# Threadsmith

> Draw or import artwork, turn it into stitches, export DST, PES, JEF or EXP files. Threadsmith is a free embroidery digitizing studio in your browser: draw with pen, shapes, freehand and a built-in lettering font, import SVG or trace a bitmap, and give every object running, satin, tatami, contour or motif stitches with proper underlay. A thread-look preview, stitch-out simulator, density heat map and production worksheet show what the machine will do, and designs export as Tajima DST, Brother PES, Janome JEF or Melco EXP.

Threadsmith (Embroidery digitizing studio) is a premium app of usefulweb.app (https://usefulweb.app/): a full program that runs in the browser. Its engine is deterministic and the same functions are exposed as tools, so an agent can compute exactly what the app shows.

## Use it
- Landing page: https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/
- Workspace (browser app): https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/app - open a project with https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/app#project=<base64url-encoded project JSON> or a template with https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/app#template=<id>
- Project file format (JSON Schema): https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/project.schema.json
- Tutorials: https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/tutorials
- JSON API: POST https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/api/v1/tools/<toolId>/calculate (catalog: https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/api/v1/tools)
- OpenAPI: https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/openapi.json
- MCP (Streamable HTTP): https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/mcp

## Engine tools
- [Threadsmith Digitizer](https://threadsmithdigitize.usefulweb.app/): Turn shapes, SVG paths, text or a whole project into embroidery stitches with stats and preview. API: POST https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/api/v1/tools/threadsmith-digitize/calculate · MCP tool `threadsmith_digitize`
- [Threadsmith Stitch File Writer](https://threadsmithstitchfile.usefulweb.app/): Write DST, PES, JEF or EXP embroidery machine files from a stitch list or a Threadsmith project. API: POST https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/api/v1/tools/threadsmith-stitch-file/calculate · MCP tool `threadsmith_stitch_file`
- [Threadsmith Design Stats](https://threadsmithdesignstats.usefulweb.app/): Stitch count, colours, trims, thread, sewing time and density of a DST, PES, JEF or EXP file. API: POST https://threadsmith.usefulweb.app/api/v1/tools/threadsmith-design-stats/calculate · MCP tool `threadsmith_design_stats`

## Formats
- Import: Threadsmith project (.threadsmith.json), SVG (paths, basic shapes, transforms), PNG / JPEG / WebP (backdrop & auto-trace), Tajima DST (.dst), Brother PES (.pes, any version via its PEC block), Janome JEF (.jef), Melco EXP (.exp)
- Export: Tajima DST (.dst), Brother / Babylock PES (.pes), Janome JEF (.jef), Melco EXP (.exp), SVG stitch picture, PNG stitch picture, Printable production worksheet, Threadsmith project (.threadsmith.json)

## Limits
- PES is written as version 1 (machine stitch block only, no editable PES objects); VP3, HUS, XXX and other proprietary formats are not supported (most software converts from DST or PES).
- Auto-trace works on high-contrast logos and line art, not on photos; there is no automatic colour separation of photos.
- Satin on closed shapes stitches straight across at one angle (no hand-set direction lines); turning satin is available along open paths, text strokes and borders.
- Travel stitches inside fills run in straight lines; very complex fills may need manual start/end points or splitting.
- The lettering has one built-in font family (single-line and outline variants); TrueType fonts are not imported.
- Thread, bobbin and time figures are estimates, not machine-measured values.
- Phones get a simplified view; editing is designed for desktop and tablet.