How to Digitize Paper Patterns! The EASY and FREE Way!

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Digitizing your paper patterns has never been easier. In fact, you probably already have everything you need to get started! Let’s learn to digitize paper patterns.

You will need your smart phone, paper pattern, and access to a vector graphics program such as Inkscape or Affinity Designer.

Digitizing paper patterns allows sewers to preserve and customize their designs digitally. Follow these steps using free tools and techniques.

Step 1: Prepare the Tissue Paper Pattern

Start by ironing out any wrinkles from your tissue paper pattern to ensure it lays flat and scans or photographs clearly.

Step 2: Taking Level Pictures

To ensure accurate digitization, follow these tips for taking level pictures:

• Using Smartphone Camera: Turn on the grid or level settings on your phone. For iPhones, go to Camera > Composition > Grid. Align the yellow and white crosshairs when photographing the pattern from above to get a level picture.

Step 3: Photographing Your Pattern

1. Lay your tissue paper pattern on a flat surface like a cutting mat.
2. Use a quilting ruler to help maintain alignment and scale.
3. With your phone’s camera, ensure the crosshairs align before taking a photo.

Step 4: Transferring and Editing

1. Transfer the photos to your computer.
2. Use a vector program like Affinity Designer or Inkscape.
3. In Affinity Designer, go to File > Place and import your images. Arrange them on a suitable canvas size (recommended under 200 inches each side).
4. Draw a calibration box using a known measurement like a quilting ruler.
5. Adjust and align images as necessary by zooming in and using tools to refine details.

Step 5: Editing and Finalizing

1. Trace the pattern using tools like the pen tool, adjusting curves and adding text for labels and markings.
2. Create layers for different sizes as needed.
3. Arrange the pattern pieces for printing or projecting.
4. Export the finalized pattern as a PDF for printing or projection.

Conclusion

Digitizing paper patterns with these steps opens up possibilities for customization and ease of use in future sewing projects. Enjoy the flexibility of digital storage and the ability to modify patterns without altering the originals.