Digitizing Software - BasePac and EPCwin Product Comparison

What is embroidery software needed for?

Embroidery machines have their own computer that can read embroidery files in special formats. These are sent to the machine via network or USB. The digitizing software is required to display stitch data on a normal computer and, if necessary, convert them into a suitable embroidery format. However, the machine can neither read image nor drawing data (jpg, .svg, .ai, etc.). Here a special software is needed to translate these file formats into stitch data (stitches).

When choosing a software package, a distinction is made between pure processing on the one hand, and viewing existing stitch data and the creation of complex designs from image or drawing files on the other hand. The latter is also called "digitizing".

What means "digitizing"?

The profession of punching/digitizing has a long tradition and goes back to the time when embroidery patterns were realized on the machine by using punch cards. These punch cards contained information about the direction and length of each stitch. The pre-drawn design had to be punched stitch by stitch onto punch cards, similar to the technique used in jacquard weaving. What used to be very labour intense created by hand on a so-called punch board by the puncher, is now done by CAD systems based on vector lines or image files and pre-defined parameters. The task of the puncher is therefore to define the contours, determine stitch types and set sequences.