There are two options of design creation, or their combination.
First one is PHOTOSHOP
1. A sock is actually a picture app. 160 x 400 px large.
The height of 400 px corresponds with size 40-41.
Any other size is plus-minus 10 px.
Therefore one have to think during the designing itself about the finishing of the pattern on the both ends (upper end and toetip).
You also have to forget about curves, other dimensions, antialias…
2. One knitted loop = one pixel.
The loop is not sqaure, it is rectangle with aspect ratio 1:1,41.
The settings in Photoshop are quite easy.
View / Pixel Aspect Ratio / Custom Pixel Aspect Ratio
Of course, you will not se OneSock setting there, you have to click „custom“ and then set it for „1,41“.
Open the file onesock_check_deformation.png – if your setting is correct, then oval will be cirle and rectangle will be square.
3. You can imagine this rectangle as a piece of cloth, which is placed on the foot from front (bridge), and knitted together on the back.
L = left, P = right – here is sample file:
4. You can draw into this file – you have to use Pen, not the brush and no antialias.
5. The production of the pattern is created by cutting the thread – when the machine does not need the particular colour thread, it cuts it off.
6. You can use a maximum of 10 colours, more colours more complications, it is better to use up to 6 colours for one pattern.
In case of stripes, you can use more then 6, without causing any problems.
The areas of one colour should be distanced from each other at least 32 loops – otherwise the machine will not cut the thread, and in the end the sock will be too tight, and not so comfortable and stretchy.
For example, you can have a small picture/pattern/logo, but you cant have many side by side, then the machine will not cut any thread at all.
7. Row is not finished, it does not have end or beginning, the whole sock is knitted row by row as a spiral.
8. Please save the file as PNG or PSD, not JPG.
9. I am attaching few sample pictures and colour sampler.
10. The best would be to consult your first „test“ patterns.
Second option is APPLICATION
It is always good for control and testing the pattern created in photoshop.
You can also draw in it. To work on the particular patterns in application might by easy but also difficult, it depends on your preferences, patience, etc.
It works both with iPad and Mac.
http://www.onesock.eu/onesock-app/