Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to apply fundamental digitising techniques to artwork for computerised embroidery production.
The unit of competency applies to a range of digitising techniques using industry standard software to convert artwork from images to production of embroideries to industry standard. It includes use of manual and automatic digitising techniques, documenting and storing images, and producing samples to confirm result meets artwork specifications.
Work involves liaison with specialist embroiderers and digitisers. Work may be conducted in a variety of environments, such as operational workplace activities, or home-based activities.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Identify job requirements from specifications, drawings, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Prepare to digitise artwork for computerised embroideries | 2.1 | Use computer basic operations, installing and navigating software to source and import selected artwork |
2.2 | Prepare materials and equipment for digitising according to design specifications | ||
2.3 | Digitise shapes using manual techniques | ||
2.4 | Apply automated digitising techniques | ||
3 | Develop digitised artwork | 3.1 | Select and apply a range of fill and outline stitch types, and save design to library |
3.2 | Complete image to stitch conversion, adding complex fills to selected designs, and make colour selections | ||
3.3 | Adjust embroidery designs and optimise embroidery stitch quality | ||
3.4 | Finalise design to optimise productivity and quality | ||
3.5 | Prepare for export and save to library | ||
3.6 | Prepare designs for output to printer and machine | ||
4 | Complete embroidery sample and finalise work | 4.1 | Select fabric, stabiliser, toppings and backings, needles, thread and hoop types, and use according to the design production requirements |
4.2 | Complete a range of embroidery pieces, according to specifications to test design specifications | ||
4.3 | Minimise and dispose of waste according to environmental guidelines and workplace procedures | ||
4.4 | Seek feedback and integrate into outcomes | ||
4.5 | Maintain records according to workplace procedures |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include:
reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe work practices and other reference material
applying relevant standards
using computer basic operations, installing and navigating software to source and import selected artwork
preparing materials and equipment for digitising according to design specifications
applying a range of automatic, semi-automatic and manual digitising techniques to process embroidery design
selecting and applying a range of fill and outline stitch types, and saving design to library
completing image to stitch conversion, adding complex fills to selected designs, and making colour selections
finalising design to optimise productivity and quality, prepare for export and save to library
preparing designs for output to printer and machine
demonstrating ability in digitising techniques through production of a variety of at least five (5) embroidery pieces, according to specifications
maintaining records according to work practices.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
relevant Australian Standards
a range of machines: microprocessor or computer control
embroidery machines: (single or multi-needle) or commercial (single or multi-head) machines
basic sewing machine operations
workplace functionality:
tool bar
navigations
icons
menus
basic stitch types:
run stitching
satin stitching
tatami stitching
outline
fill
computer basic operations
access to embroidery designs
hooping techniques
hooping accessories
fabric types and properties:
woven
non-woven
knits
lightweight
heavyweight
hoop types and uses:
tubular
sash
screw
cap
square
round
spring
needle types and uses:
standard
metalfil
embroidery eye
stretch
thread types:
polyester
metallic
rayon
cotton
artwork sources
process images:
removal of ‘noise’
dithering
clean up
embroidery adjustments:
flip
rotate
mirror image
angle
copy
paste
resize
reshape
proportion
position
align
scale
skew
range of digitising techniques
fills:
contour
radial
cross-stitch
arc
spiral
satin
embossed
motifs
stabilisers, toppings and backings:
water soluble
tear away
iron on
cut away
varying weights
design reports:
worksheets
approval sheets
appliqué patterns
templates.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator
have vocational competency in digitising artwork for computerised embroideries, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.
Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following: | requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment SOPs work instructions oral, written and visual communication quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output housekeeping tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling WHS practices |
Australian Standards include: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Software includes: | any software classed as a digitising software (as opposed to customising or editing software) |
Import selected work includes the following: | opening software and exploring workspace functionality, elements and icons setting defaults to machine requirements determining image importation requirements processing images as necessary in preparation for automated and semi-automated digitising techniques recognising and selecting file types importing image into working area |
Prepare materials and equipment includes the following: | selecting machine format and confirming capability to meet image requirements selecting fabric type selecting workspace/canvas and adjusting colour identifying colour blocks and colour thread changes and adjusting setting up thread palette determining and planning optimum digitising sequence manually adjusting stitching order and making colour changes to selected areas |
Manual digitising techniques include one or more of the following: | identifying and applying basic stitch types creating free shapes with fixed angle stitching, with and without holes creating free shapes with turning stitching, with and without holes creating borders, runs and details |
Automated digitising techniques include one or more of the following: | converting file types and manipulating for application converting design objects and shapes to embroidery and digitising using semi-automated and fully automated techniques |
Fills and outlines include one or more of the following: | modifying basic property options, including design size, to meet specific design requirements selecting and altering fill stitch pattern properties (single and multiple areas) and direction selecting and altering outline properties creating a realistic computer representation (3-D view) |
Adjust embroidery designs and optimise stitch quality includes one or more of the following: | adjusting image inclusions and objects to support design effects introducing machine hoop, for output sizing, and integrating into design adjusting stitch densities and lengths and eliminating small stitches optimising corner stitching and long satin stitches minimising stitch bunching stabilising fabric with automatic underlays stitching design assessing and adjusting pull compensation |
Finalise design includes one or more of the following: | assessing stitch sequence, stitch entry and exit points, and start/end of design and confirming optimal quality outcome assessing and revising insertion and deletion of trim functions, where possible, to optimise productivity assessing and revising colour sequencing, where possible, to optimise productivity making adjustments to digitising specifications to ensure optimal quality outcome of embroidery |
Output to printer and machine includes the following: | creating template and worksheet, printing and checking to ensure design requirements are achieved exporting completed design to the machine ready for stitching according to manufacturer specifications and save for later access printing design reports |
File types includes one or more of the following: | Bitmap: .jpeg .gif .tiff .bmp. png Vector: .wmf .emf .eps/.ps .ai .cdr |
Optimum digitising sequence includes the following: | minimising registration problems caused by fabric distortion planning colour sequence |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Digitising and computerised embroidery