OVERVIEW

This guide explains how to use Artapli designs and embroidery fonts (alphabets) with BERNINA embroidery machines and BERNINA Embroidery Software. ".ART" is the native file format of BERNINA Embroidery Software; BERNINA machines stitch EXP files.

WHICH ARTAPLI FILES TO USE

Every Artapli font comes as individual letter files, one file per letter, in a folder for each size. The download contains the common machine formats: EXP, PES, DST, JEF, HUS, VP3, VIP and XXX. A separate BX file is included for Embrilliance software only.

• For BERNINA machines and BERNINA Embroidery Software, use the EXP files.
• Artapli fonts are not supplied in ESA format. ESA is a font format of Wilcom and Hatch software and is not used by Artapli or by BERNINA's keyboard mapping.
• BX files do not work in BERNINA software.

USING ARTAPLI DESIGNS IN BERNINA EMBROIDERY SOFTWARE

1. Download and extract (unzip) the Artapli ZIP.
2. Open BERNINA Embroidery Software.
3. Open the EXP file of the design.
4. Check the size and colors, then save as .ART if you want to keep a project file, and send the EXP to your machine.

TYPING WITH AN ARTAPLI FONT: KEYBOARD DESIGN COLLECTIONS

BERNINA Embroidery Software 9 DesignerPlus lets you map a purchased alphabet to your keyboard with Keyboard Design Collections. After mapping, you type words and the software places the Artapli letter files for you. One collection is mapped for each size of the font.

Prepare the letters

In an Artapli font, the uppercase and lowercase files of one size are in the same EXP folder (A, a_low, B, b_low…), and batch mapping needs the 26 letters of one kind in a row. Sort them first:

1. Download the Artapli font and extract the ZIP.
2. Open the folder of the size you want (the folder name is the size, for example 1a9 = 1.9 inches), then its EXP folder.
3. Make three new folders next to it: Capitals, Lowercase and Numbers.
4. Copy the files A to Z into Capitals, the files ending in _low into Lowercase, and the digits 0 to 9 (if the font has them) into Numbers.

Map the collection

1. Open BERNINA Embroidery Software 9 DesignerPlus and switch to the Embroidery Library.
2. In the Navigation pane, open the Capitals folder you made.
3. Open the Keyboard Design Collection docker with its icon at the top of the Embroidery Library.
4. Select the letter M file.
5. Click New in the docker and name the collection, for example with the font name and size.
6. Click Use Selection to take the reference height from the M, then click OK.
7. Select A, hold Shift and select Z, then click the batch mapping button A-Z in the docker. The boxes fill with the letters.
8. Open the Lowercase folder, select a_low to z_low the same way and click a-z. Do the same with the Numbers folder if the font has digits.
9. Check the boxes in the docker: every box must show the matching letter.

Type with the mapped font

1. Return to the Embroidery Canvas.
2. Right-click Lettering in the Lettering/Monogramming toolbox.
3. Type your text. Choose your collection from the font list (click Keyboard Design Collection to show only mapped collections).
4. Click OK, then click on the screen to place the lettering.

Keyboard Design Collections are a feature of DesignerPlus version 9. In other editions, open the EXP letter files one by one and arrange them on the screen, or use the free Artapli Lettering Tool and send the finished name to your machine.

More detail: BERNINA Software Help, topic "Keyboard Design Collections", and the BERNINA blog article "Keyboard Design Collections".

WHAT TO AVOID WITH ARTAPLI FILES

• Automatic optimization or stitch processing of specialty designs.
• Resizing fringe or puffy designs.
• Converting formats when the EXP file is already in the download.
• Removing "unnecessary" small stitches; they are intentional.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Letters are in the wrong boxes after batch mapping. The selection contained other files, for example lowercase letters between the capitals. Sort the files into the Capitals, Lowercase and Numbers folders as described above and map again.

I can't find Keyboard Design Collections. It is part of BERNINA Embroidery Software 9 DesignerPlus. Check your software level and version.

The design looks different after opening. Check that no automatic optimization is switched on, and open the EXP file rather than a converted copy.