Embroidery Software EMBIRD
Embird – The Software for Modern Machine Embroidery and Quilting
Digitize. Customize. Quilt.
An Affordable and Powerful Solution for Embroidery Digitization
If you are looking for affordable yet highly functional machine embroidery software – Embird is your ideal partner. Suitable for both professionals and enthusiasts, it helps you digitize new designs, edit and customize existing ones, convert files and create unique embroideries from scratch.
What is Embird?
Created in 1997 by Dusan Balara, Embird was born out of the need for intuitive and efficient embroidery software. Today, Embird is used by thousands of users worldwide and supports over 70 file formats and 20 brands of embroidery machines – both home and industrial.
Main modules of the system
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Embird Manager – Editing, organizing and converting designs
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Studio – Digitizing and creating new designs
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Sfumato – Photorealistic embroidery from images
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Font Engine – Embroidery from TTF and OTF fonts
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Cross Stitch – Imitation of manual cross stitch
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Iconizer – Viewing designs directly in Windows Explorer
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Alphabets – Ready-made alphabets and fonts
Each module can be purchased and used separately, according to your needs.
Embird Advantages
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Machine independent – Works with any brand of embroidery machines
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Extreme precision – Ability to manually digitize point by point
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Multilingual interface – Including Bulgarian
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Compatibility – Windows 11, older versions, as well as Mac via emulators
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Integration with vector graphics – Import SVG, etc.
Who uses Embird?
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Small Businesses & Studios
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Clothing Manufacturers
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Hobby Enthusiasts & Crafters
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Personalized Gift & Accessory Manufacturers
Ready to Create Your Own Unique Designs?
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Get Started Today with Embird – the Software That Digitizes Your Imagination.
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Download Demo (For Win 32bit / For Win 64bit)
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View All Modules
Embird Main Module
Choose the module you need or combine several for maximum functionality.
Each module is designed to meet specific needs in creating professional and creative machine embroidery designs.
Studio – Design Digitizer
Studio is a plugin for Embird that allows creating embroidery using vector objects. Studio uses vector outlines that are created and filled with different types of stitches – similar to coloring in graphics software. It includes two modules - Digitizing Tools and Sfumato Stitch
Embird additional modules
Additional Embird plugins include 4 additional modules that allow you to digitize and create embroideries: Cross Stitch Digitizer - for cross stitch, Font Engine for creating embroidery with TrueType and OpenType fonts, Iconizer and Alphabets - ready-made pre-digitized fonts for Embird.
Basic Embird
Basic Embird is the core software component in the Embird system, designed for working with machine embroidery designs. The program allows users to split, edit, resize, preview, print, and convert embroidery files into various formats. Thanks to its broad compatibility, it supports users with different types of machines and file formats.
It operates in two main modes – Embird Manager and Embird Editor, which provide comprehensive design management and editing capabilities. In addition to its core functionality, Basic Embird can be extended with various plug-ins that significantly enhance the program’s features. These modules include inserting text using ready-made or custom fonts, digitizing new designs through vectorization, creating cross-stitch patterns, automatically converting TrueType/OpenType fonts into embroidery, and generating photorealistic designs from images using the Sfumato module. Additional decorative fonts ready for use are also available.
The program is available in a demo version, which can be used free of charge for 30 days or up to 100 launches. After this trial period, the software must be registered for continued use. Please note that the demo version has limited functionality.
Basic Embird also serves as the central platform for all additional modules and plug-ins, bringing design management and editing into one unified and flexible environment.
Embird Manager – Your Hub for Embroidery Design Management
Embird Manager is the main module of the Embird system and an essential tool for anyone working with machine embroidery. It offers a wide range of functions for viewing, converting, organizing, and documenting embroidery designs – all within an intuitive and easy-to-use interface.
1. Key Features:
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🔁 Design Conversion
Supports conversion between multiple embroidery and quilting file formats – perfect for use with different embroidery machines.
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🖼️ Real-Scale Preview and Visualization
Displays designs at actual size (1:1), as well as zoomed in or out. It also supports image preview for formats like .JPG, .TIF, and more.
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🗜️ Archive Support
Opens and processes designs directly from ZIP and RAR archives – no need to extract files beforehand.
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🎨 Photorealistic 3D Preview
Evaluate your final result before stitching with a realistic 3D viewer and customizable thread and needle color settings.
