--- title: EasyDigitizer blog — embroidery digitizing guides url: https://easydigitizer.com/blog/ feed: https://easydigitizer.com/blog/feed.xml --- # Embroidery digitizing guides Practical guides from EasyDigitizer, browser-based embroidery digitizing software. Each article is also available as markdown: add `.md` to its URL, or request it with `Accept: text/markdown`. - [Hand Digitizing Embroidery: The Tools That Do the Real Work](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/hand-digitizing-embroidery-software.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): Why hand digitizing still decides embroidery quality, what a professional toolset needs — fills, satin columns, manual stitches, node editing, angles, underlay, sequencing — and how to get it without a desktop-suite price tag. - [How to Digitize Satin Columns by Hand: Centreline Satin vs Two-Rail Columns](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/how-to-digitize-satin-columns-by-hand.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): The two ways to hand-digitize a satin column — a centreline at a set width, or a two-rail column where each pair of points sets the stitch angle — and the width, spacing, split and underlay settings that make satin look smooth. - [Digitizing Fills by Hand: Tatami, Stitch Angles and Holes](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/manual-fill-digitizing-angles-holes.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): How to draw tatami fills by hand, choose stitch angles that separate shapes and control pull, set density and stitch length, and cut holes so colours don't stack. - [Bézier Curves and Node Editing for Embroidery Digitizing](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/bezier-node-editing-embroidery.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): How to place corner and curve points, edit nodes, switch between corner and smooth, drag Bézier handles, and resize or rotate shapes so the stitches regenerate at the right density. - [Corner Treatment in Embroidery: Mitre, Rounded and Chamfered Corners](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/embroidery-corner-treatment-mitre-round-chamfer.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): Why sharp corners cause stitch pile-ups, how mitred, rounded and chamfered (capped) corners solve it, and how to set the corner size and the angle threshold per object. - [Embroidery Underlay Types Explained: Centre Run, Edge Run, Zigzag and Tatami](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/embroidery-underlay-types-explained.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): What each underlay type does, which one to use under satins and fills of different widths, how underlay and pull compensation work together, and when to use no underlay at all. - [Digitizing Lettering: Stitch Fonts, Kerning, Arcs and Envelopes](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/digitizing-lettering-stitch-fonts.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): How to set embroidery lettering with stitch fonts, why they sew cleaner than traced text, size and scaling limits, letter spacing and kerning, and how to lay text on an arc or in a bridge, wave or pennant envelope. - [Embroidery Sequencing, Branching and Trims: Making Files Sew Faster](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/embroidery-sequencing-branching-trims.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): How to plan the sewing order of a design, group colours, branch same-colour objects into one pass with hidden travel, set the trim distance and lock stitches, and read entry and exit points. - [How to Digitize Appliqué: Placement, Tack-Down and Cover Stitch](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/how-to-digitize-applique.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): The three-step appliqué sequence — placement line, tack-down and satin cover — with the machine stops in between, plus settings for cover width, underlay, fabric choice and trimming. - [Pattern, Motif, Gradient and Blend Fills in Embroidery](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/embroidery-pattern-gradient-blend-fills.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): How decorative fills work — brick, diamond, wave, zigzag and cross-hatch patterns, open motif fills, gradient density ramps and two-colour blends — with the settings that make them sew well. - [Manual Stitches, Running and Bean Stitch: Fine Control in Embroidery Digitizing](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/manual-stitch-running-bean-embroidery.md) (Hand digitizing, 2026-10-14): When to use single running stitch, bean (triple) stitch and manual needle-by-needle stitching, with stitch lengths, minimum-stitch rules and how to use them for detail, outlines and hidden travel. - [How to Digitize a Logo for Embroidery: A Step-by-Step Workflow](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/how-to-digitize-a-logo-for-embroidery.md) (Digitizing basics, 2026-10-13): The full digitizing workflow from artwork to a machine-ready stitch file — prepping the art, choosing stitch types, setting density and underlay, sequencing and test-sewing. - [Satin, Fill or Running Stitch? Choosing Stitch Types When You Digitize](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/satin-fill-running-stitch-types.md) (Digitizing basics, 2026-10-13): How to pick between satin columns, tatami fills and running stitches for each part of a design, where the satin width limit really is, and how to handle shapes that are wide in one place and narrow in another. - [Embroidery Density and Stitch Count: How to Set Them When Digitizing](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/embroidery-density-and-stitch-count.md) (Digitizing basics, 2026-10-13): What density really measures, the spacing values to start from on each fabric, and how to estimate and reduce a design's stitch count while you digitize, with measured numbers. - [Digitizing Small Text That Stays Readable](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/digitizing-small-text-embroidery.md) (Digitizing basics, 2026-10-13): How small embroidered lettering can go, and the digitizing settings that keep it sharp — letter height, column width, underlay, density, pull compensation and why traced text sews worse than a stitch font. - [Auto-Digitizing vs Hand Digitizing: What Software Gets Right and What to Check](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/auto-digitizing-vs-hand-digitizing.md) (Digitizing basics, 2026-10-13): An honest look at automatic embroidery digitizing — which logos it handles well, where it still needs a person, and a checklist for reviewing an auto-digitized file before you sew it. - [How to Digitize for Caps: Sequencing, Sizing and the Center Seam](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/how-to-digitize-for-caps.md) (Garments and caps, 2026-10-13): How a cap stitch file differs from a flat one — centre-out and bottom-up sewing order, how tall a cap front can be, handling the centre seam, underlay and density for structured and unstructured caps. - [How to Digitize 3D Puff Embroidery](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/digitizing-3d-puff-embroidery.md) (Garments and caps, 2026-10-13): How to build a 3D puff stitch file — column widths that hold the foam, satin density, minimal underlay, capping open ends, the machine stop for the foam and which parts of a design should stay flat. - [Digitizing for Beanies, Fleece and Other Knits](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/digitizing-for-beanies-and-knits.md) (Garments and caps, 2026-10-13): How to set up a stitch file for stretchy and lofty fabrics — beanie cuffs, fleece hoodies, jersey tees and performance wear — with knockdown stitches, underlay, pull compensation, size limits and backing. - [Embroidery File Formats Explained: DST, PES, TAP, EXP, JEF and VP3](https://easydigitizer.com/blog/embroidery-file-formats-dst-pes-tap-exp.md) (Files and machines, 2026-10-13): Which embroidery file format each machine brand reads, what DST, PES, TAP, EXP, JEF and VP3 do and don't store, why colours look wrong on the machine, and why you should keep your working file.