Seamless Appliqué: BES Embroidery Lettering 3 with Brother ScanNCut

Introduction to BES Embroidery Lettering 3 and ScanNCut Integration

BES Embroidery Lettering 3 includes a ScanNCut feature that turns appliqué placement lines into solid artwork you can cut. The result is a tight handoff from software prep to the Brother ScanNCut, so fabric pieces meet your embroidery placement right where you want them.

What is BES Embroidery Lettering 3? BES Embroidery Lettering 3 is used here to select a hoop, insert a built-in appliqué, and convert its placement line to cuttable artwork. The video demonstrates choosing a 100x100mm hoop, centering the design, and switching over to Tools > ScanNCut to transform the stitch placement line into a solid shape for cutting. While the embroidery machine model is not specified, the workflow is clear and accessible. brother embroidery machine

How ScanNCut enhances embroidery projects Cut accuracy is everything for appliqué. By scanning the mat or importing an FCM traced from a PNG, the ScanNCut aligns cut paths over your actual fabric. You can also mirror pieces and add 1 mm to ensure the embroidery’s satin stitch fully covers the fabric edge. The video shows both ways: scanning printed artwork directly on the machine or exporting to ScanNCut Canvas and saving to USB for the machine.

Preparing Your Applique Design in BES Software

Setting up your digital workspace

• Open BES Embroidery Lettering 3.

• Select the hoop: click the hoop down arrow > Select Hoop > choose 100x100mm.

• Insert a built-in appliqué: Add Design > Add Appliqué Design.

- Click on the canvas to place it at the digitized size; then Select, Arrange > Center to confirm it fits.

This ensures your design is proportioned and centered within a known working area. The video centers a flower appliqué on the 100x100mm hoop and confirms placement visually on-screen.

Selecting and customizing applique shapes The software includes built-in appliqué designs. In the Properties window, clicking to the right of the design name opens the internal library. Choose what you like (the video uses a flower), insert it at default size, and confirm it centers inside your hoop. If you’re pairing these fabric cuts with embroidery hoop placement later, keep your real hoop size in mind while arranging. brother embroidery hoops

Converting and Exporting for ScanNCut

Transforming embroidery designs into cuttable artwork

• Deselect the design, go to Tools, and click ScanNCut. The appliqué placement line becomes solid artwork.

- If the design has multiple parts (the flower has a center and an outer piece), drag them apart so you can manage them independently.

Separating the pieces helps with color planning and cutting different fabrics. It also makes printing or exporting cleaner, since you can confirm each part is captured correctly.

Printing vs. exporting: choosing the right method Method A: Print the artwork

• B menu > Print > Print Preview.

• Click Settings; uncheck Print Color Analysis and Show Crosshair.

• If you use a black-and-white printer, change the artwork pieces to solid black for a higher-contrast printout.

- Print the page; you’ll see only the artwork shapes.

Method B: Export a PNG for ScanNCut Canvas

• B menu > Export Image.

• Save as type: PNG File.

- Name it (e.g., Flower), choose your folder, and click Save, leaving defaults as-is.

Printing is great if you want to scan the page directly on the ScanNCut. Exporting a PNG is ideal if you prefer to use ScanNCut Canvas to trace to FCM before moving to the machine. Either way, you’ll have clean shapes ready to cut. brother magnetic frame

Pro tip Remove crosshairs and color analysis in Print Preview. You’ll get a clean silhouette that scans more reliably and is easier to align on the ScanNCut screen.

Using ScanNCut Canvas for Digital Prep (Optional)

Importing PNG files for tracing

• Log into ScanNCut Canvas and start a new project.

• Choose Image Tracing Mode, select your saved PNG, and open it.

- Click Preview and look for blue outlines around your shape. If they trace correctly, click OK.

You’ll now see your traced cut file outline on the Canvas. This is the version you’ll download as an FCM to transfer to your ScanNCut.

Saving your FCM file to USB

• Insert a USB stick.

• Title the project (e.g., Flower).

• Press Download, then right-click the FCM link and choose Save Link As to your removable drive.

- Safely eject the USB.

