Embroidery system and method

Abstract

An embroidery system and method are provided in which a consumer can provide a design, such as images or text, have it converted into a digitized image and then used to generate customized embroidery that can be placed onto a product.

1 . An embroidery system, comprising:
 an embroidery design unit that has a design unit for accepting a design for embroidery;   an interactive stitch player that renders and displays the design for embroidery in three dimensions.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an embroidery design translation unit that converts the design for embroidery and generates a stitch file wherein the stitch file is displayed in the interactive stitch player. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive stitch player simulates a variation in the placement of a stitch and thread response when the design for embroidery is displayed. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive stitch player renders a fabric substrate and displays the design for embroidery and its interaction with the fabric substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive stitch player also renders one of a rough embroidery preview and an embroidery design in three dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . An embroidery system, comprising:
 an embroidery design library that stores one or more embroidery designs; and   an embroidery product design tool for designing a product having the design for embroidery wherein the embroidery product design tool further comprises a color palette having one or more fixed colors and one or more custom colors wherein the color palette prevents a design from exceeding a limitation of an embroidery manufacturing machine so that the product having the design for embroidery is manufacturable.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising an embroidery design translation unit that converts the design for embroidery and generates a stitch file having one or more colors. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more fixed colors are the one or more colors in the stitch file. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more custom colors include colors for text. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more fixed colors change when a user changes the image of an embroidery design. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more colors in the stitch file are customizable by a user.