Ink/Stitch vs SewArt

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.

SewArt converts raster and vector images into embroidery file formats for machine sewing. It accepts BMP, PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG, WMF and EMF files, and can produce PES, DST, JEF, EXP, HUS, VIP, VP3 and XXX files. Digitizing tools include automatic and manual methods, pattern fills, stitch-angle choices and a manual satin-fill stitch tool. Artwork preparation options include color reduction, smoothing, color merging and speckle removal. The free 30-day demo is for evaluation, but saved converted files are limited to at most three colors. A SewArt license costs $75 as a one-time purchase, with no additional update fees; the CD option costs $93, paid once and ships only in the US. Windows downloads are offered in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. A Mac download is available but requires Windows emulation software. The maker says output can be converted by SewWhat-Pro or other embroidery editors into additional formats compatible with most home and commercial machines.