctrl key while clicking on the rest of the files that need to be selected. If you choose the wrong file, click it again and it will be deselected. When done, release the Ctrl key and all the files will be highlighted and can be copied, moved or deleted together. To select a group of files that are all contiguous, use the Shift key (Shift). Click on the first file, then press and hold the Shift key while clicking on the last file. When done, release the Shift key and all the files between the first and last will be highlighted and can be copied, moved or deleted together. Navigating can also be done using the 6-button keypad on the Statler Stitcher. There is a keypad in the front and in the back of the machine, and they both function in the same manner. Using the keypad on the machine eliminates the need to return to the keyboard/mouse repeatedly. Just press the Mode button to move sequentially through the icons. To backup, press and hold the Stop button, and press Mode.
Getting Started with CreativeStudio® 16 1.1.4 Keyboard Shortcuts Sometimes there are keyboard key-combinations that will execute a command without having to use the mouse. The combinations require pressing two keys at the same time, like pressing the shift key with a letter key to produce a capital letter. The Control key (abbreviated Ctrl or Ctl) and a letter are the most common combinations. Some examples of keyboard shortcuts are below: Note: the check mark ( ü ) is short for click or tap. KeySeq Is the same as: What it will do: F1 üHelp Access the User Manual Help System F2 Virtual Stitchout , F5 Reset keypad F7 Node Mode Ctrl+N ü File, üNew Project Create a new project. Ctrl+O üFile, üOpen Project Open an existing project Ctrl+S üFile, üSave Project Save the current project Ctrl+Z üEdit, üUndo Reverse the most recent command Ctrl+Y üEdit, üRedo Re-execute the command Ctrl+I üFile, üImport Import Image Ctrl+E üFile, üExport Export Image Esc Escape from a command sequence or mode Ctrl+ ü Selects multiple items Ctrl+A Selects all items < > Selects each pattern in order, regardless of how many are stacked on each other. k,l Selects each boundary in order, regardless of how many are stacked on each other. i,o Selects each trim in order, regardless of how many there are. Del Delete the highlighted text or object. Pg Up Pg Dn Navigate through the quilt groups. ¯ ¬ ® Alt+ -or- Ctrl+ Nudge selected patterns. Alt + the arrows will nudge the pattern with the handles showing. Ctrl + the arrows hides the handles. 34 133 37 116
Technology Basics17 Gammill, Inc. | 2015 M-S-0001 - CreativeStudio 6.0 User Manual - Rev 00 17 | Page Introduction Keyboard Shortcuts Feature Specific Shortcuts: Feature: KeySeq What it will do: Measure Rightü Transfer a measurement. Measure first. Hover over destination field, then Right ü the destination field, then click the number to transfer. Draw/Set Sew Order F8 Set Sew Order mode. On Preview area, click arrow to change direction, click number boxes in preferred sequence. F8 again (or Right ü) to save changes. Esc to exit without changes. Draw/Patt ern Anchor F7 F9 F10 F11 F12 Node Mode - show the nodes of the selected pattern. Choose pattern anchor Edge. Choose pattern anchor Center. Choose pattern anchor Endpoint. Choose pattern anchor Stretch. Double click a selected pattern to rotate through the choices. Draw/ Boundary Alt+B Begin (or end) Draw Boundary mode on Preview area. Click ü the boundary points, Right ü to end. Esc or Alt+B or second Right ü to exit Draw Boundary mode. Draw/ Trim Alt+T Begin (or end) Draw Trim mode on Preview area. Click ü the trim boundary, Right ü to end. Esc or Alt+T or second Right ü to exit Draw Trim mode. Draw/ Arc Alt+A Begin (or end) Draw Sewable Arc on Preview area. Click ü 3 points (beginning, top of arc, ending). Esc or Alt+A or second Right ü to exit Draw Arc mode. Draw/ Curve Alt+C Begin (or end) Draw Sewable Curve on Preview area. Click curve midpoints. Right ü to end. Esc or Alt+C or second Right ü to exit Draw Curve mode. Draw/ P2P Line Alt+L Begin (or end) Draw P2P Line on Preview area. Click ü line transition points. Right ü to end. Esc or Alt+L or second Right ü to exit Draw P2P Line mode. Draw/ P2P Pattern Alt+P Begin (or end) Draw P2P Pattern on Preview area. Click ü pattern ending points, Right ü to end. Esc or Alt +P or second Right ü to exit Draw P2P Pattern mode. Draw/ Freehand Alt+F Begin (or end) Draw Sewable Freehand on Preview area. Use the mouse or touchscreen to create a sewable design. Draw/ Measure Alt+M Click any 2 points on Preview area; measurements are displayed. Esc to exit. Draw G Turn on (or off) the Gridpoint Snap when using Draw mode on Preview area. Draw E Turn on (or off) the Endpoint Snap when using Draw mode on Preview area.
