Method, system, apparatus, and program for instantly estimating the number of stitches for an embroidered design

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program, which, when executed by a computer, performs a method for determining an estimated number of stitches and an estimated price for an embroidered design, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) uploading a file containing a design comprised of at least one of art and text;
• b) flattening the design into a flat file;
• c) determining a number of pixels that are non-transparent in the flat file;
• d) determining a percentage of non-transparent pixels in a total pixel area available for decorating;
• e) estimating a measurement of an area to be decorated using the percentage of non-transparent pixels;
• f) determining the estimated the number of stitches in the design using the measurement of the area to be decorated;
• and
• g) determining and displaying a cost estimate for the design based on the estimated number of stitches;
• said method further comprising editing the design, including re-sizing the design or adding or deleting portions of the design, when instructed by a user and then repeating steps a to g;
• wherein steps b-g are performed by said processor.

A method implemented on a computer having a processor and a memory coupled to said processor for providing a cost estimate for an embroidered design, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) uploading a design created or selected by a user;
• b) adding text or art to the design if instructed by the user;
• c) editing the design, including re-sizing the design, adding portions of the design or deleting portions of the design, if instructed based on user inputs;
• d) flattening the design into a flat file;
• e) determining a number of pixels that are non-transparent in the flat file;
• f) determining a percentage of non-transparent pixels in a total pixel area available for decorating;
• g) estimating a measurement of an area to be decorated using the percentage of non-transparent pixels;
• h) determining an estimated number of stitches for the design using the measurement of the area to be decorated;
• i) a determining an estimated cost for the design based on the estimated number of stitches;
• j) displaying the estimated number of stitches and the estimated cost;
• and
• k) returning to step c) if instructed by the user, wherein steps b to i are performed by said processor.

A system implemented on a computer having a processor and a memory coupled to said processor for providing a cost estimate for an embroidered design, the system comprising:

• a design creator module for creating a design by uploading a design created or selected by a user;
• a stitch estimator module for determining an estimated number of stitches for the design, by flattening the design into a flat file;
• determining a number of pixels that are non-transparent in the flat file;
• determining a percentage of non-transparent pixels in a total pixel area available for decorating;
• estimating a measurement of an area to be decorated using the percentage of non-transparent pixels;
• and
• determining the estimated the number of stitches in the design using the measurement of the area to be decorated;
• and
• a cost estimator module for determining a cost estimate for the selected design based on the estimated number of stitches by estimating a measurement of an area to be decorated using the percentage of non-transparent pixels;
• wherein the design creator module includes re-sizing the design, or adding or deleting portions of the design, based on an instruction from a user.