JANOME Embroidery Software Instruction Book
Chapter 13 Preparing Images for Automatic Digitizing
96
Image clean up
In practice, cleaning up scanned images may 
involve any one or a combination of the following 
techniques:
 reducing the number of colors
 adding or emphasizing outlines
 removing noise, dithering or anti-aliasing
 eliminating unnecessary detail
 cropping sections
 eliminating backgrounds.
See also Choosing suitable artwork.
Color reduction
Sometimes an image looks clean but extra colors 
have been introduced during scanning or in a 
graphics package. Color reduction means reducing 
the actual number of image colors in order to 
eliminate unnecessary detail and reduce each 
block to a single color. Color reduction also cleans 
the image, removing noise and anti-aliasing if 
present. This in turn helps minimize the number of 
trims and color changes required in the resulting 
embroidery design. Reduce colors in a 
non-outlined image using the Image Preparation 
tool and in an outlined image using the Outlined 
Image Preparation tool.
Color reduction should only be applied if the loss of 
detail does not affect the image shapes. Before 
color reduction, the colored areas in the image 
below include many colors. After reduction, each 
area is reduced to a single color. The detail is 
preserved.
If you are scanning images, make sure you scan 
them correctly for best results. See also Scanning 
artwork into EasyDesign.
Be aware that the Image Preparation tool is 
good at removing noise and anti-aliasing but not so 
good at processing dithering in non-outlined 
images. By contrast, the Outlined Image 
Preparation tool is excellent at processing 
dithered colors as it averages all pixels within a 
defined outline. See also Inserting images.
Outline sharpening
Outline sharpening means more clearly defining 
the outlines bordering distinct color blocks or 
Image with outlines
Image without outlines
Image before color reduction Image after color reduction
Image scanned in RGB color 
mode, then colors reduced to 8
Image scanned in 256 color 
mode, then colors reduced to 8
Outlined Image Preparation tool used with outlined 
image – dithered color blocks cleaned, edges sharp
Image Preparation tool used with non-outlined image 
– dithered color blocks not completely cleaned, edges 
fuzzy