How to Download Pictures From Your Computer to an Embroider Machine

Downloading pictures from your PC to embroidery machine is a simple process.

Several high-end embroidery machines can accept non-digitized pictures from your PC and convert them internally to a digital embroidery design, but these machines are in the range of $3,000 to $5,000. If your embroidery machine lacks this capability, you first must convert your picture to a digital image that your machine can recognize. Several software packages on the market can make this conversion. Also, several online businesses will convert your picture to a digital embroidery file for a lot less than what it would cost for you to purchase the software.

Instructions

1. Review the reference guide that came with your machine to determine the file format your embroidery machine uses. Now choose a picture that you'd like to convert to an embroidery design and have it digitized to your embroidery machines file format.

2. Place your embroidery machine within one foot of your personal computer. Turn on your PC and locate the digital image you want to load on your embroidery machine.

3. Plug in the embroidery machine's power cord and connect the other end to a power source. Turn on your embroidery machine.

4. Plug the USB cable connector into the USB port, a small square opening most often found on the right side of the embroidery machine. Use only the interface cable that came with your machine. Connect the other end of the USB cable to your PC. The embroidery unit does not have to be attached to your embroidery machine to retrieve your design.

5. The “Removable Disk” icon will pop up within “My Computer” on your PC. This “removable disk” is now your embroidery machine. Drag the digitized picture file from the file folder on your PC to the removable disk. Don't disconnect the USB cable while the file is being transferred or you may disrupt the copy process. Also, don't create a folder on the removable disk, as your embroidery machine may not be able to find the file.

6. Your digital picture should now be in your list of designs on your embroidery machine.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't confuse embroidery-design conversion software with picture-to-digital embroidery design software. Embroidery design conversion software takes an "existing" embroidery file from one format such as the PES and DST files used by Brother, Bernina and Babylock embroidery machines to another format such as the JEF or EW used by the Janone embroidery machine.

• While the machine is embroidering, don't transfer additional designs from your PC to your machine, as portions of the file may be lost.

• Only use embroidery files that are specific to your embroidery machine. Using files not specific to your machine may cause it to malfunction.