Density above the fabric's threshold causes puckering, needle perforation damage, and stitch breakage. The validator names the affected regions and the percentage you're over. Thin the design — but thin it correctly so the result still reads.
Steps · 4
Thin density without losing definition
- 01Identify the fabric profileDensity thresholds are fabric-specific. If you haven't set a fabric profile on the project, set it now (cotton tee, performance polo, fleece, canvas, etc.) — the validator's recommendations recalculate per profile and the right thinning amount changes.
- 02Thin fills before columnsTatami fills (large solid areas) absorb thinning gracefully — increase row spacing by 0.1 mm and the fill still reads as solid. Satin columns are more sensitive — too-thin satin loses the ribbon-smooth look that makes lettering legible. Thin fills first, re-validate, then touch columns only if still over.
- 03Use under-fill rather than reducing top densityFor a satin column that's right at the density threshold, adding an under-fill (sparse zigzag underlay) lets you keep top density while reducing the total stitches landing on the same fabric coordinate. The top satin still looks the same; the fabric absorbs less stitch energy.
- 04Re-run validation after each changeDensity math doesn't compose linearly across changes — thinning one fill can shift the density-budget calculation for adjacent regions. Re-validate after each change rather than batching three edits and re-running once.