Supported file formats

The Wilcom Embroidery Web API supports a wide range of embroidery-specific and artwork input/output formats to ensure compatibility with professional embroidery workflows and machine types. This format support enables seamless integration across diverse embroidery production environments, from design creation to final stitch-ready output.

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🧵Design file formats

The Wilcom EMB file is a design file created using Wilcom embroidery software. It contains detailed information about the embroidery design, including:

• Stitch patterns and shapes
• Text objects (like lettering and monograms)
• Thread colors and sequence
• Optional extras like fabric type, artwork, or garment image

EMB files are Wilcom’s proprietary format and can be exported to machine-readable formats like DST for embroidery machines to use. In the API, most functions modify parts of an EMB file — such as changing the text or thread colors. These changes are defined in a 'recipe', which is a set of instructions for what to change and how.

1. Read: All versions up to e3
2. Write: Versions from e3 back to V2006 / Only ES e2 and above versions are supported as output.

Older versions can be read but not written. OEM variants – ART, JAN – are supported on request.

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📤Machine file formats

EWA allows conversion to and from multiple common embroidery machine file formats, including:

Machine type	Supported file types
Tajima	DST, DSB, DSZ, TBF
Barudan	U01
Melco	EXP
Happy	TAP
ZSK TC	Z01
Pfaff	KSM
Brother/Babylock/Deco	PES
Husqvarna/Viking	HUS
Janome/Elna/Kenmore	JEF

Additional machine formats may be available on request or in future releases.

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🖼️Artwork preview input formats

For generating transparent preview images – e.g. customer logos – the API accepts:

Artwork type	File types
Vector	PDF, EPS
Bitmap	PNG, GIF, TIF, PSD, JPG, BMP

These are converted into transparent PNG previews suitable for display in web applications.

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📊File summary table

Category	Format / Type	Direction	Notes
Native design format	EMB	Read / Write	Supports all versions up to e3; write down to V2006
	ART (Bernina OEM)	Read only	Up to version V6; write via special arrangement
	JAN (Janome OEM)	Read only	Up to version V4; write via special arrangement
Machine file formats	DST, DSB, DSZ, TBF	Read / Write	Tajima
	U01	Read / Write	Barudan
	EXP	Read / Write	Melco
	TAP	Read / Write	Happy
	Z01	Read / Write	ZSK TC
	KSM	Read / Write	Pfaff
	PES	Read / Write	Brother / Babylock / Deco
	HUS	Read / Write	Husqvarna / Viking
	JEF	Read / Write	Janome / Elna / Kenmore
Artwork input	PDF, EPS	Input only	Vector artwork
	PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, PSD, TIF	Input only	Bitmap artwork
Preview output	PNG	Output only	Transparent background; 96 DPI; scaled to actual embroidery size
Font formats	Wilcom ESA	Read only	ESA (Embroidery Specific Alphabet) files contain over 200 supported embroidery fonts. Custom ESA fonts are installable on request.
	TrueType / OpenType	❌ Not supported	EWA does not use TTF/OTF for lettering generation.

 

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