Block

There are 29 Block templates available. A block can be changed to any other kind of block using the handles and Handles menu options.

To change the settings for a Block

Click the yellow handle on the selected block, and use the options in the Handles menu to change the Top and Bottom line types, and to set different Constraints.

Individual: When the Individual checkbox is selected, the letters can be moved and resized individually. Only one line of lettering can be made when Individual is selected. See Individual Letter Monogram.

Handles Menu

Use the Handles menu to adjust the settings for the selected block of lettering.

Change Template Settings in the Block Menu

Open the Letter window .
Enter the text "Jonathan" in the Letters text box. See Using Block Lettering.
Click the current Lettering Shape, and in the pop-up menu, choose Arch Over , then click Apply to place the name.
Note: The top and bottom lines of the lettering use the Arch line type, with a single handle in the middle.
Drag the lettering to the top of the work area.
Drag the two middle handles (top and bottom) upwards, to raise the height of the arch.
Click the yellow Handles button to open the handles menu.
Note: In the menu the line type is shown as Arch.
Deselect Match Top and Bottom Lines. This enables you to use a different line type for the top and bottom of the shape.
Open the Handles menu again, and then click to open the Bottom Line Type submenu.
Note: The line type for the bottom line is also Arch.
In the submenu, change the bottom line to Straight.
Note: The bottom of the lettering is now a straight line with a handle at each end.
Open the Handles menu again, and change the top line to Diamond.
Note: The top line forms a point, instead of a curve. The Double Diamond option forms a straight line with two peaks.
Open the Handles menu again, and change the top line to Curve.
Note: The top line now has a curve with two handles.
Move the two middle handles on the top line separately.
Open the Handles menu again, and choose Add 3 points to curve. Three more handles are added to the top of the block.
Note: The add and remove points options are only available when the line type is a Curve.
Adjust the top line as desired.

While you can adjust the top and bottom as desired, the sides are still parallel straight lines, and if you move the handle at the top of one side, the handle at the top of the other side moves with it. This is Constraint - Size.

Note: If you hold the Shift key while dragging, the proportions of the shape are locked. With Option key the shape is resized from the center.

In the Handles menu, choose Constraint - Pennant.
Drag the handle at the top right upwards. The handle below it moves in the opposite direction.
Note: With a rectangular block, this would create a shape like a pennant. Hold down the Shift key to create a skewed rectangle effect.
In the Handles menu, choose Constraint - Perspective.
Drag the handle at the top right to the left. The lines on the side of the block now form a slope.
In the Handles menu, choose Constraint - Free. You can now move any of the corner handles in any direction you like.

Note: You can only drag the middle handles in the curve up and down.

In the Handles menu, deselect Force Even Distribution.
Drag one of the middle handles on the curve sideways. The letters move with the handle.

The functions in the Handles menu enable you to sculpt a block of lettering into almost any shape you like.

Top and Bottom Line Types

Choose a line type for the top and bottom of the block to set how the lettering is displayed.

Straight	Use Straight to create a lettering block with a straight line for the top and / or bottom, and with a handle at each end.
Diamond	Use Diamond to create a lettering block with a point at the top and / or bottom. Drag the central handle to change the angle of the slope.
Double Diamond	Use Double Diamond to create a lettering block with straight lines between the four handles at the top and / or bottom. Drag the central handles to change the angle of the straight lines.
Arch	Use Arch to create a lettering block with a curve at the top and / or bottom. Drag the central handle to change the angle of the curve.
Curve	Use Curve to create a lettering block with curved lines between the four handles at the top and / or bottom. Drag the central handles to change the curves between the handles. Note: You can add and remove extra points (handles) in a Curve.

Add and Remove Points to a Curve

Use the Add and Remove points functions to change the number of points in a Curve.
Add a point to curve adds a single point to the right end of the selected curve.
Add 3 points to curve adds three points to the right end of the selected curve.
Remove a point from curve deletes a single point from the right end of the selected curve.

Note: The minimum number of points in a Curve is four.

Match Top and Bottom Lines

Use Match Top and Bottom Lines to use the same line type for the top and bottom lines in a block.

Note: When Match Top and Bottom Lines is selected, the Bottom Line Type submenu is not available.

Constraints

Constraints affect how the corner handles on a block behave.

