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PEmbroider

github.com

Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSAPI
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Spec score 8.3 #7 of 31 in Embroidery Design Software

What it is

PEmbroider is a Java library for generating computational embroidery designs in Processing. Its drawing functions handle lines, shapes, and typography, while shape tools support overlap, cropping, merging, and a range of embroidery fills. Designs can start from SVG files or black-and-white PNG and GIF images. The library generates DST, EXP, JEF, PEC, PES, VP3, and XXX files for consumer CNC embroidery machines. It also exports PDF, SVG, TSV, and GCODE for other 2D output devices, including CNC routers and AxiDraw pen plotters. A modified Traveling Salesperson Problem solver creates shorter paths intended to reduce embroidery time and material use. PEmbroider can visualize files it generates, but cannot load or preview existing embroidery files. It integrates with Processing and can be installed through its Contribution Manager or from a ZIP library. The instructions require Processing 4.0a6 or later, with a separate download for Processing 3 users. It is free under GPLv3 and ACSL 1.4 and was developed during Endless March 2020 at Carnegie Mellon University's Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry.

Spec sheet

What it does
PEmbroider is a Java library for generating computational embroidery designs inside Processing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Purpose
PEmbroider is a Java library for generating computational embroidery designs in Processing.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Audience
The project is intended primarily for artists, craftspersons, educators, makers, and schools.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Headquarters
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · github.com
Founded
2020Read 28 Sep 2026 · github.com
Build extensibility
Developers can compile modified source with Eclipse and the included Ant build.xml workflow.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation
The project supplies a cheat sheet, full API, examples, FAQ, installation instructions and a tutorial video.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Drawing
It provides Processing-compatible drawing functions for lines, shapes, and typography.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Embroidery formats
It can generate DST, EXP, JEF, PEC, PES, VP3, and XXX files for consumer CNC embroidery machines.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Export workflow
A sketch must call optimize() and endDraw() to produce an embroidery file, and optimization may take up to about a minute.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Fill and shape tools
It supports shape overlap, cropping, and merging, along with a range of embroidery hatching or fill methods.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hatching
The library provides multiple fill approaches, including parallel, concentric, spiral, Perlin-noise, vector-field and cross-hatching modes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Image inputs
SVG vectors and black-and-white PNG or GIF images can be converted into embroidery designs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Independent workshop setup
The Carnegie Mellon STUDIO workshop instructions require installing Processing 4 and Java, then copying PEmbroider into the Processing Libraries folder.Read 15 Oct 2026 · studioforcreativeinquiry.org
Input-file limitation
PEmbroider deliberately cannot load or preview existing embroidery files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Installation
Users can install through Processing's Contribution Manager or by unzipping the library into the Processing Libraries directory.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integration
PEmbroider integrates with the Processing creative coding framework and can be installed through Processing's Contribution Manager or manually from a ZIP library.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Licence
PEmbroider is released under GPLv3 and Anti-Capitalist Software License 1.4; adapted EmbroidePy file-writing code is MIT licensed.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: coding barrier
The university workshop requires participants to code Processing sketches, so use assumes familiarity with a programming workflow.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wiki.cci.arts.ac.uk
Limit: downstream editing
A published textile-art paper says its team generated stitch vectors with PEmbroider but preferred SVG output followed by Inkscape and Ink/Stitch adjustments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alpaca.pubpub.org
Limit: output quality risk
A Fab Academy user reported a first embroidered result that was tight, lopsided and had unreadable text.Read 15 Oct 2026 · fabacademy.org
Machine formats
It exports DST, EXP, JEF, PEC, PES, VP3 and XXX embroidery files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker identity
The project was developed during 2020 at Carnegie Mellon University's Frank-Ratchye STUDIO by Golan Levin, Lingdong Huang and Tatyana Mustakos.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker mission
The STUDIO describes itself as a Carnegie Mellon arts, science and technology research laboratory committed to open-source skill sharing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · studioforcreativeinquiry.org
Notable limitation
PEmbroider visualizes the embroidery files it generates but cannot load or preview pre-existing embroidery files.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Notable news
The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO hosted a full-day computational-embroidery workshop featuring PEmbroider on February 25, 2023.Read 15 Oct 2026 · studioforcreativeinquiry.org
Origin
PEmbroider was developed during Endless March 2020 at Carnegie Mellon University's Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Other exports
It can export PDF, SVG, TSV, and GCODE for other 2D output devices, including CNC routers and AxiDraw pen plotters.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Other output formats
It can also write PDF, SVG, TSV and GCODE for other two-dimensional devices.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Path optimization
A modified traveling-salesperson solver orders stitches to shorten paths and reduce embroidery time and material use.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Platform testing
The project says it has been tested on macOS 10.13.6 and later, and Windows 10.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Praise: local performance
An independent artist-educator describes the library as local, with good performance, and open source.Read 15 Oct 2026 · labs.tekiela.dk
Praise: multi-colour output
A Fab Academy project reports that documentation enabled combining multiple image colours into one machine file.Read 15 Oct 2026 · fabacademy.org
Praise: teaching documentation
A University of the Arts London workshop calls the online material well documented and uses it for hands-on Processing 4 instruction.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wiki.cci.arts.ac.uk
Primary users
The project targets artists, craftspeople, educators, makers and schools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Processing integration
It works as an alternative Processing renderer with drawing calls compatible with ordinary Processing sketches.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Processing requirement
The getting-started instructions require Processing 4.0a6 or newer, with a separate Processing 3 download available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Public API
The repository publishes a detailed API reference covering drawing, hatching, stitch settings, resampling, text and export controls.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Repository scale
The CreativeInquiry GitHub organization lists PEmbroider as a public Java repository with 599 stars and 36 forks when opened.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Runtime requirement
The getting-started instructions require Processing version 4.0a6 or higher, with a separate library download offered for Processing 3 users.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Shape composition
Overlapping, cropping and merging of shapes are supported through computational-geometry and computer-vision methods.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support and learning
The README points users to a half-hour tutorial video, examples, a cheat sheet, the full API, and Golan Levin for questions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
Tested systems
The maintainers report testing on macOS 10.13.6 or newer and Windows 10 with a Husqvarna Viking Designer Jade 35 machine.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Visualization
Generated stitch paths can be visualized before export.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free open-source library Processing library · no paid tiers stated Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
PEmbroider Free Free open-source library; released under GPLv3 and ACSL 1.4 Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every PEmbroider plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Generates seven consumer embroidery machine formats
  • Accepts SVG, black-and-white PNG, and GIF inputs
  • Exports PDF, SVG, TSV, and GCODE
  • Includes a path solver intended to reduce stitch time and material use

Limits

  • Cannot load or preview pre-existing embroidery files
  • Getting-started instructions require Processing 4.0a6 or later
  • Project testing is listed for macOS and Windows 10

Who it suits

PEmbroider is intended for artists, craftspersons, educators, makers, and schools who use Processing to create embroidery designs. Its machine formats and other 2D exports support projects involving embroidery machines, CNC routers, or pen plotters.

Verdict

PEmbroider connects Processing drawings to embroidery machine files and several other 2D output formats. It is a fit for making new designs, but cannot inspect existing embroidery files and requires a compatible Processing installation.

Where Specifiction places it

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