backstitching software

[tragedyackt]

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I found this place while looking for a program that could do something kind of specific for me. I'm looking for a piece of software that can convert an image into all backstitching. It's a relatively simple outline that I drew on the computer but it just doesn't look right converted to cross stitch. I'd probably fill the spaces with half-stitching, but do any of the known cross stitching software programs allow an image conversion to backstitching?

[Rose]

You have to do the backstitching by hand. All the programs have the option to do backstitching but the program itself will not convert to backstitching. It only sees in full stitches, it won't even do a half stitch. So if you have a program you can do backstitch but it will take some work.

[tragedyackt]

Yeah. I thought it would probably end up that way. There just aren't really any cross stitches in the design, or at least not related to design that I'm trying to backstitch so I was hoping there might be a program that could convert a black pixel outline into a backstitch diagram. Is there perhaps a cross stitch program that would let me ghost the picture over an aida grid so that I could draw the backstitches myself?

[Rose]

I have seen, in some of the magazines I get, some paper that you can lay over top of a picture. I can not remember the name of it and I do not have a catalog at the moment but if you google it you may get lucky and find a suitable product or maybe ask at a local craft store they may be able to help you.

[Mabel Figworthy]

I have seen, in some of the magazines I get, some paper that you can lay over top of a picture.

Do you mean graph tracing paper? It's sort of semi-see-through with red grid lines on it in 14 or 18 count; I got some sheets free with magazines, but I'm pretty sure you can buy it too.

edited a bit later:
Yes, you can get it in four different counts (10, 14, 16 and 18ct) here

[Rose]

Yes Mabel that was the stuff I was thinking of but I couldn't remember what the magazines called it. I look at a couple of my usual places but could not get e proper name of the papaer. Thanks for helping out.

[agi]

Hi, I have PCStitch Pro, and there is a function called underlay: you can open the picture and then draw the stitches yourself. It also has a so called automatic backstitch function. What if you draw cross stitches in just one colour, and then try this automatic backstith - then simply ignore the cross stitch.
They have a dowloadable demo version, you can do these things with it, too (I think), but no saving or printing. But you can copy-paste the picture into another graphic program and save it there. For only one chart it can work, take a look at it.

[tragedyackt]

Ok, the underlaying seems to have worked. Thanks everyone for your help!

[dpsoftware]

Using Cross Stitch Professional Platinum you could try the following if its a simple line drawing (might work in some other programs):

1) Set background colour to white if your paper is white
2) Use import from scanner to get it into cross stitch and check the box to use background colour - this prevents stitches for white as long as the scanner is bright enough to make the paper pure white.
3) If the preventing cross stitch for white paper didnt work, delete the white colour.
4) Use floodfill to fill in the shapes with black so you have a silhouette type design in cross stitch
5) If there are any stray colours, delete all colours except the black
5) Area select the entire design and click auto-backstitch
6) From are menu select delete - cross stitches.

You now have a backstitch only design without having to draw anything.

Cross Stitch Professional also has the underlay feature in its Plus and Publisher editions but I think that will take longer as you have to draw each backstitch.

Dave Peters
http://www.dpsoftware.com" target="_blank