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Machine embroidery– an endless creative freedom, you can stitch logos, floral designs, and virtually any image or sketch into embroidery.
However,you need to know how to convert png to an embroidery file as this is an essential step that you can't skip.
In this guide, I’ll break down this process in the simplest way possible.
Embroidery files contain the necessary instructions for an embroidery machine to create designs by stitching threads on a fabric. These instructions include details such as stitch types, colors, and sequences. Different embroidery machines use different file formats. Here are some common machine embroidery file formats:
Embroidery digitizing software converts logos and designs into patterns for embroidery machines. You can import images, adjust colors, add text, and preview the design to catch any mistakes. Once satisfied, save it in the format your machine needs. However, it's not easy for beginners as it requires manual input and isn't fully automated.
For instance, when you are converting an image into a digitized format, you have to manage multiple domains. These domains include stitch order, stitch density, stitch angle, stitch type, and areas of color. All these things are managed by skilled professionals called embroidery digitizers or designers.
It will require about a year for a beginner to be able to operate embroidery digitizing software efficiently. It also is a time-consuming job, as you have to pay attention to every little detail to manually convert an image into an embroidery file.
On the other hand, choosing to hire an in-house digitizer to handle these tasks and avoid the challenges mentioned above will require paying a full-time or part-time salary.
Lastly, this software alone comes with a hefty price tag. You have to purchase a complete software just to perform this one conversion. Therefore, if you need to do the conversion from png to an embroidery file only occasionally, this is not a practical option for you.
But, if you want to make a career in embroidery, or you are someone who regularly requires conversion to a digitized format, this might be a reasonable option for you. Note that professional embroidery digitizing asks for a rigorous skill set and a dynamic approach to learning. It requires hours and hours of persistent effort and hard work. Needless to say, not everybody has such liberty with time and persistence in the learning effort.
Another option that you usually get while searching to convert an image into an emb embroidery file format is online converter tools. These types of tools claim that you can convert images to embroidery files with just a click but this is a deceptive process.
These online converters do not really deliver what they promise. They just scam people by redirecting them to ads or pages with which they generate revenue. Hence they offer no genuine solution.
Moreover, many of them are phishing links and steal your sensitive data or even corrupt your device with malware. So, it would not be wrong to say that this is a scam and you need to be extra careful while trying these online tools.
Auto-digitizing refers to a method that uses embroidery digitizing software to convert images into digitized formats automatically. The software works based on a set of algorithms that determine colors, layers, stitch count, etc., without any manual effort.
Auto-digitizing may look convenient at first, but it delivers poor quality results. Many people have experienced issues such as stitching problems, bird nesting, and a lack of professional appearance in the final embroidered designs. This technology is still evolving and will take time to mature.
Auto-digitizing is generally only effective for very basic, typically single-color designs. For more complex needs, such as those requiring to convert logo to vector format, or if you need to convert AI to PNG or use a PNG to PES file converter, investing in high-quality embroidery digitizing software or seeking external help might be necessary. Relying solely on auto-digitizing can be impractical if it does not produce satisfactory results automatically.
Professional digitizing companies in the USA offer expert help to convert images into embroidery files. These services use ‘’specialized software’’ to create stitch patterns, adjust colors, and optimize designs for embroidery machines.
They can handle various formats like JPG, PNG, and BMP, delivering high-quality digitized files with quick turnaround times. For complex designs, outsourcing to a service like Vector art services is often the most cost-effective and efficient option.
If you have some knowledge of embroidery digitizing, you can use these basic steps to convert image to vector illustrator files. However, getting help from a professional is usually the best way to ensure top-quality results.
You will need software like Wilcom, Tajima Pulse, Hatch, or Ink/Stitch. Ink/Stitch is an open-source, free PNG to vector converter.
We will focus on using Wilcom Embroidery Software in this guide.
Now that you understand the different file formats, you’re ready to convert a PNG to an embroidery file.
Just follow the detailed step-by-step process using embroidery digitizing software.
If you’re dealing with complex designs, though, consider getting help from a professional to make sure everything turns out perfectly!