INTRODUCTION

The Wilcom EWA service provides over two hundred high quality specially digitized embroidery fonts. These are fonts that are also standard in the Wilcom EmbroideryStudio software. They cover a wide variate of block, serif and script type fonts, some popular fonts and specific ones preferred in the embroidery industry.

Yet, if EWA subscribers have clients who want to use specific fonts that are not available in the standard list, it is possible to add custom fonts to the EWA subscriber’s Application.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

The Wilcom Font files have specific format that is used by the EmbroideryStudio software. The file extension is ESA. In EmbroideryStudio there is a feature (Optional Element that can be purchased), called “Font Creator”. This allows the user to create new font and save individual letters in the font. Such custom font is also saved in an ESA file.

Such custom font can be uploaded to the EWA server, and the font will be encrypted and linked to the subscriber’s Application ID therefore other users cannot see or use these custom fonts.

COMMERCIAL BACKGROUND – FONT UPLOAD ORDER

The “Font Upload” is a paid service. EWA Subscribers can place an order for Font Upload. A Single Font Upload order can include maximum 20 ESA files, and it is the same price if the user provides one or twenty ESA files with the order.

Some EWA subscribers need frequent Font Uploads and therefore Wilcom also offers an Annual Subscription that includes 10 Uploads per year, giving 20% discount on the total.

Below is the pricing/ordering information’:

Font Upload orders are usually fulfilled within 3-4 working days.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR CREATING CUSTOM FONTS – FONT NAME

Wilcom Fonts have two names:

File Name – this is the Windows file name.

Face Name – this is how the font name is shown in the EmbroideryStudio software.

IMPORTANT RULE!

The Font name and the Face Name must be the same, otherwise we cannot upload the font to the EWA server.

CONSIDERAITONS FOR CREATING CUSTOM FONTS – CLOSEST JOIN

We recognise three ways of connecting embroidery letters:

The most important method is “Closest Join”. When fonts are digitized with this method the software will re-sequence the order of stitching in the letters, so they are joined at the closest point therefore reducing or eliminating the trims in the design therefore making production faster and cheaper.

We strongly recommend that when creating Custom Font, the users select the Closest Join method.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR CREATING CUSTOM FONTS – LETTER SIZE

As you can see below, each standard Wilcom Font has a minimum and maximum recommended size. This means that we tested the font between these sizes and the stitching works well. Outside this range however we cannot guarantee good quality stitching.

When choosing a font, you need to consider the shape (curves, complexity) of the individual letters. The font may not work well in say 8mm height but may look beautiful in 15mm and at 40mm some gaps may open. Therefore, it is a good practice to advise your client about the range of size in between the font can be used.

CONSIDERATIONS OF USING TTF AUTOMATIC FILE CONVERSION

This feature is available in Wilcom’s EmbroideryStudio. I.e. instead of digitizing individual letters one-by-one, the user can automatically convert the full set of letters in the TTF. The TTF must be installed in the computer you use for EmbroideryStudio. This process, although quite sophisticated, needs to be checked carefully and individual letters tested if converted and stitch properly.

There is a range of “recognition values” that can be selected in the conversion process and users must be familiar with the embroidery aspects of these.

HOW TO CHECK THE AVAILABLE FONTS IN EWA?

You can send an api/info call to the server. It will return with the available font list.