Import a reference image

A reference image is a picture you trace over. It is not stitched: it's just a guide.

1. File → Import → Import reference image…, or click Import in the tool rail's Automation group and pick Reference image from the chooser. You can also drag an image file onto the canvas.
2. Pick an image. Supported types: PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, BMP, and SVG (the SVG is rasterized when used as a reference).
3. Place reference image opens, so you choose the size before the image lands rather than resizing it afterwards.

Choosing the size

The dialog previews the image against your hoop and offers:

• Width and Height in millimetres, with Keep proportions on by default so the image can't come in stretched.
• Fit the hoop: scale it so it fills your hoop on its longer side.
• Its own size: use the size the file declares, with no scaling.
• Opacity, defaulting to about 70%.

If the image is bigger than the hoop, Boldbobbin says so: that's fine for tracing, but the part outside the hoop can't be stitched.

Adjust it afterwards

Select the image and its name, placement, and opacity (as a percentage) appear on the essentials bar; the Properties panel has the same controls. Lock it so you don't nudge it while drawing over the top. In the Layers panel it's tagged "ref".

Very large images (over 4000 px on a side) are scaled down for display; the original pixels are kept so your saved .vemb stays lossless.

Then trace it

Draw over the reference with the Pen, shapes, or satin columns. When you're done, hide or delete the reference layer.

Dropped an image and got the wrong thing?

Dropping a plain image adds it as a reference. Hold Shift while dropping an image to import it as cross-stitch instead. See Import as cross-stitch.