Summary

This article covers the essentials of Topstitch and Puckering.

Topstitch
You can find the topstitch tool in your 2d toolbar. Edit topstitch and 3 different tools to create topstitch, segment topstitch, free topstitch and seamline topstitch. Click on or marquee over a pattern edge or internal line to create a segment topstitch. To create a free topstitch, click to start and hover along pattern edges or internal lines and click again to end. To create a seamline topstitch, click once to start and once more to end and the topstitch will appear on both sides of the seam. Topstitches will be neon pink.

You can use the Edit Topstitch tool to select and move the existing topstitches. Right-click on a topstitch for more editing options.

Use the Edit Topstitch tool to select a topstitch and in the property editor, you can extend it, make a curved corner, and set Z Offset.

Extend will extend the selected topstitch to fit the pattern If the start or end point of the selected topstitch doesn’t touch the pattern outline.

The corner will round the topstitch at the pattern corner.

Customize Topstitch
Select the Topstitch file in the Object Browser and you can modify its properties in the property editor.

Keynotes:
1. Set topstitch type to either OBJ or Texture.

1. Offset is the distance between the topstitch and the outline or internal line to which you applied it.
2. Stitch count allows you to add more than one topstitch to one outline or internal line. If you set Stitch count more than 1, you can modify their specification and material separately or use the same specification and material.
3. Under Specification, you can change shape, stitch length, space between stitches, and thread thickness.
4. Under Configuration, you can control which side of the fabric topstitch appears on and the number of lines.
5. Under 3D, it will apply a normal map to create an illusion that the topstitch sinks into the fabric. The intensity controls how dark the shadow is, and its thickness is the width of it.

Puckering
Add puckering to pattern outlines and internal lines for realistic details. You can find the puckering tool in your 2d toolbar. Edit puckering and 3 different tools to create puckering, segment puckering, free puckering, and seamline puckering. Click on or marquee over a pattern edge or internal line to create a segment puckering. To create a free puckering, click to start and hover along pattern edges or internal lines and click again to end. To create a seamline puckering, click once to start and once more to end and puckering will appear on both sides of the seam. Puckering will be purple.

You can use the Edit Puckering tool to select and move the existing puckering. Right-click on a puckering for more editing options.

Use the Edit Puckering tool to select a puckering and in the property editor, you can extend it and set Z Offset and Placement.

Customize Puckering
Select the Puckering file in the Object Browser and you can modify its properties in the property editor.

Keynotes:
1. Under material, select material type to match the fabric.
2. Under the Normal Map, the intensity controls the extent to which the puckering protrudes or sinks to the surface of the pattern. Positive value makes it protrude and negative value makes it sink.
3. Under Specification, the density controls the distance between each puckering. Width controls the width of the puckering.