Importing files

Import preserves what the file actually contains. Satin Studio does not turn a machine command stream into imaginary editable artwork.

Satin Studio imports:

• PES, PEC, and DST machine stitch streams;
• SVG vector artwork;
• PNG, JPEG, and WebP reference images;
• TTF and OTF font assets.

See File formats and status for the complete compatibility matrix.

Machine files

PES, PEC, and DST files open as preserved stitch streams. The app can show stitches, color blocks, jumps, trims, stops, and thread order. DST color stops do not guarantee thread RGB/catalog identity, so keep a worksheet when colors matter.

A machine file usually does not contain the editable design that created it. It contains instructions for a machine. Reconstruction tools can identify likely fills, runs, satin columns, and text-like regions, but every reconstructed object keeps its confidence and the original stitch stream. You can review, accept, revise, or discard the reconstruction.

Use machine-file import for:

• checking what a purchased file really sews;
• finding visible jumps or bad trims;
• resizing with warnings;
• preparing a new export from an old stitch stream;
• building production notes when the original source is gone.

Artwork files

SVG is artwork input. It can contain paths, shapes, colors, transforms, and text. Artwork still needs embroidery decisions: stitch type, density, underlay, pull compensation, thread mapping, sequence, and trims.

A clean SVG is easier to digitize than a noisy one. Remove hidden shapes, stray points, tiny specks, and accidental backgrounds before treating the artwork as production input.

PNG, JPEG, and WebP files import as locked reference images for tracing. They appear faintly on the hoop so you can draw real embroidery objects on top, and the Reference images controls in the import rack let you fade, hide, center, fit, scale, crop away scanner/photo margins, or start the right trace tool for lines, filled areas, and words. They do not become stitches by themselves, and export ignores the image until you trace or create embroidery elements.

Font files

TTF and OTF files can be added as project font assets. Use this when exact text matters. A project font travels with the project, so text shaping does not depend on whatever fonts happen to be installed on another device.

Text can still be risky. Small letters, narrow counters, serifs, towel fabric, and satin-style stitches can fail. Trust measured warnings over the screen appearance.

Choose when the file enters a workspace

Opening a local file lets you inspect it before saving. It enters a workspace when you save the project. Sharing and exporting are separate actions, so a quick inspection does not create a team project or a public proof.