Multicolor Satin

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 Multi-colored satin column Simulation

o Let’s start with a bicolor satin
 Random percentage of satin width increase
 Random percentage of satin width decrease
 Simple, but imperfect method
 The random seed
 Method almost as simple, with perfect fit but unfortunately not general
 Pull compensation percentage
 General method for bicolor satin column
o We can play with many more than just two colors:
o For three colors
o For four colors
o For any number of colors

Multi-colored satin column

SimulationPermalink
We are talking simulation here, because it is not a single multicolored satin column, but a similar
effect obtained by using several superimposed copies of the same satin column, simply using
different parameters settings.

This feature will be part of an upcoming Ink/Stitch release. It is not yet

integrated in Ink/Stitch.

This is now an Ink/Stitch extension

Let’s start with a bicolor satinPermalink

Let’s come back to the “random” parameters of the satin columns.

Random percentage of satin width increasePermalink

The “Random percentage of satin width increase” parameter is a so-called asymmetric parameter
because it is possible to apply it differently on the two rails. This parameter accepts either a
single value, applied to each of the two rails or two space separeted values, in which case the
first is applied to the first rail, the second to the second rail.
  When this parameter is set to 0, the column (in black) is made up of
zig-zags traveling between the two rails
 When this parameter is set to 50, each zig (or zag) of the column (in
red) extends to the left and right by a value between 0 and 50% of the
length of the zig. The new column is therefore irregularly widened , at
most it can be twice as wide as the black one (50% on the left and 50%
on the right), it is never narrower.
 When this parameter is set to 0 50, the left side of the column (in
green) is unchanged, but on the right it extends up to a 50% additional
length.
 When this parameter is set to 50 0, the column (in blue) is similar , just
swapping left and right.
 If we superimpose the three columns having a non-zero value for the
parameter, the enlargement seems very random, the borders of the
columns are very different, even if they are similar.
What values can be entered in this parameter? Ink/Stitch accepts any pair of numeric values here.
They can be positive, null or negative and they can exceed the value 100. However, if we can
increase the zigs without limit, the reduction is de facto limited, at worst the zig would be a
simple point on the center line.

Random percentage of satin width decreasePermalink

Satin columns also have the opposite parameter, the “Random percentage of satin width decrease
“. Rather than increasing by -50%, we can decide to decrease by 50%, it’s the same thing.

Simple, but imperfect methodPermalink

Thanks to any of these two parameters, we already have a first imperfect but very simple method
for simulating bicolor satin columns:
Both examples use “random percentage of width decrease”

 On the left example the left side of the red column is reduced while the
right side of the green column is reduced. But be careful, the second
color superimposes the first and here the green hides part of the red.
 On the right, we left the red intact, the green is superimposed, its right
side reduced by up to two thirds rather than one half.
But this method is imperfect: it ensures that the entire column is colored, there is no lack, but
there is some overlay.

It is possible to obtain two perfectly joining columns, but requires using additional random
parameters

The random seedPermalink

Each time we use one or more random parameters, if we are not happy with the result, we can
click on “reroll the dice” and obtain a different result. Technically, rerolling the dice means
giving a new value to the “random seed” parameter. It is also possible to manually give a value
to this parameter. This is particularly useful when one want several copies of an object that uses
random parameters to be in fact perfectly identical. Give them the same random seed value and
they will be identical.

If we repeat the first example but this time give all three columns the same random seed value,

we get:

Now when we superimpose the three columns, we see that there is a perfect superposition of the
borders. The red column has expanded to the left exactly like the blue column and to the right
exactly like the green column. On the other hand, for the same zig, the widening to the left is
different from the widening to the right.
Method almost as simple, with perfect fit but unfortunately
not generalPermalink

This time, instead of superimposing two columns, they are placed next to each other. The right
edge of one being superimposed on the left edge of the other

 Both columns have the same random seed

 The orange column “Random percentage of satin width decrease “ is
set to 50 0
 The blue column “Random percentage of satin width decrease “ is set -
50 0 (so it is an increase).
 In addition, we have checked the Swap rails box for the blue column
As both have the same random seed and the modifications in both cases concern the first rail, at
each zig the calculation gives values which ensure a perfect fit.

Unfortunately, this simple solution does not generalize to columns of any shape.

For a general solution, we’ll use yet another additional parameter:

Pull compensation percentagePermalink

To obtain multi-colored satin columns, we will use the “pull compensation percentage”
parameter.

It is also an asymmetric parameter.

It is common to give positive values to the compensations, but it is also possible to give them
negative values, instead of increasing the width of the satin column, we reduce it.
Here is the result for three different values for the pull compensation percentage
parameter:

Here the first rail is the left side of the satin.

When the parameter is set to “0 -75” (in green) the left side is unchanged, but everything looks
as if the right side had been moved to the left regularly to reduce the distance between the two
rails to a quarter of the initial value. We have in fact gone from a width of 100% to a width of
100-75=25%

When the parameter is set to “-25 -25” (in red) the two edges move closer to the center and the
width of the column is uniformly reduced by half.

When the parameter is set to “-75 0” (in blue) we do not touch the right side, but everything
looks as if the left side had been moved to the right to reduce the distance between the two rails
to a quarter of the initial value.

If we superimpose these three columns, we obtain a tricolor snake.

Notice: It is possible to use pull compensation in mm and compensation in
percentage on the same satin column. Both parameters are asymmetrical.
Both parameters accept negative values.

General method for bicolor satin columnPermalink

We will use all these parameters together.