Size	When Constraint - Size is used, the two corners adjacent to the corner that is dragged move the same distance, in the same direction. The corner diagonally opposite does not move. The handles on the straight or curved lines between the corners move in proportion. This preserves the shape of the block, while the size changes. Note: If you hold the Shift key while dragging, the proportions of the shape are locked. With the Option key the shape is resized from the center.
Pennant	When Constraint - Pennant is used, the corner above or below the corner that is dragged moves the same distance towards or away from the dragged corner vertically. The other two corners do not move. This forms a pennant shape. Note: Hold down the Shift key to give a vertical skew to the lettering.
Perspective	When Constraint - Perspective is used, the corner to the right or left of the corner that is dragged moves the same distance towards or away from the dragged corner horizontally. The other two corners do not move. This gives a perspective effect. Note: If you hold the Shift key while dragging, the two handles move together as with Italic.
Italic	When Constraint - Italic is used, the corner to the right or left of the corner that is dragged moves the same distance, in the same direction. The other two corners do not move. This gives an italic look to the lettering. Note: If you hold the Shift key while dragging, the two handles move separately as with Perspective.
Free	When Constraint - Free is used, the corner handles can be dragged in any direction. Note: If you hold the Shift key while dragging, the proportions of the shape are locked. With the Option key the shape is resized from the center.

Force Even Distribution

Use Force Even Distribution to distribute the handles between the two corners evenly.

Note: Force Even Distribution affects both the top and bottom of the block.

Block Templates

There are 29 templates for use with lettering.

Horizontal Block	Use Horizontal Block to place lettering in a straight line with an outline box that has four square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering. Note: Hold the Shift key as you drag to resize proportionally, and hold the Option key to resize from the center. Template Settings: Straight, Straight; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Rounded	Use Rounded to place lettering in an envelope with an outwardly curving top and base. There are six square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the curvature of the arches. Template Settings: Arch, Arch; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Double Arch	Use Double Arch to place lettering in an envelope with an inwardly curving top and base. There are six square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the curvature of the arches. Template Settings: Arch, Arch; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Diamond	Use Diamond to place lettering in a diamond envelope. There are six square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the distance between vertical pairs of handles. Hold down Shift, then drag the handles to move the vertical pairs of handles while keeping the same distance between them. When the Individual checkbox is selected, each letter is created in a diamond-shaped envelope and can be moved and resized individually. Template Settings: Diamond, Diamond; Constraint - Pennant, Force Even Distribution
Italic	Use Italic to place lettering in an envelope that is slanted to the right. There are four square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering. Hold down Shift, then drag the handles to the left or right to change the slant of the text. When the Individual checkbox is selected, each letter is created in an italic envelope and can be moved and resized individually. Template Settings: Straight, Straight; Constraint - Italic, Force Even Distribution
Freeform	Use Freeform to place lettering in a fully adjustable straight envelope. There will be 4 square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and change the shape as desired. Template Settings: Straight, Straight; Constraint - Free
Flag	Use Flag to place lettering in a curving envelope. There will be eight square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and change the shape. Template Settings: Curve, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Perspective, Force Even Distribution
Free Sculpt	Use Free Sculpt to place lettering in a fully adjustable curved envelope. There will be 14 square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and change the shape as desired. Template Settings: Curve, Curve; Constraint - Free
Arch Over	Use Arch Over to place lettering in an envelope with an outwardly curving top and an inwardly curving base. There are six square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the curvature of the top and base. Template Settings: Arch, Arch; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Arch Under	Use Arch Under to place lettering in an envelope with an inwardly curving top and an outwardly curving base. There are six square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the curvature of the top and base. Template Settings: Arch, Arch; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Fan	Use Fan to place lettering in an envelope with an outwardly curving top and an inwardly curving base. There will be six square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering, and the angle and curvature of the top and base. Template Settings: Arch, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Perspective, Force Even Distribution
Bowl	Use Bowl to place lettering in an envelope with an inwardly curving top and an outwardly curving base. There will be six square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering, and the angle and curvature of the top and base. Template Settings: Arch, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Perspective, Force Even Distribution
Pennant Right	Use Pennant Right to place lettering in an envelope that is larger on the right side. There are four square green handles. Drag the handles to change the size of each end of the pennant. Hold down Shift, then drag the handles to move one end of the pennant up or down. When the Individual checkbox is selected, each letter is created in a pennant-shaped envelope and can be moved and resized individually. Template Settings: Straight, Straight; Constraint - Pennant, Force Even Distribution
Pennant Left	Use Pennant Left to place lettering in an envelope that is larger on the left side. There are four square green handles. Drag the handles to change the size of each end of the pennant. Hold down Shift, then drag the handles to move one end of the pennant up or down. When the Individual checkbox is selected, each letter is created in a pennant-shaped envelope and can be moved and resized individually. Template Settings: Straight, Straight; Constraint - Pennant, Force Even Distribution
Perspective	Use Perspective to place lettering in an envelope that is narrower at the top. There are four square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and change the width of the top or bottom of the text. Hold down Shift, then drag the handles to the left or right to change the slant of the text. Note: Increasing the Gap setting is recommended for Perspective lettering. When the Individual checkbox is selected, each letter is created in a perspective-shaped envelope and can be moved and resized individually. Template Settings: Straight, Straight; Constraint - Perspective, Force Even Distribution
Bridge Convex Down	Use Bridge Convex Down to place lettering in an envelope with a flat top and an outwardly curving base. There are five square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the curvature of the base. Template Settings: Straight, Arch; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Bridge Concave Down	Use Bridge Concave Down to place lettering in an envelope with a flat top and an inwardly curving base. There are five square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the curvature of the base. Template Settings: Straight, Arch; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Bridge Convex Up	Use Bridge Convex Up to place lettering in an envelope with a flat base and an outwardly curving top. There are five square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the curvature of the top. Template Settings: Arch, Straight; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Bridge Concave Up	Use Bridge Concave Up to place lettering in an envelope with a flat base and an inwardly curving top. There are five square green handles. Drag the handles to resize the lettering and the curvature of the top. Template Settings: Arch, Straight; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Octagon	Use Octagon to place lettering in a octagonal envelope. There will be eight square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering and the distance between vertical pairs of handles. Template Settings: Double Diamond, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Size, Force Even Distribution
Zigzag	Use Zigzag to place lettering in an angled line envelope. There will be eight square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering and the angle of the sides. Template Settings: Double Diamond, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Italic
Chevron	Use Chevron to place lettering in a peaked envelope. There will be six square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering and the angle of the sides. Template Settings: Diamond, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Perspective, Force Even Distribution
Slope	Use Slope to place lettering in a curved sloping envelope. There will be eight square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering and change the shape. Template Settings: Curve, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Italic
Butte	Use Butte to place lettering in a straight sided envelope with eight square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering and the distance between the sides. Template Settings: Double Diamond, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Perspective
Gem	Use Gem to place lettering in an envelope with seven square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering. Template Settings: Double Diamond, Diamond; Constraint - Perspective, Force Even Distribution
Slide	Use Slide to place lettering in a sloping rectangular envelope. There will be six square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering and the distance between vertical pairs of handles. Template Settings: Diamond, Reflect Top and Bottom Lines; Constraint - Italic
Pentagon	Use Pentagon to place lettering in an envelope with a peaked top, a straight base, and sloping sides. There will be five square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering and change the angle of the sides and top. Template Settings: Diamond, Straight; Constraint - Size; Force Even Distribution
Ramp	Use Ramp to place lettering in an envelope with a curved top, a straight base, and sloping sides. There will be six square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize the lettering and change the angle of the sides and top. Template Settings: Curve, Straight; Constraint - Italic
Rocket	Use Rocket to place lettering in an envelope with a peaked top and an arched base. There will be six square green handles. Click and drag the handles to resize and reshape the lettering. Template Settings: Diamond, Arch; Constraint - Perspective

