Table of Contents
Watch the video: “Ricoma Embroidery Machine: How to Use Built-in Fonts for Custom Text” by the creator.
If you run an embroidery shop or stitch for friends, you know the request: “Can you put my name right here?” Built-in fonts on your Ricoma make that a fast yes—no digitizing software needed. With a few taps for font density and distance, you’ll turn a quick name into a crisp, pro-level stitch-out.
What you’ll learn
- How to access the built-in font keyboard and type names fast
- The simplest way to visualize density and avoid zigzag-looking letters
- How letter spacing (Font Distance) affects readability
- A practical save–load–color–trace workflow to start stitching confidently
Unlocking Your Ricoma's Built-in Font Power
Why use built-in fonts? When someone just needs a monogram, team name, or label, built-in fonts are the quickest route from screen to stitch. You skip the digitizing step entirely and lean on the machine’s lettering engine to get it done. The video emphasizes efficiency—ideal for simple text jobs where speed and clarity matter.
Navigating to the font menu From the Ricoma touchscreen, tap Menu, then the ABC button to open the lettering keypad and settings panel. This is where you’ll enter text and adjust size, distance, and density before saving and stitching.
Pro tip Use a stylus or pencil tip on the touchscreen. Precise taps help avoid mis-presses on small icons and grids.
Typing Your Custom Text
Using the virtual keyboard Tap the ABC keypad to type your text. The creator shows typing a name and correcting a slip with the Clear (CL) button. Always scan the preview for misspellings before moving on—lettering mistakes are far easier to fix on-screen than after the needle drops.
Correcting typos Hit CL (Clear) to back up and retype individual characters. If large fingers make precise taps tricky, a stylus really helps minimize accidental character hits. Quick check: confirm your final spelling in the on-screen preview.
Mastering Font Density for Perfect Stitches
Understanding density settings Font Density controls how tightly the stitches are packed. In the video, the initial preview looks sparse—so sparse you can see a zigzag pattern inside the letterforms. That’s your cue to increase coverage by lowering the numeric density value.
Visualizing stitch quality The creator demonstrates stepping density from 0.9 down to 0.5, 0.3, and finally 0.2. Each decrease makes the fill look more solid. The sweet spot is the point where letters look fully filled without becoming overly stiff.
Watch out Too dense can make small text feel stiff, take longer to stitch, or increase the risk of thread issues—especially on lighter fabrics. If the preview looks brick-solid with no texture, nudge density slightly higher (less dense) and re-check.
Finding your optimal density Preview after every change. If you still see zigzag gaps, decrease the value again. If the fill looks congested or heavy, go the other direction. The video lands on a very dense setting for demonstration; the right value for you depends on fabric, stabilizer, and the font style you choose.
From the toolbox
- Consider keeping a small “density swatch” sampler on hand—a single word stitched at 2–3 different densities—so you can show customers how coverage changes.
- Maintain notes on your go-to settings by fabric type (e.g., twill vs. sweatshirt fleece) so you can move faster next time.
Achieving Ideal Letter Spacing (Font Distance)
The importance of kerning Even with great density, letters can look sloppy if they crowd each other. Font Distance adjusts the space between characters. In the video, bumping the value up creates a more natural-looking gap between letters.
Adjusting distance for readability Start from tightly spaced letters and incrementally increase the distance until it reads cleanly. Avoid extremes: too tight can blur shapes together; too wide can look disconnected. The creator demonstrates moving from 0.0 to 0.5 to 0.9 to achieve a balanced look.
Pro tip When spacing looks nearly right, step away for a few seconds, then glance back at the preview. Fresh eyes catch awkward spacing quickly.
Exploring Different Font Styles
Previewing built-in options Use the lower on-screen buttons to flip through built-in fonts and see how your text renders in each. Every font has its own personality—and some will need different spacing or density than others.
Adapting settings for new fonts When you switch fonts, do a quick re-check of density and distance. Some styles are naturally lighter or more open, while others pack stitches tightly. The creator flips back to a straightforward alphabet for a clean, fast stitch-out.