If we want to distribute the 100% width of the column into

 L% on the left exclusively for blue

 R% on the right exclusively for green
 and therefore 100-(L+R) percent in the middle for a green-blue mix,
we will use this setting

Parameter Blue satin Green satin

Pull Compensation Percentage 0 100-L 0 100-R

Swap Rails no yes

Random satin width increase 0 100-(L+R) 0

Random satin width drecrease 0 0 L+R-100

 Parameter Blue satin Green satin

Random Seed identical identical

So for example if we want to keep a 25% single color on each side, we will use this setting

Blue satin:

 Pull compensation percentage: 0 -75

 Random satin width increase: 0 50
 Random satin width decrease: 0
 Random seed: 7 (or “hello” or anything else but enter a value)
Green satin:

 Pull compensation percentage: 0 -75

 Check Swap Rails
 Random satin width increase: 0
 Random satin width decrease: 0 -50 (so it will be an increase)
 Random seed: 7 (or whatever you entered for the other column)
Important If it doesn’t seem to be working, check that the satin column rails
are both in the same direction, and not automatically corrected. Also check
that the short stitches are not triggered.
Download the snake file

We can play with many more than just two

colors:Permalink
For three colorsPermalink
Assuming that we want to distribute 100% of the width from left to right in

 The first C1 percent in color 1 exclusively

 The following C1!2 percent shared between Color 1 and Color 2
 The following C2 percent in color 2 exclusively
 The following C2!3 percent shared between Color 2 and Color 3
 The last C3 percent exclusively for Color 3
For a result that perfectly fills the column without any overflow, you must ensure that
C1+C1!2+C2+C2!3+C3 = 100

Parameter Color 1 Color 2 Color 3

0 -(C1!2+C2+C2! -(C2!3+C3) -(C1+C1! -(C1+C1!2+C2+C2!3)

Pull Compensation Percentage
3+C3) 2) 0

Swap Rails no yes no

 Parameter Color 1 Color 2 Color 3

Random satin width increase 0 C1!2 C2!3 0 0

Random satin width decrease 0 0 -C1!2 -C2!3 0

Random Seed identical identical identical

So if we want a division into blue, white, red with no monochrome zone, C1,C2 and C3 will be
equal to 0 and C1!2=C2!3=50 and the table becomes:

Parameter Blue White Red

Pull Compensation Percentage 0 -100 -50 -50 -100 0

Swap Rails no yes no

Random satin width increase 0 50 50 0 0

Random satin width decrease 0 0 -50 -50 0

Random Seed identical identical identical

if we rather wish to reserve 20% for each of the monochrome parts and share the rest equitably,
we choose C1=C2=C3=20, there is 40% remaining so C1!2=C2!3=20 and the table becomes:

Parameter Blue White Red

Pull Compensation Percentage 0 -80 -40 -40 -80 0

Swap Rails no yes no

Random satin width increase 0 20 20 0 0

Random satin width decrease 0 0 -20 -20 0

Random Seed identical identical identical

For four colorsPermalink
With the same notations we will have this time

C1+C1!2+C2+C2!3+C3+C3!4+C4 =100

Parameter Color 1 Color 2 Color 3 Color 4

0 -(C2!3+C3+C3!4+C4) -(C1+C1!2+C2+C2!3) 0
Pull Compensation Percentage
C1-100 -(C1+C1!2) -(C3!4 +C4) C4-100

Swap Rails no yes no yes

Random satin width increase 0 C1!2 C2!3 0 0 C3!4 0

Random satin width drecrease 0 0 -C1!2 -C2!3 0 0 -C3!4

Random Seed identical identical identical identical

All compensation values are negative, all increases are positive, all decreases are negative.

This time, if we do not want a monochromous zone and wish an equal sharing of the rest,
C1=C2=C3=C4=0 and C1!2=C2!3=C3!4=33.3.

If we rather wish to reserve 15% for each of the monochrome parts and share the rest equitably,
we choose C1=C2=C3=C4=15, there is 40% remaining so C1!2=C2!3=C3!4=13.3
For any number of colorsPermalink
To use N colors, choose positive or zero values for the N monochrome parts C1,C2,…..CN and
the N-1 two-color parts C1!2, C2!3, ….CN-1!N. The sum of the 2N-1 values must be 100.

Prepare a table with N columns

In the i-th column

If i is odd

Parameter Color I

C1+C1!C2+C2+C2!C3+…..C(I-1)!I CI!C(I+1)+C(I+1)+C(I+1)!(I+ 2)+

Pull Compensation Percentage
…..CN

Swap Rails no

Random satin width increase 0 CI!(I+1)

Random satin width decrease -C(I-1)!I 0

Random Seed always_the_same_thing

The pull compensation percentage first value is the sum of the widths for everything before color
I, and the second value is the sum of the widths for everything after color I.

If i is even

Check Swap rails, and invert the two values in each asymetrical parameter.
 Parameter Color I

CI!C(I+1)+C(I+1)+C(I+1)!(I+2)+…..CN C1+C1!C2+C2+C2!C3+…. .C(I-

Pull Compensation Percentage
1)!I

Swap Rails yes

Random satin width increase CI!(I+1) 0

Random satin width decrease 0 -C(I-1)!I

Random Seed always_the_same_thing

 For the first column C(-1) is equal to 0 if we do not want overflow, we

can give it a positive value, if we want the first color to overflow to the
left.
 Likewise for the last column C(N+1) will be taken equal to 0 if we do
not want the last color to overflow the shape.
And here you havea r ainbow…..

For this example, the first and last color overflow

Download the rainbow file

Note For a good quality embroidery, you must also add some pull
compensation to… compensate for… the pull! Embroidered as is the colors
will not look quite joined together, as the stitches distort the embroidery. The
easiest way is to add a little bit of pull compensation in mm. It is also a good
idea to add yet another copy of the column with no negative pull
compensation , no random parameters, but a 4mm maximum stitch length
and a wide zigzag spacing to act as an underlay. Chose a color close to your
fabric’s color.

Updated: May 04, 2024