Running outline or tatami fill: which stitch style should I choose?

Choose based on the area you want stitched

Running outline traces the edges of processed color regions. Choose it when the boundary is the design, such as a simple line drawing or outlined shape. Tatami fill places rows inside those regions. Choose it when the colored interior should be covered. Switching styles changes the generated stitch paths; it does not recolor or alter the original source artwork.

Trame creates these paths from simplified raster regions. A thin source line can break into tiny areas or vanish during processing, so inspect Processed before deciding a stitch style. Satin columns are available with a fixed angle or an adaptive layout for narrow unbranched bands and rings. Wide, branched, or overly fragmented areas may be rejected; use tatami for those shapes. A running outline does not behave like satin lettering.

Compare both styles on the same layer

1. Import an image or add a text, emoji, rectangle, or ellipse layer. For a new image, enable color reduction and select Generate stitches in Properties. New text, emoji, and shape layers already have stitch controls.
2. Set Stitch style to Running outline and inspect Stitches or Simulate. Check whether the perimeter communicates the intended shape without a filled center.
3. Switch to Tatami fill. Start with Parallel rows, then adjust Row spacing, Fill angle, and Maximum stitch length while comparing coverage and stitch count.
4. If a decorative effect serves the design, compare Waves, Chevrons / zigzag, Crosshatch, Scallops, Wave lattice, Diamonds, or Triangular mesh.

Understand the decorative-fill tradeoffs

Parallel rows provide a regular fill. Waves, chevrons, and scallops bend each row; Pattern repeat controls how often the motif repeats and Pattern amplitude controls its reach. Crosshatch, wave lattice, and diamonds add crossing paths. Triangular mesh uses three crossing row sets. Extra crossings can increase stitches and thread coverage, so inspect the generated path rather than choosing a pattern by its artwork preview alone.

Row spacing controls how close fill lines sit, and smaller spacing makes denser paths. A decorative gap visible in the preview may remain open on fabric. Decorative fills do not support underlay or pull compensation. Optional securing stitches do not guarantee stable fabric; use a test sew to judge the actual edge and coverage.

• Open the Trame editor
• Reduce an embroidery design’s stitch count