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How to prepare an SVG for embroidery

Auto-digitizing works best from clean vector artwork. A few minutes preparing your SVG makes the difference between a crisp sew-out and a puckered one. These steps apply to EmbroViewer's free SVG to DST and SVG to PES converter.

1. Convert text to outlines

Live text in an SVG depends on fonts that the converter does not have. In Illustrator use Type → Create Outlines; in Inkscape Path → Object to Path; in Figma Outline stroke/Flatten. EmbroViewer skips live <text> and tells you when it does.

2. Use flat colours

Each fill or stroke colour becomes a thread colour. Remove gradients, shadows, transparency effects and embedded bitmaps. Fewer colours means fewer thread changes.

3. Mind the minimum size

Thread has thickness. At the final stitched size, keep strokes and gaps wider than about 1.2 mm and small lettering at least about 5–6 mm tall. EmbroViewer flags anything narrower than 1.2 mm at your chosen width.

4. Simplify

Merge overlapping shapes of the same colour, delete hidden objects and tiny specks, and reduce excessive nodes. Fewer, cleaner shapes produce fewer trims and a smoother result.

5. Strokes vs fills

A stroked path becomes a satin column of that stroke's width — ideal for borders and script. A filled shape becomes a fill stitch with underlay. Choose whichever gives the look you want.

6. Digitize, preview, test

1. Open the converter and drop in your SVG.
2. Set the real design width (for example 90 mm for a left-chest logo), density and stitch length.
3. Generate, then play the sew-out preview to check the stitch order.
4. Save as DST or PES and sew a test on scrap fabric with the same stabilizer before the real garment.

From a JPG or PNG?

Trace it first: Inkscape's Path → Trace Bitmap or Illustrator's Image Trace, then simplify the result and save as SVG.

Frequently asked questions

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Last updated 2026-09-30