Source Image Overlay

Show your original photo or illustration as a faint overlay while you edit. Great for tracing, checking alignment, and comparing colors.

Shortcut: U Location: Left toolbar → Overlay
Keyboard & modifiers
U
Toggle overlay visibility

Basics

Source Image Overlay is your "tracing paper" mode — it shows the original image faintly over (or under) your stitches.

Overlay overview — toggle visibility, adjust opacity, change layer order

Use it for:

  • Tracing outlines (especially with Backstitch).
  • Checking if faces or text still read after conversion.
  • Comparing colors while you tweak the palette.
  • Verifying the conversion against a well-chosen reference photo.

The overlay is read-only — you can't paint on it. Press U anytime to toggle it on and off.

Loading an overlay

If your pattern came from an image import, Stitchmate already knows the original image — just press U (or click Overlay) and it appears.

If there's no source image yet, you'll see a "Choose image" button. Click it to upload any common image format (JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF).

Choose image button — upload an overlay when no source image exists

The overlay is saved with your pattern, so it loads instantly next time.

Under the hood (optional)

To keep pattern files small, Stitchmate stores a compressed copy of the overlay (max ~1000px on the longest side, as WebP). A higher-resolution copy (up to ~2000px) may be used for on-screen display.

Opacity

The Opacity slider controls how see-through the overlay is.

  • 0–100% (default 75%).
  • 0% = invisible.
  • 100% = fully covers what's underneath.

Click the opacity icon and drag the slider — it updates live.

Opacity slider — drag to blend overlay with stitches

Pro tip: For tracing, 40–60% works well — you can see both the original and your stitches clearly. For quick color reference, bump it to 80–90%.

Layer order

Choose where the overlay sits relative to your stitches:

  • Behind stitches — your stitches stay crisp on top, the image peeks through gaps and empty areas. Best for tracing.
  • In front of stitches (default) — the original sits directly over the result, so differences jump out. Best for comparison.
  • In front of stitches and grid — overlay covers everything, including the grid lines.
Layer order dropdown — behind stitches, in front of stitches, in front of grid

Visibility

Toggle overlay visibility anytime:

  • Keyboard: Press U (works from any tool).
  • Toolbar: Eye icon (when the Overlay tool is active).

If the pattern already has a saved source image, pressing U will load it instantly — handy for quick checks without switching tools.

Visibility is remembered per pattern — reopen it and the overlay comes back the same way.

Changing & removing the image

In the Image menu:

  • Change image — pick a different overlay image.
  • Remove overlay — clears the overlay from the canvas.

Removing the overlay doesn't delete the source image from the pattern. You can bring it back with U anytime.

Image menu — Change image, Remove overlay

Tips & gotchas

  • U is the fast toggle. Check the overlay, toggle it off, keep editing. No tool switching required.
  • Auto-fitted on purpose. The overlay always aligns to the pattern bounds — no manual positioning.
  • Doesn't export. The overlay is screen-only; PDF and image exports are unaffected.
  • Import image is reused. Patterns made from photos automatically use that original as the overlay. You can replace it via Change image.
  • Settings persist. Opacity and layer order are saved with the pattern.
  • Works from any tool. U always works, even mid-drawing.
  • NSFW filtering applies. Overlay uploads are checked the same way as image imports.