DSZ

Status

Field	Value
Extension(s)	.dsz
Common ecosystem	ZSK / commercial workflows
Format family	Expanded stitch stream or machine file
Satin Studio status	Researching
Open / import	No
Export	No
Confidence	Medium-low.

What it is

DSZ is reported near ZSK workflows and may use a Data Stitch ZSK-style encoding.

Satin Studio direction

Research lead only until we have known-reader validation.

Versions and variants

Do not infer DSZ support from DST. Some notes describe a familiar header with a different body encoding.

File identification notes

Reported structure is a 512-byte DST-style header followed by big-endian unsigned x, y, control-style records, including a specified 4-bit needle value.

Observed structure notes

• DSZ has been observed as a 512-byte DST-style header followed by three-byte records in y, x, control order.
• In observed records, control bit 0x40 negates X and bit 0x20 negates Y after Y-axis inversion. Low five command bits 0 and 1 represent stitch and jump.
• Observed controls include 0x82 stop, 0x9B trim, and 0x83 through 0x9A needle changes where (control - 0x83) >> 1 yields a needle index.

Structure sketch

DSZ uses a DST-like header with a Z-style body:

struct DszFile<'a> {
    header: [u8; 512],
    records: &'a [DszRecord],
}

struct DszRecord {
    y: u8,
    x: u8,
    control: u8,                       // 0x40 negates x; 0x20 negates y
}

enum DszCommand {
    Stitch,                            // control & 0x1F == 0
    Jump,                              // control & 0x1F == 1
    Stop,                              // control == 0x82
    NeedleChange { needle: u8 },        // 0x83..0x9A, derived as (control - 0x83) >> 1
    Trim,                              // control == 0x9B
}

What we still need

ZSK/DSZ files with known machine provenance, color/needle behavior, and independent reader validation.