The Gold Site Sample of a DesignAKnit Lesson
DAK
7 - Lesson 1
Opening DAK & Default Settings
Welcome
to our 1st DAK lesson. We
have written theses lessons with the beginner computer
operator in mind. We will take you step by step
with lots of pictures. We won't take you through
the installing process of DAK to your computer since
there are so many different types of computers. We
suggest that you contact Knitcraft.com if
you are having any difficulty.
Lesson
1 will show you how to open the "Stitch
Designer" mode, and help you to make changes to
the default settings.
Opening DAK to Stitch Designer Mode
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Open
the DAK program. You
will have a small icon on your desktop that
looks like this.
Double left click with the mouse button to open.
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Your computer screen will change to this.
This
is the opening screen for DAK. This
screen has links to the different modes in DAK. We
are using the Stitch Designer mode for this lesson. To
get to the Stitch Designer mode, do one of the following
3 options.
1. Click on the button with the green stitch
shapes.
2.
Click on "Mode" at the top
left, then "Stitch Designer".
3. Press the F7 key on your keyboard.
You are now in the Stitch Designer mode.
Stitch Designer Mode Layout
Below is a picture of the Stitch Designer mode with
the different parts labeled.
The
blue graph in the middle is the blank graph which is
where the designs
are drawn. Each
square equals 1 stitch.
Tool
Buttons are to the left. They
are used to draw & edit designs.
The
yarns are in a small window at the bottom right. It is called a woolbox. Each
color represents a new yarn.
Customizing the Default Settings
You will want to change the default settings to what
you most commonly will use. The default is the
blank graph that you will get each time to open DAK Stitch
Designer mode.
Unit of Measurement
The default unit of measurement is in centimeters. Most of us will
want to change this to inches.
Left
click 1 time on "Options" at
the top, then left click 1 time on "Units of Measurement".
You
will see the below window. Left
click 1 time in the diamond next to the setting you desire. We
choose Inches (tensions per inch) in the picture below. Left
click 1 time on the "OK" button.
Graph Size
The default graph size is 40 sts X 40 rows. This
is fine for some people, but others may want a bigger
graph. There are 2 options for changing the
graph size.
Option 1
Left click 1 time on "File" at the top. Then left
click 1 time on "New".
You
will get a warning window. You
will be asked "The stitch pattern has been changed. Save
current changes?". Left click 1 time on
the "No" button.
You
will see the below window. Type
the number of stitches & rows you want for the
graph size. Be sure to delete the "40". Left
click 1 time on the "OK" button.
Option 2
Press the "Crtl" & "N" keys at the same time.
You
will get a warning window. You
will be asked "The stitch pattern has been
changed. Save current changes?". Left
click 1 time on the "No" button.
You
will see the below window. Type
the number of stitches & rows you want for
the graph size. Be sure to delete the "40". Left
click 1 time on the "OK" button.
After
clicking on the "OK" button,
you will get a new graph. This graph will be
in the new size.
Main Color
Note the graph in the main window is blue. The default color
for the main color of each graph is blue. We will change it
to white (or a color of your choosing).
Look
at the Yarns small window. See
the blue color with the X through it? The X
indicates a main color. The colors without
an X are contrast colors.
There are 2 options for changing the
main color.
Option1
Left click 1 time on "Palettes" at the top. Then
1 left click on "Main & Contrast".
You
will see the below window. To
change a contrast color to a main color, left click
1 time on the color. This will put an X on
the color. Left click 1 time on the white color
to make it a main color. Left click 1 time
on the "OK" button.
Option2
Hold the "Ctrl" button down & left click 1 time on
the white color in the Yarns window. This will put an X on
the white to make it a main color.
Change Graph to White
Most will want to start with a white graph. You
will use the flood tool to fill the graph with the
white main color.
Left
click 1 time on the "Flood
Fill" tool. It has a picture of a paint
bucket on it. The red arrow points to the tool.
Left
click 1 time on the white color in the "Yarns" window. Left click 1
time on the blue graph. You can click anywhere
on the graph. Now your graph is white.
Save the Default Settings
You have customized the default settings for the "Stitch
Designer" mode. You need to save them.
Left
click 1 time on "File" at
the top. Then left click 1 time on "Save
As".
In
the white box under "File name:" type "default". Left
click 1 time on the "OK" button.
After
clicking the "OK" button,
you will get a message stating "This file already
exists. OK to overwrite it?" Left
click 1 time on the "OK" button.
Final Words
You have saved the default settings. Close
the DAK program, and open it. Go to Stitch Designer
mode. You will have a white graph instead of
a blue graph.
Homework
Oh yes, we thought we would give you some homework! You
don't need to turn it in to Knitters Edge, we just
thought it would be helpful for you to practice after
completing the lesson.
For the homework
Go through the lesson again. Change the default settings to something
different than described here. Then go through it again and change
the default settings to what you want to keep.
Over
an $1400 value for only
$70.00 US / year
that's the average
cost of only
3 pattern books
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