Embroidery digitizing guides
Practical answers for shops and home embroiderers: how digitizing works, what it costs, what size to stitch a logo and how to prepare artwork.
How to Digitize a Logo for Embroidery, Step by StepLogo-specific digitizing: simplify, size first, fills vs satins, lettering rules, cap versions, Illustrator prep and fixing test sew-outs.
How to Digitize for Embroidery: A Step-by-Step Beginner GuideAn honest DIY tutorial: software options, a step-by-step workflow, starting settings and the beginner mistakes to avoid.
Left Chest Logo Size: Standard Dimensions and PlacementStandard left chest logo sizes by garment, placement measurements, pocket logos and minimum text height.
What Is Embroidery Digitizing? A Plain-English GuideHow artwork becomes a stitch file: what a digitizer decides, the three stitch types, underlay, density and sewing order.
Auto Digitizing vs Manual Digitizing: What Automatic Tools MissHow auto and AI digitizing work, where they are good enough, where they fail, and a checklist for any auto-digitized file.
Best Embroidery Digitizing Services: How to Choose the Right OneA practical buyer checklist for judging any digitizing company: prices, proofs, formats, revisions, turnaround and red flags.
Best Embroidery Digitizing Software: A Fair ComparisonA fair look at the main embroidery digitizing programs, who each one suits, Mac options, and when outsourcing makes more sense.
Embroidery Underlay and Density: A Practical Guide by FabricUnderlay types, what density means, how the two interact, and practical underlay and density choices for common fabrics.
Free Embroidery Digitizing Software: Real Options and Their LimitsInk/Stitch, free trials, free viewers and online converters: what free digitizing tools can do and where they fall short.
Hat Embroidery Size: Logo Dimensions for Fronts, Sides and BacksMaximum logo sizes for cap fronts, sides, backs, visors and beanie cuffs, with tips on crown profile and measuring.
How Much Does Embroidery Digitizing Cost? 2026 Price GuideMarket prices per design from our 2026 check of 12 services, what drives the fee, and why you pay for a design only once.
How to Design a Logo for Embroidery (and What Artwork to Send)What artwork to send for digitizing and the design rules that make a logo stitch well: text size, lines, colors and contrast.
Puff Embroidery: What 3D Puff Is and How It WorksWhat 3D puff embroidery is, how it is made, where it works and how to care for it.
Pull Compensation in Embroidery: What It Is and How to Set ItWhat pull compensation is, typical values by fabric, satin vs fill differences, and the sew-out symptoms of wrong settings.
File formats and tools
Embroidery File Formats: Which File Your Machine UsesWhich embroidery file format each machine brand reads, stitch files vs artwork, and machine files vs working files.
Bernina Embroidery File Format: ART and EXP ExplainedBernina EXP and ART files explained: which one your machine stitches, where colors are stored, USB transfer and conversion.
DST File: What It Is and How to Open, Make or Convert OneThe Tajima DST embroidery format explained: what is inside, which machines use it, and how to open, make or convert one.
EMB File: What Wilcom EMB Files Are and How to Use ThemThe Wilcom EMB working format: what it stores, why shops want it, version compatibility, and converting EMB to machine files.
PES File Format: Brother and Baby Lock Embroidery FilesThe Brother PES embroidery format: what is inside, versions, thread colors, hoop limits and how to make or convert a PES file.
PXF File: The Pulse Embroidery Working Format ExplainedThe Pulse PXF working format: what it stores, which software opens it, and how to convert PXF to DST and other machine files.
VP3 Embroidery Files: The Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff FormatThe VP3 embroidery format for Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff: what it stores, older HUS, VIP and PCS files, software and conversion.
Free Embroidery Tools: File Viewer, Converter and CalculatorsFree browser tools: file viewer, converter, stitch estimator, hoop checker, pricing calculator and placement guide.
Free DST File Viewer: Open DST, PES, JEF and More OnlineOpen DST, PES, EXP, JEF, VP3 and XXX embroidery files in your browser. See stitch count, size, colors and jumps. Nothing is uploaded.
Free Embroidery File Converter: DST, PES, JEF and EXPConvert DST, PES, EXP, JEF, VP3 and XXX stitch files to DST, PES, JEF or EXP in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Embroidery Hoop Sizes: Chart and Free Hoop Size CheckerHoop sizes for Brother, Baby Lock, Janome, Bernina and commercial machines, with a checker that finds the hoop your design fits.
Embroidery Placement Guide with Printable TemplatesWhere to place embroidery on shirts, jackets, caps, towels and aprons, with a real-size template you can print.
Embroidery Pricing Calculator: Price Jobs by Stitch CountPrice embroidery jobs from your own stitch rate, minimum, setup fee and quantity discounts, and copy a price chart.
Embroidery Stitch Estimator: Stitch Count, Run Time and PriceEstimate the stitch count and machine run time of a logo from its size and coverage, and see our flat price for that size.
Send us your logo. See the proof before you pay.
Flat prices from $14, every machine format included, and a 24-hour standard turnaround. First order: buy 1, get 1 free, up to $24.