Getting Started with CreativeStudio® 18 1.2 Computer Skills The Statler Stitcher CreativeStudio® manuals assume that the quilter has been exposed to computer systems and is familiar with basic computer skills and terms. However, since many computer systems are similar (but different) a brief overview of those computer skills is included here. One of the most powerful virtues of a computer is its flexibilty. Unfortunately, that can also be a detriment because there are several ways to do the same thing, and that can cause confusion. The methods used in this text are NOT the only way to perform certain tasks. There are faster methods so if anyone is using a different technique but gets the same results, that is just fine! 1.2.1 Explore Folders Folders and files are stored on a computer much the same as they would be stored in an office. By arranging them in a hierarchical structure, folders and files can be stored and retrieved easily. The term Path is used to describe how to find them. Example: C:\Patterns\Patterns Statler Stitcher\Angel.qli (1.) This PC is like the office. (2.) Local Disk ( C :) Drive is one of the file cabinets (3.) Patterns is one of the drawers in the cabinet (4.) Patterns Statler Stitcher is a folder in the drawer (5.) Angel is a file in the folder (6.) .qli is the file type. 1. Your Computer holds all the files needed to run the Statler Stitcher. 2. Disk drive C : is the file cabinet. It is a physical space that holds folders and files. Disk Drives use letters to differentiate them. C: is usually the computers fixed hard disk drive D: is usually the computers CD drive E, F, G, H, etc. are used as needed. They might refer to a network disk drive, a thumb drive, a digital camera card drive or other removable disk drive. 3. The file drawer contains file folders that are similar in nature. ( Patterns) 4. The file folder(s) group items that go together. (Patterns Statler Stitcher ) 5. The filename is (hopefully) a descriptive name. For example: Angel is (hopefully) a pattern looking like an angel. There are no rules regarding assigning names to files but keeping them simple and clear is a good idea. Filenames are usually listed in alphabetical order so if there are two files that go together, it is wise to name them so they will be sorted together. EX: daisy_block.qli, daisy_border.qli, daisy_panto.qli, daisy_triangle.qli 6. File Extensions indicate which programs can read them. Most word processing software can read a file extension of .txt (short for text) or .rtf (short for rich text format) or .doc (short for document). Word processors cant read a file with an extension of .qli (short for quilt language), .jpg (short for a picture file), .skf (short for
Computer Skills19 Gammill, Inc. | 2015 M-S-0001 - CreativeStudio 6.0 User Manual - Rev 00 19 | Page Introduction Explore Folders sketch file), .dxf (short for CAD drawing file) or .pat (short for pattern file). Statler Stitchers recognize file extensions for pattern files (.qli, .csq, .csqx, .dxf, .pat, .patx) and projects (.proj, .projx) and very little else. Looking at Folders File Explorer makes it easy to view and manage files and folders. Right Click on the Windows icon, and choose File Explorer. The screen appears with two panes. Single click the folder name (in the left pane) to select it and display the contents of the folder (in the right pane). Use the icons to navigate the folders and files. Drill down and back up using clicks and the icons. The drill-down path is shown at the top. Searching Folders and Files The Search function is used to find specific files and folders. On the right side of the screen is the Search dialog box. If we want a pattern of a daisy, we might begin by searching for a pattern file with the word daisy in the name. There could be other daisy pattern files that dont use the word daisy in the name but this is a good place to start. Click in the Search dialog box and type the word. Tell the system where to start looking, by selecting the correct folder name from the list on the left. 14 18 12
Getting Started with CreativeStudio® 20 All the files with the word daisy that were found in the Patterns folder are listed, complete with an image. Creating a New Folder The Statler Stitcher comes with hundreds of patterns already loaded. In addition, there are dozens more that were provided by different Statler pattern designers. These bonus patterns are stored in separate file folders which identify the designer. It is a good idea to create a separate file folder for your original patterns you have recorded or created. This separates the patterns you have purchased from the ones that came with your system. Looking at the folders tells us that the standard pattern files are stored on the C: drive so that is where we will put our new folder. C:\My_PersonalPatterns. Click on New Folder icon in the upper left corner of the screen. A new entry is created, called New Folder. It is already highlighted, so just type the new name: My_PersonalPatterns and press the enter key. 1.2.2 Explore Files The Statler Stitcher computer comes pre-loaded with all the software and files in place, but at some time we all need to add, copy, move or delete some of our files. There are several right ways to manage files so if there is a method you know and are comfortable with, use it. File Explorer is used here because it is easy to use. As described earlier, files have a path (the disk drive, folder and subfolders), a filename (hopefully it is descriptive) and a type called a file extension . CreativeStudio can read the following types of files: 18 18 18