The Ultimate Guide from Eagle Digitizing to Converting Images to Embroidery Files

When you recently bought your digitizing embroidery machine, did you know that you can use JPEG or JPG images for personalizing your project? You can’t simply use JPEG or JPG images for these machines because of the way the designs are made for the machine. Instead, you need an image file in a specific format, like PES or DST.

You must convert the design file to an acceptable embroidery file format before you can successfully begin the process. In this article, we will discuss how to digitize embroidery images and determine the different formats that are best for your embroidery machine, as well as the process for converting them.

In this guide, you will learn different ways to convert files to PES or DST formats.jpg and how to convert between PES and DST.

What is the most common image format?

When seeking to convert an image to an embroidery file, there are many possibilities for the format of the image. Two main characteristics of an image file may determine its best use, namely whether it is a raster or vector image, and whether it is lossy or lossless. A raster image is an image made up of millions of color pixels, while a vector image is an image made up of mathematically determined points and paths.

Lossy or lossless refers to whether an image loses quality during file compression. Lossy images permanently lose some of their data after compression, which can lead to lower image quality. In contrast, lossless images are compressed while maintaining all image quality and can be extracted back to their original state.

What is the format of the embroidery digitizing file?

While we've looked at the most common image formats, these are not the same as embroidery file formats. Although there is a wide variety of embroidery file formats, it depends on which files are compatible with which machine. The two most common stitch data file formats are. PES and.Daylight saving time. Other embroidery file formats include ART, DST, HUS, JEF, PES, and VIP.

What is the PES file format?

PES (Physical Editor Worksheet File) is a sibling embroidery format that is not only compatible with sibling embroidery machines. This file contains information about the design, such as color, where to stop, jump or stitch, and stitch width and length.

What program opens PES files?

PES files can be opened through a number of embroidery apps, including BALARD Embird Studio, BuzzXplore, Designer Gallery Studio Plus, Embroidermodder, PREMIER+ Embroidery and S&S Computing. Although not an embroidery application, Adobe Photoshop is also a good choice when working with PES files.

What is the DST file format?

DST (Data Stitch Tajima) is one of the oldest Stitch data formats and one of the most common. It is a file format used by Tajima commercial embroidery machines, but can be opened with many different embroidery software applications and can be used on almost any embroidery machine.

What is the JEF file format?

.JEF (Janome Embroidery Format) is the stitch data format used by modern Janome embroidery machines and can also be read by Elna machines. It can be opened by BALARD Embird Studio and Janome Art Digitizer. In addition, there is a.jef + stitch data file, used by Janome, which is editable.

What file format does brother use?

.PES is the default file format for Brother Embroidery machines. Brother machines can also read. Daylight saving time,.phc,.pen.

What file format does Bernina use?

Many modern Bernina machines can read a variety of file types, including. Experience, art. Daylight saving time,.pes,.pec,.sewing,.xxx,.pcs and. Jeff.

How to digitize embroidery images?

Digital embroidery sounds simple, you just load the desired image into a memory card and insert it into the machine, press a few buttons and it will begin the process. However, common image formats, such as JPG, JPEG, PNG, etc., cannot be recognized by embroidery machines. Before you can start the process, you need to convert these images to an embroidery file format, which makes it a little more complicated.

Before you start digitizing images, you must know which format is right for your machine brand. Not all of them accept the same format. For example, the Brother uses PES, while the Singer uses XXX. You can view the table above or browse the manual that came with the machine at the time of purchase.

Now that you understand the file format, you will need software or applications to digitize your images, and we'll cover two applications that you can use in this section.

How to digitally embroider logos in illustration?

Adobe Illustrator is a graphic design application for creating vector graphics or vector images. When we say vector images, these images consist of points, lines and shapes based on mathematical formulas, rather than pixels normally found in JPG format. If your image is vectorized, zooming in or out will not affect its quality compared to a pixelated image or what we call a raster image.

To digitize your image in Illustrator, import the desired logo or image into Illactr, add a new layer on top of the current layer, trace the outline using the Ellipse Tool, and then finish it using the Rectangle Tool. If you want to add details (like color), you can use the Pen Tool.

Before exporting the finished logo, make sure you use the correct Settings applicable to embroidery to avoid messing up your stitches. Creating a new logo on a clean vector file is critical. However, Adobe Illustrator does not save your files in embroidery format. You still need a plug-in or separate software to convert it. Illustrator is only used for vectorizing your logos, which is essential for smooth stitching of the machine.

What does it take to convert an image into an embroidery file?

There are different steps to converting an image into an embroidery file, and as we discussed earlier, this requires that you have a program suitable for digitization, as well as software to convert these digitized images into embroidery files that can be read by a machine.

The machine embroidery file contains all the necessary information needed so that your machine can perform the stitch correctly. This may include how many different threads are needed, their colors and where to stitch them according to the design. Programs like Illustrator and Photoshop can be used to digitize your images. You can also use illustrated embroidery plug-ins like Embroidery i2 if you want to convert vector images directly into embroidery patterns. Otherwise, you can purchase a stand-alone software that can convert your digitized images into embroidery files. Their prices may vary, and one software may not work with certain brands of machines. It is recommended that you research and examine the best method for your type of machine before making a purchase.