Supported files

File sources

There are two types of embroidery file format:

Design:	Design files, also known as ‘outline’ or 'all-in-one' files usually contain digitized shapes and lines, selected stitch types and stitch values and effects.
Machine:	Machine files, also known as ‘stitch’ files contain only stitches and machine functions and are suited to specific embroidery machines.

While design files are broadly classified as ‘embroidery’ (outline) or ‘machine’ (stitch), the software internally tags files as belonging to one of four types – native design (A), imported outlines (B), processed stitches (C), or imported stitches (D). These are summarized as follows:

Grade	Source	Description
A	Native design	Native EMB designs as well as ART and JAN files are all ‘Grade A’ design formats read and written by the software. They are called ‘Grade A’ because they contain a complete set of design information in a single file – object outlines, properties, stitches, thread colors, thumbnail image, and comments. It goes without saying that only Grade A files provide 100% perfect scaling and transformation.
B	Imported outlines	Designs read from an outline format such as CND / GNC and saved in ART / EMB / JAN format. Such designs cannot be read directly by the software but once converted, they are treated as Grade B designs.
C	Processed stitches	Designs read from machine files – EXP, DST, PES, etc – where stitches have been converted to objects. Such converted files may have limitations in resizing.
D	Imported stitches	Designs read from stitch files, where outlines may or may not have been recognized, but stitches have not been regenerated through stitch processing. Note, however, that if you change a stitch design – e.g. add a lettering object – the status changes to ‘Processed Stitches’ even though the imported stitches may not have been regenerated. Such files are not generally suited to resizing.

For information about the source of an embroidery file, refer to the Design tab of the Design Information docker.