Preview and 3D Tent Stitch View
The Preview feature shows you a realistic rendering of your finished design with a 3D tent stitch effect.
Opening Preview
Click the Preview button in the left toolbar to open the preview dialog.
3D Tent Stitch Effect
The preview renders each stitch with a simulated three-dimensional look. A gradient overlay creates highlights and shadows on each stitch, giving the appearance of real tent stitches on canvas. The light source comes from the top-left, creating a natural "pillow" effect on each stitch cell.
This applies to all stitch types — squares, half-squares, quarters, circles, borders, and cross lines are all rendered with their correct shapes and the 3D effect.
Zoom Controls
The preview has its own zoom controls:
- Zoom In (+) — Up to 4x magnification
- Zoom Out (-) — Down to 0.25x
- Reset — Return to 100%
The current zoom percentage is displayed so you can see exactly how much you are magnified.
Exporting from Preview
You can export the preview image directly:
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| JPEG | Compressed image, good for sharing online |
| PNG | Lossless image with full quality |
Click the export button and choose a format. A save dialog lets you choose where to save the file.
When to Use Preview
- Before exporting a PDF, to verify your design looks correct
- When choosing between color options, to see a realistic comparison
- To share a quick preview with someone without creating a full PDF export
- When you want to see how partial stitches (half-squares, borders) look in the finished piece