Patent ID: 6934599

Claim:
A method of operating a computer system to provide character data for use by an embroidery machine, comprising the steps of: inputting font character data defining the characters of a predetermined font; generating, in a predetermined embroidery data format, a respective embroidery data group from the font character data of each respective font character through steps comprising: analysing the font character data to identify one or more outline contours of the corresponding font character; associating the contours into one or more contour groupings, each contour grouping defining the outline of at least a part of the corresponding font character; constructing one or more cut lines across one or more of the contour groupings; dividing the contour groupings along the cut lines to yield a larger number of contour groupings; and defining a plurality of embroidery objects, each embroidery object being derived from a respective one of said larger number of contour groupings; and outputting said embroidery data groups in such a way that each embroidery data group is individually selectable by an embroidery machine for inclusion in an embroidery design.