Understanding auto-digitizing

Understanding auto-digitizing

In the Embroidery Web API, auto-digitizing uses technology from EmbroideryStudio to convert images into embroidery designs. The process is as follows...
  1. Upload an image (bitmap or vector).
  2. The Embroidery Engine generates an EMB file (Wilcom’s native format).
  3. From the EMB, you can generate:
    1. TrueView PNG (visual preview), or
    2. Machine file – e.g. DST.
Info
TrueView is not a 3D render of the artwork. It is a simulation of stitches with light reflection and can only be created from an embroidery file, not directly from the original image.

How auto-digitizing works

First we upload the file (usually bitmap)...

The Smart Design feature in EmbroideryStudio automates the process as follows:
  1. Removes or keeps the background (user choice).
  2. Identifies and traces objects.
  3. Chooses stitch types – e.g. Satin, Tatami.
  4. Sets stitch directions.
  5. Reduces colors – most embroidery uses 5–6 colors max.
The resulting embroidery generated looks like this...
 
And TrueView applied...

Quality considerations

  1. Works best with clean, high-quality artwork – few colors, sharp edges.
  2. For poor-quality images, results may require manual adjustment.
  3. Stitch type and direction rules are reasonable defaults, but not always optimal.
  4. Stitch counts are close to those of a professional digitizer → useful for cost estimates.
  5. Fabric-related parameters (underlay, density, pull-compensation) use default settings. These should be checked and adjusted before production.

API auto-digitizing calls

The process above matches the Web API calls:
API call
Result
Converts bitmap artwork and returns EMB or machine file.
Converts bitmap artwork and returns TrueView PNG.
Converts vector artwork and returns EMB or machine file.
Converts vector artwork and returns TrueView PNG.

Notes on TrueView

  1. 32-bit transparent PNG format.
  2. Can be placed over a garment image to show how embroidery will look.
  3. Commonly used for customer job approval.

Key points

Autodigitizing is great for:
  1. Generating customer previews (TrueView).
  2. Providing stitch count estimates for pricing.
  3. But it is not a substitute for expert digitizing. Designs often need editing or full redigitizing for production-quality embroidery.

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