<chapter id="creatingpatterns" >
  <title>Creating patterns</title>
  <sect1 id="starting-kxstitch">
    <title>Starting &kapp;</title>
    <para>
      When starting &kapp; you will be presented with a blank canvas of the default
      size. This is also the case when selecting <guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>New</guimenuitem>.
      The default sizes can be set in the pattern properties dialog by enabling the set as default checkbox.
    </para>
    <para>
      If the default size is not suitable for your planned pattern, you can use
      the <guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> dialog to change it.
      Adjust the values as required and after clicking on OK, the pattern will be resized to suit.
    </para>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="importing-images">
    <title>Importing Images</title>
    <para>
      &kapp; allows you to import an image. A dialog will be displayed that previews the
      image based on the default import options.
    </para>
    <para>
      The initial size of the pattern will be based on the default pattern size.
    </para>
    <para>
      Options for importing allow you to change the floss scheme used and to limit the
      number of colours. You can also change the scaling to reduce or enlarge the final
      pattern.
    </para>
    <para>
      Checking the Use fractionals checkbox will enable the use of fractional stitches to give more
      detail for any given pattern size.
    </para>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="scanning-images">
    <title>Scanning Images</title>
    <para>
      Scanning is basically the same as importing images, except that the source is different.
      Initially you will be shown the standard KDE scanner dialog. When scanning is complete
      the procedure is then the same as importing images.
    </para>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="background-images">
    <title>Background Images</title>
    <para>
      You can insert an image as a background to the editor window. This is useful if importing
      the image is not desirable or gives poor results.
    </para>
    <para>
      The image is normally scaled to cover the entire pattern grid. This may not be suitable, therefore
      you can use the select tool to select an area that you want to cover and then select the
      <guimenu>Pattern</guimenu> <guimenuitem>Fit background to selection</guimenuitem>. This will
      rescale the image to fit within the selected area. You can continue doing this until you are happy
      with the result, even after you have started adding stitches.
    </para>
    <para>
      There is no limit to the number of times you change the background. Therefore you are not limited to
      just the one background per pattern.
    </para>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="pattern-libraries">
    <title>Pattern Libraries</title>
    <para>
      The pattern library manager can be used to store patterns for insertion into the working pattern.  They can be catagorised into
      a hierarchy of catagories and subcatagories with multiple root nodes in the library list.  The Alphabet tool makes use of these libraries
      to provide an alphabet of insertable characters that can be assigned an associated key.
    </para>
    <para>
      The library manager is a non modal dialog and can be left open whilst working on your pattern.  You can select different libraries as
      needed and then drag and drop library patterns onto the working pattern.
    </para>
    <para>
       Adding new catagory headings can be done with a &RMB; on either an existing entry, to create a sub catagory, or on a blank space on
       the library list, to create a new root entry, and selecting the New Catagory option.  Enter the name of the catagory and click OK.
    </para>
    <para>
      Creating a new library pattern is done by selecting an area of your working pattern, copying and pasting to one of the existing catagories.
    </para>
    <para>
      Each library pattern has properties, accessed by its context menu.  These properties include size, floss scheme, baseline value and associated key.
      The baseline value is used by the Alphabet tool to adjust the height of a character above, negative values, or below the insertion point.
      The associated key is again used by the Alphabet tool to match with the key pressed on the keyboard.
    </para>
  </sect1>
</chapter>
