3D effects
Stitch over 3D foam, puff plastic, or warped surfaces — StitchKit calculates the geometry, you load the puff/foam onto the hoop.
Effect types
| Effect | What it does | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Foam | Adds tack-down + capping stitches around a 3D foam shape | Cap front, jacket back, logos |
| Puff | Heat-activated puff plastic underlay, satin column on top | Sportswear numbers, varsity |
| Sphere | Warps the design over a virtual hemisphere | Globes, ball logos, dome shapes |
| Cone | Warps the design over a cone surface | Cone-shaped patches |
Apply an effect
Select one or more blocks → sidebar EFEKT group → click the effect. Each effect opens a parameter panel:
- Foam height — thickness of the foam stock you're using (2mm / 3mm / 4mm typical)
- Tack-down spacing — how often the tack stitches penetrate to hold the foam
- Sphere/Cone curvature — radius + tilt sliders, live preview in canvas
Photoreal preview (Render Mode)
View → Render Mode → Photoreal switches the canvas to a directional-light photorealistic preview with Kajiya-Kay thread sheen, perspective camera, and 8 fabric presets (cotton, denim, fleece, terry, knit, polo-pique, oxford, satin).
The Photoreal preview shows you how the 3D effect lands on the fabric before you stitch it. Switch back to Stitch mode for editing.
Tier
3D effects (Foam, Puff) are available on Starter and up. Sphere, Cone, and Photoreal preview require Pro or Ultimate.
Notes
- Foam needs a tear-away cap stitch at the end. StitchKit generates it automatically; don't disable unless you know what you're doing.
- Puff plastic needs heat post-stitch. The puff underlay is invisible until heated.