Saving, Loading, and Setting Colors
Storing your designs efficiently Once your text looks right, tap the save icon to store it. Then exit and open File to load the saved design from the machine’s memory. The video notes storage can fill up, which means you may need to delete old files to free space for new jobs. If you’re near capacity, tidy up before customers arrive.
Quick color assignment On the color screen, assign a single thread color across all letters for a fast, unified look. The creator selects the same number for each letter, making it a one-color run—a time-saver for names and labels. Use a stylus for accuracy when tapping small color boxes.
Watch out Make sure your physical thread loaded in the needle matches the color assignment on-screen. A mismatch between digital assignment and actual thread can cause unnecessary stops or the wrong color stitching.
Final Checks: Trace and Embroider
The essential pre-stitch trace Before pressing Start, run a trace so the machine outlines the design’s footprint within the hoop. This confirms your text fits in the hoop and lands exactly where you intend on the item. If the trace shows misalignment, re-hoop or reposition the design.
Starting your embroidery Once trace looks good, press Start and monitor the opening stitches to confirm that density and tension look solid. The video shows a dense stitch-out that reads bold and clean—exactly what you want for simple name jobs.
Quick check
- Did you confirm spelling on-screen?
- Is density low enough numerically to fill the letters cleanly on your fabric?
- Does Font Distance read “natural” from an arm’s length away?
- Did you trace the design in the hoop before starting?
Results you can expect A neat, legible name that looks filled-in and professional, stitched quickly with no separate digitizing step. For busy shops or last-minute requests, this workflow gets people in and out fast with great-looking results.
From the comments
- A viewer asked if it’s possible to upload more fonts (e.g., Olde English). The video doesn’t specify whether additional fonts can be added to the machine’s library.
- New owners found the short format helpful while waiting for formal training.
- Another viewer shared their training experience focused on switching to a cap driver, loading a file, hooping a cap, and stitching it out.
- One tip from the thread: if your fingertips are less precise on the touchscreen, use a stylus-like tool.
FAQ
How do I access the text input feature? Tap Menu on the Ricoma touchscreen, then tap the ABC button. This opens the virtual keyboard and font settings.
What is Font Density? It controls how tightly packed stitches are. Lowering the numerical value increases fill coverage for a more solid letter. If the preview looks like a zigzag on the inside, decrease the value and check again.
Can I save custom text designs directly on the machine? Yes. After setting text and parameters, tap the save icon. If you’re near storage capacity, remove older files to make room for new jobs.
What about letter spacing? Adjust Font Distance. Increase it if letters look crowded; decrease it if they feel too far apart. The video demonstrates 0.0 to 0.5 to 0.9 to normalize spacing.
Do I have to trace before stitching? You don’t have to—but you really should. A trace confirms the design’s footprint and placement in the hoop before the needle drops.
Troubleshooting quick hits
- Letters look “hollow” or zigzag inside: decrease the density value until fill coverage is solid.
- Letters look cramped: increase Font Distance in small steps.
- Storage full: delete unused designs before saving new text files.
- Touchscreen taps are imprecise: use a stylus or pencil tip.
Optional accessories and workflow notes While the video focuses on settings and the on-screen workflow, many shops also refine hooping efficiency. For some readers researching accessories for other machines or mixed-fleet shops, here are neutral references to common terms you may encounter in that research:
- Some users look into mighty hoops for ricoma when they want a magnetic-style hooping workflow for quick placement.
- If you run a mixed brand shop, you may also come across ricoma hoops and ricoma embroidery hoops discussions when comparing hoop options across machines.
- New Ricoma owners often ask about starter bundles; phrases like ricoma mighty hoop starter kit and 8 in 1 hoop ricoma may appear in accessory research. Always confirm compatibility with your specific model.
- If you see mentions of related accessories such as mighty hoop for ricoma and more general terms like hoops for ricoma, treat them as starting points for research—check exact sizes and fit for your machine.
Note: The video does not specify hoop models or third-party accessories. Always verify fit and compatibility with your exact machine before purchasing.