Ink/Stitch vs Tajima DG

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.

Tajima DG is paid embroidery digitizing software for creating designs for embroidery machines. It is listed for Windows and offered in Master Series, Creator, Composer, and Express grades, with editing functions varying by grade. Master Series provides extensive editing and automatic digitizing; Creator offers basic digitizing, templates, and free design creation; Composer targets name embroidery with more than 200 standard fonts; Express transfers data directly from a PC to an embroidery machine without USB. DG17 adds action symbols, cursor-position display, adjustable backdrop transparency, automatic 3D embroidery processing, and fabric-specific recipes. PulseCloud can store up to 100,000 design files, supports online editing through PulseCloud Designer, and allows mobile access. DG17 connects directly to Tajima, Barudan, Brother, SWF, and ZSK machines, and supports DrawFusion with CorelDRAW. It uses Tajima PXF and other popular embroidery formats. Pricing is on request.