How to import a PDF pattern and trace it pixel-perfect

Tracing a PDF reference is the single fastest way to get a clean, accurate cross-stitch chart out of ixo — but only if you set it up correctly. Most failed imports come down to three things: a misaligned grid, the wrong opacity, and a fabric count that doesn't match the design. This walkthrough covers all three.

By the end you'll have a DMC-ready chart you can hand to anyone with a needle.

1. Drop the PDF onto the canvas

Open a new project and drag your pattern.pdf directly into the editor window. ixo recognizes the file type and offers two import modes:

• As background — rasterized layer underneath the grid. Best for tracing.
• Auto-stitch — runs the color-quantizer immediately. Faster, but less control.

For this tutorial pick As background. You'll get a new locked layer named after the file, with the PDF rendered at 200 dpi.

What about multi-page PDFs?

Multi-page PDFs import as separate layers, one per page. You can toggle them with 1–9 or hide layers from the right panel. Don't try to merge them — keep each page editable until you're ready to export.

2. Align the grid to the reference

This is the step that breaks most patterns. The imported PDF sits at its native size — but your stitch grid is set by the fabric count, not the PDF's pixel dimensions. You need to resize the PDF to match the grid, not the other way around.

1. Press G to show the stitch grid.
2. Set your fabric count in the right panel — 14 ct aida is the safe default.
3. Use the canvas resize handles (R) to scale the PDF layer until one cell of the design = one stitch.
4. Hold Shift while dragging to lock aspect ratio.

3. Pick your palette before you stitch

Tracing into a black canvas with the default palette is a beginner trap. Open the palette panel (P) and pick a DMC subset that matches the dominant colors of your reference — usually 6 to 12 floss colors is plenty.

The best charts use the fewest colors that still feel like the original. Twelve carefully-chosen DMCs beat twenty-four lazy ones every time.

4. Trace, in passes

Don't try to fill the entire chart in one go. Work in passes, like a painter:

1. Outline pass — trace the silhouette of the subject in your darkest floss.
2. Mid-tone pass — fill the bulk of each color region.
3. Highlight pass — add lights, sparkles, and small details last.

5. Export a DMC-ready chart

From the file menu pick Export → DMC chart (PDF). ixo will generate a multi-page document with the chart, a legend, and the floss-usage table.

Wrap-up

That's the full loop — import, align, palette, trace, export. Run it once on a small reference (a logo, a flag, a flat illustration) before you tackle a big project.

Got questions or hit a snag? Reach us on Telegram, or open an issue right from the editor's help menu.