Abstract: In image figure processing method and apparatus, an original picture, in which inner spaces of readable outlines are painted with desired colors, is read out by an image scanner to extract boundary lines defining closed areas in the original picture. Subsequently, the average value of brightness values in each closed area is calculated for each of R, G and B components, and the average value is compared with a data table value stored in a memory to identify the attribute of each closed area. Thereafter, embroidery data are prepared to embroider the respective closed areas in the original picture so that the colors and shapes thereof match those of the original picture.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus including a determining device for determining, based on outline data representing an outline of an embroidery region, an area of the embroidery region bounded by the outline thereof and a length of the outline of the embroidery region, and determining a degree of roundness of the embroidery region based on the determined area and length, and a selecting device for selecting, based on the determined degree of roundness of the embroidery region, one of a plurality of different stitching manners in which the embroidery is to be formed in the embroidery region by the sewing machine according to the embroidery data.

Abstract: In an embroidery data preparing device for preparing embroidery seam data on the basis of an original picture pattern for embroidery, a plurality of desired different sizes are selected for the same pattern to be embroidered and stitch and the sizes are stored in a memory device. An original picture pattern is read out by an image scanner to obtain the original picture data and then outline data are extracted from the original picture data. The outline data are divided into a plurality of blocks, for closed areas, to obtain intermediate embroidery data. The intermediate embroidery data are enlarged or reduced at a magnifying power corresponding to each desired pattern size and embroidery seam data are obtained for each desired pattern size on the basis of the enlarged or reduced intermediate embroidery data to thereby collectively prepare the embroidery seam data for the plurality of different pattern sizes.

Abstract: In an embroidery data preparing device, after an embroidery figure is blocked and a stitch order for the blocks is determined, it is judged whether the stitch terminal end portions of continuous embroidery blocks are adjacent to one another. If the stitch terminal end portions are not adjacent to one another, needle location points for mat-type stitches are calculated from a stitch start side. If the stitch terminal end portions are adjacent to one another, needle location points for mat-type stitches are calculated from a stitch terminal side for the block. Accordingly, mat-type stitch needle location lines which are obtained as virtual lines over plural blocks by needle points for mat-type stitches can be made continuous over the blocks even when the stitch advancing direction is different between the blocks.

Abstract: A stitch data producing system scans an original pattern by an image scanner to acquire image data and segments the original pattern into a plurality of embroidering regions and determines distances from the periphery of a set of pixels included in each embroidering region to each of the pixels, i.e., the depths of the pixels by a CPU. The stitch data producing system produces stitch data suitable for embroidering a comparatively large, substantially circular embroidering region when the sum of the distances is large and produces stitch data suitable for embroidering an elongate embroidering region when the sum of the distances is small. Thus, the stitch data producing system automatically produces stitch data for carrying out a stitching method, such as a satin stitching method, a fill stitching method, a running stitching method or such, suitable for embroidering each embroidering region.

Abstract: In a method for producing image data, an original image is defined by at least one outline-bounded region having at least one outline and an inside area bounded by the outline. The method includes the steps of reading, from an original having an initial original image including the outline of one or more outline-bounded regions, the initial original image by an image reader, so as to produce initial image data defining one or both of the outline of the region and the inside area of the region. Subsequently, the step of initially processing the initial original image of the original is performed by forming one or more readable images in the inside area of one or more current regions out of the one or more outline-bounded regions. A next step includes reading, by the image reader, the initially processed original image so as to produce initially processed image data defining the initially processed original image.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus including a dividing device for dividing, based on image data representing an original image including outline-bounded regions each bounded by one or more outlines thereof, the original image into the outline-bounded regions, and producing sets of outline data each set of which represents one or more outlines of a corresponding one of the regions; a display device for displaying, on a screen, a first and a second image based on first and second image data, respectively, the first image data including each set of outline data, so that the first image includes one or more outlines of a corresponding one outline-bounded region, the second image including a parameter table containing parameter items relating to the control of the sewing machine to form on the work sheet the embroidery corresponding to the original image; and a parameter specifying device which is operable by a user for spec

Abstract: An apparatus for producing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, including a dividing device for dividing, based on image data representing a color image, the color image into a plurality of color areas each of which has a corresponding one of a plurality of different colors, and producing a plurality of sets of color-area data each of which represents a corresponding one of the color areas, a color-area specifying device which is operable by an operator for specifying one of the color areas as an embroidery-free area, and a producing device for producing, based on the sets of color-area data, the embroidery data to control the sewing machine to embroider the color areas except for the embroidery-free area.

Abstract: A printer having a first memory for storing character data representative of lines of characters to be printed on a recording medium, a second memory for storing line-space data representative of a line spacing between the lines of characters, and a control device for activating a print head according to the character data stored in the first memory, and controlling the print head and a paper feed device according to the line-space data stored in the second memory, to underscore at least one of the characters of the printed lines. The position of the underscore is controlled such that a distance between the underscore and the underscored characters is varied depending upon the line spacing represented by the line-space data.