WHY PROPER CONVERSION MATTERS

Embroidery designs contain precise stitch data. Improper conversion can

• Destroy specialty effects (fringe, puffy, 3D)
• Change stitch density and quality
• Create gaps or overlaps
• Cause thread breaks during stitching

ARTAPLI DESIGN PROTECTION PHILOSOPHY

Artapli designs are created with specific stitch calculations. To preserve

quality when converting between formats in Wilcom:

RULE 1: Disable All Automatic Optimizations

When converting formats, turn OFF

• "Optimize stitches"
• "Remove small stitches"
• "Reduce stitch count"
• "Auto-density adjustment"
• "Smooth curves"

WHY: These features recalculate stitches, destroying intentional design elements.

RULE 2: Use "Save As" Not "Export"

File > Save As > Select format

This preserves original stitch data better than Export function.

RULE 3: Never Convert Specialty Designs

Designs with these effects should NEVER be converted or resized

• Fringe/Fluffy effects: Requires specific tight stitches
• Puffy foam: Precise stitch placement for foam coverage
• 3D effects: Calculated stitch layering
• Chain stitch: Specific stitch types that don't translate

For these designs: Use the exact format provided for your machine.

STEP-BY-STEP CONVERSION PROCESS

Converting DST to PES (Example)

1. Open Wilcom
2. File > Open > Select DST file
3. Design loads with stitch data
4. File > Save As
5. Choose PES format from dropdown
6. UNCHECK these options:

• ☐ Optimize stitches
• ☐ Remove overlapping stitches
• ☐ Reduce stitch count

1. Click Save
2. Test stitch on sample fabric before production

WHEN CONVERSION IS SAFE

• Standard satin stitch designs
• Simple fill patterns
• Basic applique designs
• Regular density designs
• Non-specialty effects

WHEN TO AVOID CONVERSION

• Fringe designs (any "fluffy" or "fringed" product)
• Puffy foam designs
• Bold chain stitch designs
• Glitter or specialty stitch effects
• Hand-stitch effect designs
• Rope stitch effects

FORMAT-SPECIFIC NOTES

DST Format

• Universal format, works on all machines
• No color information (machine assigns colors)
• No density data (fixed stitch length)
• Best for commercial machines
• Most stable for conversions

EMB Format (Wilcom Native)

• Full editability preserved
• All design data intact
• Best format for storage and editing
• Must convert to machine format for stitching

PES Format (Brother)

• Includes color data
• Thread brand information
• Preview thumbnails
• Good for home machines

JEF Format (Janome)

• Similar to PES
• Includes hoop size data
• Color sequence preserved

CHECKING CONVERSION QUALITY

After converting, verify

1. Stitch count (should match original ±5%)
2. Design dimensions (exact match)
3. Color stops (same number)
4. Preview appearance (no obvious changes)
5. Stitch density (use magnifier tool)

If any metric differs significantly, conversion failed. Use different format

or contact Artapli for optimal format recommendation.

ARTAPLI RECOMMENDATION

All Artapli designs include multiple formats. Instead of converting

1. Use the format pre-optimized for your machine
2. All formats tested for quality
3. No conversion risk
4. Guaranteed stitch-out results

RELATED GUIDES

• "Conversion in Wilcom to preserve design quality" - Full tutorial
• "Files in Wilcom" - Format compatibility guide
• FAQ: "What format do I need?" - artapli.shop/pages/faq