An embroidery machine can't sew a picture. It needs a stitch file: a list of needle positions, color changes and trims in a format your machine reads, such as DST for commercial machines or PES for Brother. Turning artwork into that file is called digitizing. This guide shows how to do it in SatinSmith, from a logo image to a file that's ready to load on your machine.
Before you start: check the artwork
Logos with a few flat colors and clean edges digitize best. Gradients, photos and fine shadows don't translate into thread well. If the file is a blurry screenshot or a phone photo of a sign, switch on AI cleanup when you upload it (see cleaning up a blurry logo).
- Use the biggest version you have. A 1000 px wide logo gives cleaner edges than a 200 px icon.
- Mind thin details. Lines thinner than about 1 mm at the finished size are hard to sew; small text needs to be at least about 6 mm (0.25 in) tall.
- Only upload artwork you own or have permission to use.
Step by step
Open the studio and upload the logo
Sign in and open the studio. In the Artwork panel choose Image, then drop your PNG, JPG or WebP onto the upload area or click to browse. Large images are shrunk in your browser before they're uploaded.
Set the finished size
In the Size panel pick where the design goes: Left chest (90 mm), Cap front (55 mm), Sleeve (70 mm), Patch (100 mm), Tote bag (180 mm) or Jacket back (250 mm). Choose Custom to type an exact width. Size matters: the same logo is stitched differently at 55 mm than at 250 mm.
Pick the fabric
In the Fabric panel choose Woven (twill, denim, canvas), Knit (t-shirts, polos, hoodies), Cap, Towel (towels and fleece) or Light (linen, silk, quilting cotton). Each one changes the underlay, density and pull compensation. Our fabric settings guide explains which to use.
Watch it sew
The preview in the middle is the real stitch-out. Press play to watch every stitch in the order your machine will sew it, speed it up to 20× or 100×, or drag to any point. Switch between Hoop and Design, and open View to show the density map or the travel moves.
Check the threads and the warnings
Under Threads, each color is matched to the nearest thread in the brand you choose, such as Madeira Polyneon or Isacord. Merge two similar colors or remove one you don't want. Checks flags long stitches, thick spots, hoop fit and lettering that's too small, and Details shows the stitch count and machine time.
Fine-tune if you need to
Open Advanced to change how many colors are detected, how the background is removed (Auto remove, White only or Keep all) and the fill direction. Every change re-stitches the design in a second or two, and previews never use a download.
Download the file for your machine
When the stitch-out looks right, unlock the design. That uses one download and covers every format. Pick your machine, for example Brother, Janome or Tajima, and you get the right file, or download all 8 formats as a .zip. Edits and re-downloads of that design are free from then on.
Print the production sheet and test-sew
Open the Production sheet for the stitch count, run time and thread list. Then sew one on scrap fabric or a spare blank with the same stabilizer you'll use for the real job before you start a big run.
Which file should I download?
Pick your machine in the download panel and SatinSmith hands you the right format. If you prefer to choose the file yourself, this is what each one is for:
| Format | Machines |
|---|---|
| DST | Tajima, Barudan, Ricoma, SWF and most commercial multi-needle machines |
| PES | Brother, Baby Lock, Bernette |
| JEF | Janome, Elna |
| EXP | Bernina, Melco |
| VP3 | Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff |
| XXX | Singer |
| U01 | Barudan |
| PEC | Older Brother and Baby Lock machines |
Tips for a cleaner stitch-out
- Fewer colors sew better. If two shades of blue are almost the same, merge them. Every color change costs time on a single-needle machine.
- Don't shrink a detailed logo too far. If the checks warn about small details, go up a size or simplify the artwork.
- Match the fabric setting to the garment. A logo set for woven twill can pucker or sink on a knit polo.
- Use the right stabilizer. Cut-away for knits, tear-away for stable wovens, and a water-soluble topping on towels.
Questions
Can I convert a JPG logo to a PES file for free?
Yes. Previews are always free, and every account gets 3 free downloads a month. Each download unlocks a design in all 8 formats, including PES.
Will a file from SatinSmith sew on my machine?
If your machine reads DST, PES, JEF, EXP, VP3, XXX, U01 or PEC, it can sew the file. Load it the same way as any purchased design: USB stick, your machine's Wi-Fi app or its software.
Is it as good as a hand-digitized file?
For logos, badges and lettering with a few solid colors, you get a clean, sewable file in minutes. A professional digitizer still does better on very complex artwork, such as tiny text, photo-realistic portraits and detailed crests. Watch the preview and test-sew before a large order.