Ink/Stitch vs PEmbroider
Ink/Stitch
inkstitch.orgPEmbroider
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Ink/Stitch | PEmbroider |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Embroidery Design Software | 8.7 (#5) | 8.3 (#7) |
| Audience | The project aims to be approachable for hobbyists while providing tools for professional digitizers. | The project is intended primarily for artists, craftspersons, educators, makers, and schools. |
| Licence | The project is free and open source under GNU GPL version 3.0 or later. | PEmbroider is released under GPLv3 and Anti-Capitalist Software License 1.4; adapted EmbroidePy file-writing code is MIT licensed. |
| Notable news | The official homepage lists Ink/Stitch 3.3.0 as released July 31, 2026 and a user meeting held May 23, 2026 in Hamburg. | The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO hosted a full-day computational-embroidery workshop featuring PEmbroider on February 25, 2023. |
| Purpose | Ink/Stitch is an open-source machine embroidery design platform based on Inkscape and SVG. | PEmbroider is a Java library for generating computational embroidery designs in Processing. |
| What it does | Ink/Stitch is an Inkscape extension for designing machine-embroidery files from SVG artwork. | PEmbroider is a Java library for generating computational embroidery designs inside Processing. |
Plans
In their own words
Ink/Stitch
Ink/Stitch is a machine embroidery design platform built around Inkscape and SVG, available as an extension for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It requires Inkscape 1.0.2 or higher and is free to use under GNU GPL version 3.0 or later. Designs can use running, bean, ripple, satin, fill, cutwork, redwork, and tartan stitches, with manual stitch placement also available. Lettering tools support typing with pre-digitized fonts or creating custom fonts. Users can preview an animated stitch-out or a stitch plan, then make a PDF with realistic rendering or line-drawing mode. Thread tools allow installation of palettes from more than 60 manufacturers, creation of custom palettes, and matching design colors to a selected palette. Ink/Stitch imports and exports embroidery formats including DST, EXP, JEF, PEC, PES, VP3, and XXX, and can export a detailed PDF view. It offers appliqué tools, vector import, and stitch simulation, but not auto-digitizing. Brother PEC and PES files cannot save more than 255 color changes.
PEmbroider
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.