Embroidery data producing apparatus for controlling a sewing machine

An apparatus for producing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus comprising:

• dividing means for dividing, based on image data representing a color image, said color image into a plurality of color areas each of which has a corresponding one of a plurality of different colors, and producing a plurality of sets of color-area data each of which represents a corresponding one of said color areas;
• identifying means for identifying one of said color areas as an embroidery-free area;
• and
• producing means for producing, based on said sets of color-area data, said embroidery data to control the sewing machine to embroider said color areas except for said embroidery-free area identified by said identifying means.

An apparatus for producing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus comprising:

• dividing means for dividing, based on image data representing a color image, said color image into a plurality of color areas each of which has a corresponding one of a plurality of different colors, and producing a plurality of sets of color-area data each of which represents a corresponding one of said color areas;
• background-area identifying means for identifying one of said color areas as a background area of said color image;
• and
• producing means for producing, based on said sets of color-area data, said embroidery data to control the sewing machine to embroider said color areas except for said background area identified by said identifying means.

A process of producing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the process comprising the steps of:

• dividing, based on image data representing a color image, said color image into a plurality of color areas each of which has a corresponding one of a plurality of different colors, and producing a plurality of sets of color-area data each of which represents a corresponding one of said color areas;
• specifying one of said color areas as an embroidery-free area by operating a color-area specifying device;
• and
• producing, based on said sets of color-area data, said embroidery data to control the sewing machine to embroider said color areas except for said embroidery-free area.

A process of producing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the process comprising the steps of:

• dividing, based on image data representing a color image, said color image into a plurality of color areas each of which has a corresponding one of a plurality of different colors, and producing a plurality of sets of color-area data each of which represents a corresponding one of said color areas;
• identifying one of said color areas as an embroidery-free area;
• and
• producing, based on said sets of color-area data, said embroidery data to control the sewing machine to embroider said color areas except for said embroidery-free area.