How to Get Free Embroidery Digitizing Software?
The embroidery digitizing isn’t the cheapest of interest to pursue.
The biggest cost involved in the process is definitely accessing a standard and professional digitizing software, which costs at least hundreds of dollars.
Then there’s the cost of thread, embroidery and much more.
So, yeah, you are genuinely legitimate to ask “how to get free embroidery digitizing software”, to save a few hundred bucks.
Fortunately, there are multiple free embroidery digitizing software, which you can get your hands around and pursue your embroidery passion.
Yes, these free embroidery digitizing software aren’t anywhere near the professional and paid software in terms of features and tools, but then you can’t expect them to be, do you?
However, even with limited customization options and integrated designs, these free embroidery digitizing software offer enough utility and features to serve your individual embroidery design needs, at the beginner and amateur level.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s just jump-start our list of best free embroidery digitizing software you can download and start working with.
Types of Free Embroidery Software
Before we move on to see some of the best free embroidery digitizing software, it is worth looking at the various options available in the market. This will help you understand the different software available in the market and choose the best option that meets your requirements.
Free File Converters
The first and perhaps the simplest free embroidery digitizing software type is the free file converters. These software are used to change the format of the embroidery file in compliance with your embroidery machine. For instance, you may want to convert .jef embroidery format into .pes file format to be used on Brother Embroidery Machine. This can quickly be done by choosing a free file converter software.
These software are great for taking an embroidery file in one format and converting it to the desired format. Remember, these software do not convert a .jpg or .png file into an embroidery file; rather, they convert the format of an existing embroidery file into another format.
Free Thumbnail Software
Generally, the design picture of a downloaded embroidery design isn’t displayed on a computer; rather, you only get a generic icon on display. However, if you wish to display an embroidery design image, you would need free thumbnail software to do the trick for you.
Free Editing Software
As can be taken by name, free editing software represents a type of free embroidery digitizing software that are used to enhance or customize an existing digitized file. The software can be used for a variety of reasons, including; resizing the digitized design, splitting a digitized design into small designs, adding basting boxes to the embroidery designs or adding knockdown stitches to the digitized designs.
The software can also be used to perform basic editing of stitches, changing the thread color, merging multiple designs, and many more things.
Free Embroidery Digitizing Software
This is basically what we usually referred to as the embroidery digitizing software, used to create a digitized design from any artwork. In essence, there are two broad categories of embroidery digitizing software, including; automated digitizing software and manual digitizing software.
The automated digitizing software includes various automated features to make digitizing easier for users. Most users can use this software even with basic digitizing skills; since most of the work will be performed by the software automatically. However, this software does not produce the most accurate digitized designs, which is why these are not used by professional or commercial digitizing companies.
Alternatively, manual software may require expertise and experience to perform digitizing; however, these are regarded as the best software to produce highly precise and professionally produced digitized embroidery designs. Almost all of the reputed digitizing agencies use manual embroidery digitizing software to produce consistent and high-quality digitized files for their clients.
Free Font Software
While most of the embroidery digitizing software comes with font capabilities, some specific software exclusively offers font customization features, enabling users to work with letters and fonts easily.
Using the free font software, you can easily design file formats, use downloaded embroidery fonts, or convert existing font files into embroidery designs.
Best Free Embroidery Digitizing Software
Ok, now that we are done looking at the different types of embroidery digitizing software that are available in market, let’s quickly move on to see some of the best digitizing software. Most of the below-mentioned software are available for free in the market, whereas, others offer free trial period, which is great for you to assess the features and suitability of the software for your needs. So, let’s get started immediately…
SophieSew
SophieSEW is one of the best free embroidery digitizing software available for download and definitely one of my personal favorite. The software offers plenty of essential tools you would require to draw any design from scratch. Also, it’s pretty much straightforward to convert the designs into embroidery machine-readable files with its interactive and user-friendly interface.
It’s a Windows OS based free software, and proficient enough to help you to design even more complex embroidery patterns from scratch. You get all essential designing tools like embroidery frame object, outline, line object, stitch pattern creator object, and others, to get the work done effortlessly. The interface is carefully designed to maximize user experience, allowing you to handle all tools easily with the mouse.
Another great feature of SopheiSew is the dedicated Visual Section, which allows users to view and analyze the design easily. In the Visual Section, you get the option to hide underlay, stitches and other design patterns to get the best view of your design. Last but not the least, there’s this 3D Model Viewer that enables you to have a closer and interactive look at complex designs.
EOS
EOS is yet another great free embroidery digitizing software that comes with plenty of features and tools. You can easily use EOS to either design an embroidery pattern from scratch or edit the existing design. Just like the SopheiSew, the EOS offers an interactive and user-friendly interface to help users get more out of the software. The software comes with a starting node on the canvas, which enables users to start placing the threads using a mouse. Then there are various supplementing tools, meant to improve the accuracy and appeal of the design including; ruler, zoom, scrollbar, etc.