Using Block Lettering

Enter the text "Backwards" in the Letter window. See Create Lettering.
In the Lettering Shape area, click the Lettering Shape button and choose Horizontal Block.
Click Apply. The lettering appears in the work area.
Drag the text a short distance to the right. A four–arrow pointer appears as you drag.
Place the pointer over one of the square green handles at the corners of the lettering. The Adjust/resize pointer

appears.
Use the handles to adjust the size and shape of the lettering.
Hold the Shift key to keep the proportions. Hold the Option key to resize from the center.
Control–click and choose Delete to remove the lettering from the work area.
In the Lettering window, select the checkbox labeled "Reverse".
Click Apply. The lettering appears on the work area with the text mirrored.
Delete the lettering and deselect Reverse.
In the Lettering window, select the checkbox labeled "Individual", and change the text in the box to "SINGLE".
Click Apply. The lettering appears on the work area with each letter in its own selection box.
To use another lettering shape, select a different Lettering Shape button and click Apply again.

Fixing Lettering as an Embroidery

Creating Lettering

Setting Letter Options

Enter some text in the Lettering window. See Create Lettering.
Click the arrows for height and width to change the proportions of the lettering from 25% to 400%. Alternatively, enter a size in the number box.
Adjust Gap to change the spacing between the letters. Click the arrows, or enter a value.

Negative values move letters closer together, and positive values move them farther apart.

Select Trim or Running Stitch as the connection method.

Note: Use Running Stitch connection for small single-color lettering with Nearest Point fonts.

Select a Lettering Shape for your lettering. See Using Block Lettering.
Click Options. The Letter Options dialog appears.
Select the alignment of the line of lettering. Click Left, Center or Right, as desired.
Click the arrows for Line Spacing to set the distance between multiple lines of text.

Alternatively, enter a size in the number box.

Click OK to close the Letter Options dialog.
Choose a line or fill type from the Stitch Type pop-up menu with the ellipsis (3 dots). The properties dialog for the stitch type opens. See Choosing Stitch Properties.
Change the stitch properties for the lettering in the properties dialog, for example the density, pattern, angle or stitch length. Click OK to close the dialog.
In the Lettering window, click Apply to view your lettering.

To change the lettering, use Control–click to open the Letter Properties dialog or a stitch properties dialog (see Changing Letter Properties). To change settings for new pieces of lettering, open the Letter Options dialog again, and alter your settings. Then click Apply in the Lettering window again.