Homotope FR

Embroidery: prepare an image before digitizing

Updated on

Homotope does not create embroidery files (DST, PES), but it prepares the image before digitizing: colours reduced to your threads, clean flat shapes and an SVG to import into your embroidery software.

PNG illustration: potted plant shaded in two tones, dark brown outline, yellow sun. PNG · 600 × 600 px
The same illustration traced to SVG, each area a single colour. Engine SVG
600 × 600 px PNG and the SVG produced by the engine, Illustration preset, “Number of colours” set to 10, untouched: the ten colours of the drawing, none invented: one per thread, screen or vinyl.
×6 detail: the rim of the pot: two clean tones and their outline, one thread per colour. Drag the slider to compare; hover over the image or hold your finger on it to move the magnifier.
Try it with your image Open this example in the workshop

What Homotope does, and what it does not

Digitizing (stitch types, density, direction, pull compensation) happens in embroidery software. Homotope comes before that: it turns a blurry logo or a compressed JPG into clean shapes, in exactly your thread colours.

Homotope traces in your browser: the engine runs on your own machine, in a Web Worker, and your image is sent nowhere unless you save it to your account or ask for a server processing. The workshop opens without an account and without a usage limit: tracing, preview, SVG and PNG exports are free. Production exports (DXF, EPS, PDF, separations): 2 free per month with an account, unlimited with Pro; the conversion stays in your browser. With an account, Homotope only emails you about the service (welcome, gifted Pro, team invitation), through Resend, never for marketing.

Steps

  1. Open the workshop, drop the image, Logo preset.
  2. In the Palette panel, “Fixed palette” section, paste your thread list (one colour per line, optional name: #E30613 Red 321) or import a CSV or ASE file, then tick “Use this swatch library”. No colour is invented.
  3. Set the coverage threshold to drop a colour that covers too little of the image.
  4. Export the SVG, or a layered SVG (“One layer per colour”): one layer per thread.
  5. Import the SVG into embroidery software that reads SVG.

The palette stays in your browser; no Pantone table is shipped: import your own.

Frequently asked questions

Does Homotope create DST or PES files?

No. Homotope prepares the image (colours, flat shapes, SVG); stitch digitizing happens afterwards in your embroidery software.

How do I limit the image to my thread colours?

Paste or import your colours in the fixed palette and turn it on: each pixel takes the closest thread colour.

Which palette files are accepted?

A pasted list, a CSV (name and hex colour) or an ASE file (Adobe Swatch Exchange), from 2 to 64 colours.

Is my logo uploaded anywhere?

No, tracing happens in your browser and your palette stays there too.

More guides

Try it with your image