# Introduction

&kapp; is a program that lets you create cross stitch patterns and charts. Patterns can be created from scratch on a user defined size of grid, which can be enlarged or reduced in size as your pattern progresses. Alternatively you can import images from many graphics formats or scan images using any Sane supported scanner. Both of these options allow you to restrict the conversion to full stitches or optionally use fractional stitches. You may also use an image as a background. These imported images can then be modified using the supplied tools to produce your final design.

There are many tools to aid designing your pattern, from open and filled rectangles and ellipses, filled polygons and lines and backstitching. Additionally cut, copy and paste can be used to duplicate selected areas. Selected areas can also be rotated 90, 180 and 270 degrees anti clockwise, or mirrored horizontally or vertically.

There is also a pattern library that can be used to store small and not so small portions of patterns that can then be reused in other patterns. The patterns in these library are stored in a hierarchial list that makes it easy to sort and navigate them to find the ones you want.

Please report any problems or feature requests to the &kapp; SourceForge mailing lists or forums at http://kxstitch.sourceforge.net