PE-Design Ver.8 has the following new features.

Stitch generation

•  A motif pattern can be applied to the stippling stitch.
•  The underlay stitching function has been improved.
  - New underlay stitching patterns have been added to the settings available for region sewing of text and manual punching patterns.
  - The density for underlay stitching of regions can be set to Dense, Medium or Light.

Editing functions and user interface

• The Remove Overlaps and Merge commands have been added for editing shapes.
  - Remove Overlaps: The overlapping regions of the shapes are removed.
  - Merge: The overlapping regions of the shapes are merged.
• Designs can be created that combine embroidery with an image used in the background.
  Print the image on the fabric by using an iron-on transfer sheet or printable fabric, and then embroider on this fabric. The positioning sheet allows you to easily align the embroidering position.
• Rulers have been added at the top and left side of the Design Page. Measurement units when checking sizes and positions can be switched between millimeters and inches.
• Multiple files can be opened. Data can be copied and pasted between files.
• The Sewing Attribute Setting dialog box, Thread Color dialog box, and Text Attribute Setting dialog box are in a combined dialog box, which is easier to use.
• The functions in the Import dialog box for importing embroidery designs have been improved.
• The functions in the Sewing Order/Lock dialog box have been improved.
  - Embroidery patterns can be locked (no changes, such as moving, enlarging/reducing or editing, can be performed).
  - The sewing attribute of the objects in each color can be changed.
• The functions in the Image to Stitch Wizard have been improved.
  - Sepia modes have been added to the Photo Stitch and Cross Stitch functions.
  - A feature has been added to convert regions to lines when automatically converting to an embroidery pattern with the Auto Punch function.
  - Single cross-stitches and backstitches can be edited when automatically converting an image to an embroidery pattern with the Cross Stitch function.
• The image can be rotated in 90-degree increments.
• Tools for drawing lines freehand have been added.
• Arranged text on an arc can be selected from transform text pattern.
• Stitch data can be divided by color.

• An eraser tool has been added to the Tool Box in the Line Image Stage.
• The maximum setting for Thinning Process when converting a line image to a figure handle image has been increased. This allows thicker figure handle lines to be created.

• A TrueType font character can be opened as a template. In addition, a custom font can be created automatically from a TrueType font.
• Characters other than letters of the alphabet, numbers and symbols can be registered.
• If a template image was open when custom font data is saved in PEF file, the template image will be saved with the data.

General

• New sample embroidery files have been added to the Design Library.
• The estimated sewing time has been added to the design properties.
• Embroidery hoop sizes 200 x 200 mm(7.3/4 x 7.3/4 inches) and 200 x 300 mm(7.3/4 x 11.3/4 inches) have been added to the Design Page Property dialog box.
• File formats have been added to those available for images that can be opened as templates or original images.
  - GIF(.gif) format is supported.
  - LZW-compressed .tif is also supported.