If you have a new embroidery machine or want one, you're probably
thinking about all the gorgeous designs you can embroider with it.
Embroidery machines usually have built-in designs. But sooner or later,
you're going to want to create a project that requires something
different. You're going to have to know how to get designs, which
embroidery data format is compatible with your machine, how to get them
into your computer and transfer them to your embroidery machine. This
article explains what embroidery design files are and how to use them.
Where Do I Get Embroidery Designs?
You
can check out your local embroidery and sewing machine dealers. They
might have some designs on CDs or embroidery memory cards. The
disadvantage is that they don't have much of a selection. But if you're
there anyway, it won't hurt to look. You might just find the perfect
design.
The Internet is the most common place to find
embroidery designs. You can order them on memory cards or CDs, but most people
prefer to instantly download them as embroidery design files. You can
choose from a huge number of designs in many different styles and
themes.
Most designers also have free samples that you can try
before you buy one. It's good to check out a designer's work first
because there are all levels of quality out there. Sometimes you can
even find a free design that's right for your project.
If you buy
embroidery memory cards, you just stick the card into the card slot on
your embroidery machine.
Embroidery designs on CDs can be copied to your
computer. To download them from the Internet, you click the download
link that the designer provides. Or sometimes, they'll send you the link
by email.
Choose Embroidery Design Files Compatible With Your Machine
Embroidery
designs come in a lot of different formats. Each embroidery machine
model can only read embroidery data in certain formats. You can tell
what format the file is by the "file extension." The file extension is
the last three characters in the file name after the period. For
example, my Brother SE400 can read .pes files. You have to be certain to
get the format that is compatible with your particular machine.
Otherwise, you won't be able to use it.
Common Embroidery Data File Types And Machine Brands
Here is a list of machine brands and the common file types that they can read.
- .art -- Bernina
- .dst -- Tajima
- .exp -- Melco, Bernina
- .hus -- Viking Husqvarna
- .jef -- Janome
- .pcs -- Pfaff
- .psc -- Baby Lock, Bernina, Brother
- .pes -- Baby Lock, Bernina, Brother
- .sew -- Janome
- .shv -- Viking Husqvarna
- .vip -- Viking Husqvarna
- .vp3 -- Pfaff
- .xxx -- Singer
You'll notice that some brands are listed several times.
That's because different models use different formats. For example, the
home embroidery machines use one format and the commercial machines use a
different format. Check your user manual to find out what formats your
machine will read before downloading embroidery files.
Most design
sites offer a variety of formats to fit the various common machine
models. They will either tell you the format or let you choose the one
that works for you. Downloading the correct format is much safer than
than trying to convert the format later. Conversion just adds an extra
step to the process and another opportunity for things to go wrong.
.ZIP Files
Sometimes
embroidery design files come packaged in a ".zip" file. The file can
contain several of the real files. You must unzip it before you can use
it. Just double-click the file to unzip it. Then you'll see a folder
containing the embroidery files with the extension you need.
Embroidery is an ancient art. In museums, a lot of impeccable
fabrics and outfits have been decorated with the most beautiful threads,
stones and metallic details with images of flora and fauna, graphic
designs and emblems that surely denote the luxurious appeal that it has
during those times. In the modern times, people suddenly shift their
attention to productivity and creation of simple designs that have very
impactful results. Embroidery digitizing is a trend that is truly
essential to designs and they it surely appeals to the needs of many
manufacturers who need a more productive design business but still has a
sensational appeal.
Just
like in crafts, going to embroidery digitizing does not create
automatic results. It is still a problem solving and analytical process
that requires a lot of attention to detail, to plot lines that work
better for the design, to plot designs that are intricate yet more
digitally sound, and to improve some inconsistencies of asymmetry in the
analog design. It does not in any way remove the creativity the
attention to details of the creator. On the contrary, the attention to
detail becomes more apparent because in this case, the creator is more
focused on the overall visual look than in the process.
A common trend seen by embroiderer's over the last decade is to
outsource their embroidery digitizing work to overseas. Digitizing
business actually flourished due to the availability of internet
services in the developing countries during recent years. As the
communication is almost instant due to the use of email and other
internet based mediums, transfer of embroidery files is possible
abruptly. I would like to quickly discuss some major advantages of
outsourcing embroidery digitizing work instead of doing it in-house.
Growth and Survival: Most small embroidery firms
simply can't afford to match the in-house embroidery digitizing
facilities that larger companies maintain. Outsourcing can help small
embroidery firms act big by giving them access to the same economies of
scale, efficiency, and expertise that large companies enjoy.