Understanding File Formats in DRAWings PRO XII: DRAW vs. Embroidery Machine Files

Reading Time: 6 minutes

When working in DRAWings PRO XII, it is crucial to understand how your design data is stored. All information about your digitized shapes and their unique properties is kept only when saving your work as a working DRAW file.

YouTube player

Below is a step-by-step guide to the proper workflow for creating, saving, and exporting your embroidery designs to ensure they remain fully editable for future use.

Phase 1: Creating and Editing Your Design

When you start a new project in DRAWings PRO XII, you are working with rich, digitized data.

  1. Use the design tools to draw shapes, import vector graphics, add lettering, or auto-digitize imported bitmap images.
  2. Modify the underlying digitized shapes using tools like the Node editor or the Knife tool.
  3. Apply creative properties such as text effects, styles, and custom stitch directions.
  4. Resize any part of your design freely without losing stitch quality.

Pro Tip: As long as you are working with the original digitized shapes, you can always go back and change the stitch type, direction, and styles at any time.

Phase 2: The Proper Saving Workflow

To preserve all the rich editing capabilities mentioned above, you must follow a specific saving order.

  1. Always save as a DRAW file first. Go to your save options and save your current project as a native DRAW file. This locks in all your vector shapes, nodes, and editable properties.
  2. Export to your machine format second. Once the DRAW file is safely saved, export or “Save As” the specific embroidery format required by your embroidery machine (such as .jef, .pes, .exp, etc.).
  3. Send to the machine. Transfer the machine-specific file to your embroidery machine for stitching.

DRAW Files vs. Machine file Formats Explained

It is important to know what happens when you export to a machine format. Machine formats (like .jef) strip away the editable digitized shapes and keep only the raw STITCHES needed for the machine to run.

Here is a quick breakdown of what you can edit depending on the file type you open:

FeatureNative DRAW FileMachine Format (e.g., .jef)
Contains Editable ShapesYesNo
Contains Raw StitchesYesYes
Edit Nodes & VectorsYesNo
Change Stitch Types easilyYesNo
Resize flawlesslyYesNo (Stitch density may suffer)

Important Note on Importing Old Machine Files: If you import an existing machine embroidery file into DRAWings PRO XII, you can only edit the stitches or add new parts. Saving this imported stitch file as a DRAW file later will not magically convert the raw stitches back into editable digitized shapes.

Always keep your original DRAW files in a safe folder so you can manipulate your designs in the future as if you had just created them!

FAQs

A DRAW file is your working project file; it retains all the editable vector shapes, nodes, and digitized properties. Machine embroidery files (like .jef, .pes, or .exp) only contain the raw stitch data required by the embroidery machine to sew the design and do not retain the editable shapes.

When you import an existing machine embroidery file (such as a .jef), it only brings in raw stitches, not the original digitized shapes. Because the shape data is stripped away when a machine file is created, you can only edit the individual stitches or add new parts to the design.

To ensure your design remains fully editable in the future, always save your project as a native DRAW file first. Once your working file is saved, you can then export or “Save As” the specific machine format needed for your embroidery machine.

If you are trying to resize a machine format file (like .jef), the software is only stretching or compressing existing stitches, which can ruin the density. If you resize a native DRAW file, the software automatically recalculates the stitches to perfectly fit the new size.

No. While you can open a machine file and save it as a DRAW file, doing so will not magically turn the raw stitches back into editable digitized vector shapes. The original digitizing data was permanently lost when the file was initially exported to the machine format.

Different embroidery machine brands require specific file extensions to read the stitch data properly. While you should always check your machine’s manual for the most accurate information, here is a quick cheat sheet for the most common formats:

  • Brother / Babylock / Bernina Deco: .pes, .pec
  • Janome / Elna / Kenmore: .jef, .sew
  • Husqvarna / Viking: .hus, .vip, .vp3
  • Tajima (Commercial machines): .dst
  • Melco / Bernina: .exp
  • Singer: .xxx

Always remember to save your working design as a DRAW file first before exporting to any of the formats listed above!

The Node Editor allows you to fine-tune the exact outline of your vector shapes. To use it in DRAWings PRO XII:

  1. Select the shape you want to modify using your standard selection tool.
  2. Activate the Edit Nodes tool from your toolbar. You will see small squares (nodes) appear along the outline of your shape.
  3. Click and drag any node to move it and change the shape’s boundary.
  4. Use the control handles (the small arrows extending from a node) to adjust the curve and angle of the line segment.
  5. Right-click on the outline to easily add new nodes, or select an existing node and press “Delete” to remove it. The software will automatically recalculate the stitches to fill your newly adjusted shape.

Yes! One of the most powerful features of DRAWings PRO XII is its ability to seamlessly convert vector graphics into embroidery designs.

  1. Go to File and choose Import to bring your SVG, EPS, or AI file into the workspace.
  2. The software will automatically analyze the vector’s fill colors and stroke outlines and assign appropriate stitch types to them.
  3. Click on the different parts of the imported vector to customize the stitch type, density, and stitch direction using your object properties panel.
  4. Save your project as a DRAW file to preserve the vector data, and then export it to your required machine format.

When you open a raw machine file (like a .jef or .pes) that lacks vector shape data, you can still tweak the design point-by-point.

  1. Open your machine file in the software.
  2. Select the Edit Stitches tool from the toolbar. This will reveal the individual needle penetration points of the design.
  3. Click on a single stitch point (or drag a box to select multiple points).
  4. Drag the selected points to reposition them, or press “Delete” on your keyboard to remove unwanted stitches or awkward jump threads.

Because a proper digitizing workflow requires saving two versions of every design, a good folder structure will save you a lot of headaches later.

  • Create Project Folders: Make a master folder for your design (e.g., “Floral Logo”).
  • Use Clear Naming Conventions: Save your editable DRAW file with a clear name (e.g., Floral_Logo_Master.DRAW).
  • Export with Machine Tags: When saving the machine file, add the machine type or format to the end of the file name (e.g., Floral_Logo_Brother.pes).
  • Backup Regularly: Keep these project folders synced to a secure cloud storage service (like Google Drive or Dropbox) or an external hard drive so you never lose your master DRAW files if your computer crashes.

DRAWings PRO Help Group

Happy crafting and don’t forget to share your creations with us in the
DRAWings PRO Help Group!

Related posts

Projects