Apart from editing and designing purposes, the EOS is also great to view and inspect the existing files of different formats. You can easily load an existing design into the software to view design and/or stitches. The Show/Hide Stitch Points options enable you to view or hide the stitches, thus giving you complete control to assess the accuracy of the design.
Once you are done with the designing of the editing of the embroider, you can run the Redraw Utility option, which will simulate the process of an embroidery machine to stitch the design. This is a great option to have an initial assessment of the quality and accuracy of your design. Lastly, the EOS also enables you to save the files in various formats including: .PES, .PEC, and more.
Wilcom TrueSizer
Wilcom is the industry leader and the preferred software for embroidery digitizing professionals. Fortunately, the company also offers its Free Embroidery digitizing software, Wilcom TrueSizer. While the free software doesn’t come anywhere near to the functionalities, interactive features and precision tools of the paid version, it nonetheless offers some of the best tools and features amongst many free embroidery digitizing software.
To start, just like the paid version, the Wilcom TrueSizer also enables you to store the file into almost all major file formats including: .DSN, .DST, .EMB, .STX, and many more. Also, you get access to various viewing modes like TrueView or Show Stitches to assess the accuracy and intricacy of the design.
While you can’t make drastic edits to your design, Wilcom TrueSizer do offer some tool to allow subtle modification. For instance, you can edit the size, angle, and rotation of the design. However, besides these changes, you won’t be able to make many more chances for the parameters.
Once you are done with editing, you can run the simulation using Stitch Player, which will simulate the embroidery machine pattern to stitch the design.
My Editor
My Editor is yet another free embroidery digitizing software, allowing easy editing tools for users. While you may not be able to come up with a design from scratch using My Editor, you can certainly make many editing into an existing design and save the file into various machine-readable formats including; .PCS, .DST, .PCM, etc. As can be taken by the name of the software, the software is primarily meant to serve editing purposes and not to create a new design.
Apart from editing, you can also use My Editor to assess and view the design using various viewing tools like Show Stitch Marks, Zoom, Set Light Source and many more. The software gives an interactive and user-friendly interface, so you don’t have to work really hard to get used to with different tools and their working.
Brother Embroidery Software
Brother Embroidery Software (BES) is widely accepted as a global embroidery digitizing platform that users of all skill levels can use. The software offers plenty of features and functionalities to create stunning borders, monograms, and designs using over 100 stock applique designs, over 70 built-in borders, and over 70 accent designs.
The digitized files created using BES are compatible with embroidery machines from Brother and other brands. BES software can be used to perform various digitizing steps, including aligning designs, adding design effects, previewing clothing templates, changing stitch patterns, and others.
Bernina Artlink
Bernina Artlink is a highly recommended free embroidery digitizing software for beginners. The latest version of the software offers even better features for beginners, making it easier for them to resize designs and make other important design adjustments.
The Bernina Artlink also enables users to quickly reformat the design while allowing direct downloading of the design from the PC to the Bernina embroidery machine. The software comes with an intuitive and interactive interface with easy to use features and support Windows 8.1.
Embroidery digitized files from Bernina Artlink are compatible for use with embroidery machines from Bernina and other manufacturers.
Hatch
Hatch is another easy to use and interactive free embroidery digitizing software suited for beginners and amateur digitizers. The platform is intentionally designed to suit the skills of newbie digitizers while offering enough support to meet the requirements of amateur digitizers as well. Hatch offer a 30-days free trial option, which is great for amateurs and beginners to assess the functionalities and suitability of the platform.
The software offers automated and manual digitizing options, making it equally suited for all skill levels. The various tools and features offered by the platform makes it easier for users to digitize high-quality complex designs. Some of the tools offered by the software include; offset contouring, layout features, multiple hoops, monograms, recolouring, sequencing, and others.
Ink/Stitch
Ink/Stitch is a highly competent free embroidery digitizing software that is offered as an extension of a world-renowned vector graphic software. The platform enables users to create high-quality embroidery files using an open-source drawing tool. It also lets users create precise stitch files using SVG designs.
The software comes with an intuitive interface, making it easier for beginners to get started with their digitizing skills. It offers various advanced features like creating satin columns from paths, customizing SVG path objects, and others to simplify the digitizing process. Another great feature of Ink/Stitch is its ability to import the majority of embroidery formats and adapt them to be used with its path tool. It also offers features to manage thread colors.
Conclusion:
So, there you have it, some of the best free embroidery digitizing software available over the internet. You can easily download all of this software by simply registering with the side and start pursuing your embroidery pattern.
Also, these free embroidery digitizing software are great for people looking to excel in professional digitizing services. Just download one of the programs and start designing/editing the design and you will be surprised at how quickly you will polish your skills, even with their limited functionalities.