Watch out If you don’t see crisp blue outlines during tracing, recheck the PNG’s contrast. Solid black silhouettes tend to trace cleanly. brother magnetic embroidery frames

Cutting Applique Pieces with Your ScanNCut Machine

Scanning your template or loading from USB Option 1: Scan a printed template

• Place the printed artwork on your cutting mat and load it.

• On the ScanNCut, choose Scan > Scan to cut data, and start.

• After recognition, select the outside edges, crop if needed, and save to the machine’s memory.

- Eject the scan mat.

Option 2: Load the FCM from USB

• Home > Pattern > Saved Data.

• Select USB, locate your Flower FCM, and press OK.

- Proceed with the same editing steps as the scanned version.

Quick check If you’re aligning to real fabric, scan the mat with fabric already placed. You’ll be able to nudge cut shapes over the fabric on-screen.

Optimizing settings for fabric cutting Place your fabric (prepared with adhesive contact/support sheets as shown) on the mat and load it into the machine. Scan to visualize fabric positions, then move each piece onto the fabric regions. The video places a flower and its center on differently colored fabric pieces.

The demonstrator mirrors pieces and increases their size by 1 mm because the fabric is face down with adhesive on top. This small increase helps the satin stitch catch the edge during embroidery. If you need to work in metric, change the unit in Settings.

From the video: the blade depth used is about 4.25 and pressure is 2. These values are examples; your optimal settings depend on your fabric and mat condition. Always test before cutting your final fabric.

Cutting and retrieving your perfect applique

• Once placement and size are set, press Cut and Start. The ScanNCut completes the cuts.

• Eject the mat and carefully peel the background fabric away from the appliqué pieces.

- Your flower and center are ready for embroidery.

Pro tip Peel the mat away from the fabric, not the fabric off the mat. This reduces distortion and prevents delicate fabrics from stretching.

Tips for Successful Applique Cutting

Adjusting blade depth and pressure

• The video shows blade depth around 4.25 and pressure at 2 for the demonstrated fabric.

• Your machine and fabric may require different settings. Always do a small test cut.

• Replace or clean mats as needed; a fresh, properly tacky mat helps hold fabric during precise cuts. brother sewing and embroidery machine

Mirroring designs for fabric placement

• If fabric is face down with contact sheets on top, mirror each piece on the machine.

• Add +1 mm to each piece to ensure satin stitch coverage of the raw edge in embroidery.

• Verify placement by scanning the mat with your actual fabric in place so you can drag pieces into position before cutting. brother hoops

Watch out Forgetting to mirror when needed or skipping the +1 mm bump can leave a sliver of fabric outside your satin stitch. The video explicitly mirrors and bumps each piece by 1 mm to avoid this.

Workflow recap

• In BES: select 100x100mm hoop, insert built-in appliqué, center it.

• Convert placement lines to artwork with Tools > ScanNCut.

• Separate pieces; print (no crosshairs) or export PNG.

• If using Canvas: trace the PNG, download FCM to USB.

• On the ScanNCut: load template or FCM, scan fabric, mirror as needed, bump size +1 mm, set blade/pressure, cut, and peel.

From the studio Nothing replaces the clarity of seeing fabric and cut paths together on-screen. Scanning the mat with fabric in place is a simple step that pays off in accuracy—and in appliqués that sit perfectly under your stitches. brother magnetic hoop

From the comments

• Question: Why not allow export directly to .fcm like some other software?

• Status: Not answered in the thread. The video shows exporting PNG and using ScanNCut Canvas to trace, then saving the FCM.

• Question: Is this an update to Canvas or a separate program?

• One reply indicates it’s an additional purchase associated with ScanNCut Canvas. The video does not specify purchasing details beyond the workflow steps.

Closing thoughts This approach gives you two reliable paths: print-and-scan or PNG-to-FCM via Canvas. Both lead to tidy cuts that match your placements in BES. Keep mirroring and that +1 mm expansion in mind, scan your actual fabric for placement, and you’ll minimize trimming while maximizing clean satin coverage. brother magnetic embroidery frames