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📄 Documentation Generation
Creates and saves design documentation in .BMP, .JPG, animated .GIF formats, and even screensavers. Ideal for client presentations or archiving.
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🎯 Compatibility with Various Hoops and Machines
Supports a wide range of hoop sizes and types – for both home and industrial embroidery machines.
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🧵 Built-in Thread Catalogs
Works with many thread brands and automatically finds the closest color match to your selected shades.
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📁 File and Folder Organization
Easily copy, move, and manage designs using the built-in File Commander. Compatible with memory cards, hard drives, and cloud storage (Amazon, Azure).
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☁️ Cloud Storage Integration
Securely sync and store your designs via Amazon Cloud and Microsoft Azure.
2. Who Is It For?
Embird Manager is perfect for:
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Professional embroidery studios
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Small manufacturers and crafters
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Hobbyists who want to keep their designs well organized
3. Make Embroidery Management Easier and More Efficient!
Embird Editor – Powerful Embroidery Design Editor
Embird Editor is an advanced design editing module that gives you complete control over every stitch, shape, and color. It is perfect for fine-tuning, personalizing, and preparing embroidery for multi-hoop projects.
1. Key Features:
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🎨 Design Editing
Add, remove, or cut parts of a design. Edit individual stitches and thread segments, and rearrange their order.
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🔁 Scaling and Transformations
Move, resize (with automatic density adjustment), mirror, rotate, or distort designs with precision.
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🧩 Join and Split Designs
Combine or divide designs, either automatically or manually – ideal for multi-hooping and large-format projects.
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📏 Precise Alignment and Layout Tools
Use advanced tools to align, arrange, and position design elements accurately.
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🧵 Stitch, Thread, and Color Optimization
Reduce thread color changes, intelligently sort them, and simulate stitching, including realistic 3D preview.
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🖨️ Real-Size Printing
Print your design at actual size (1:1) across multiple pages – perfect for layout planning and positioning.
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🔠 Add Text
Insert lettering using built-in alphabets or auto-convert any TTF/OTF font with the Font Engine.
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📥 Import from Other Modules
Seamlessly work with designs created in Embird Studio, Sfumato, and Cross Stitch.
2. Embird Editor Is Ideal For?
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Fine-tuning existing designs
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Preparing large embroidery projects for multiple hoopings
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Adding text and customizing layouts
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Optimizing stitches and colors before production
3. 🎯 Precision. Flexibility. Control!
Embird Studio – Digitizing and Photorealistic Embroidery
Embird Studio is a powerful plug-in for the main Embird program, designed to create original machine embroidery designs through vector-based digitizing. Unlike the basic Embird module (Embird Basic), which primarily handles stitches and ready-made motifs, Studio uses vector outlines that the user draws and fills with various stitch types—much like working in a graphic editor. This allows for high precision and control over every element of the design.
The Embird Studio module includes two separate components, each purchased individually:
Embroidery Digitizing and Sfumato Stitch.
Embroidery Digitizing – Vector-Based Embroidery Design
This is the core of Studio and is intended for creating embroidery designs from scratch. The user draws vector outlines, which are then filled with stitches—such as running stitches, zig-zag, fill stitches, columns, and more. The process resembles coloring shapes in graphic software, but with complete control over how stitches are placed and structured.
Key Features of Embroidery Digitizing:
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Digitization of logos, lettering, and decorative designs
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Auto-tracing of image outlines
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Freehand drawing for creative flexibility
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Importing and converting vector files (e.g., SVG, EPS) into stitches
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Use of Bézier curves for smooth shapes and precise outlines
Sfumato Stitch – Turning Photos into Embroidery
Sfumato is a specialized tool within Embird Studio, designed to create photorealistic embroidery from images. It is ideal for portraits, landscapes, and any highly detailed photographs. The software automatically converts a photo into stitches, using smooth gradients and tonal transitions that resemble the artistic shading technique known as "sfumato."
What Sfumato Offers:
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Direct digitizing from photographs
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Automatic generation of fill stitches that replicate realistic imagery
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Support for up to 9 thread colors within a single object for subtle tonal transitions
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Perfect for artistic and personalized projects
Embird Studio – A Must-Have Tool for Creating Unique, Professional-Quality Embroidery
Embird Studio is an essential tool for anyone who wants to create unique embroidery designs with professional-level quality. It is suitable for both experienced digitizers and ambitious creatives seeking greater control, creativity, and realism in their work.
Additional Modules for Embird
The main Embird Basic program can be expanded with several add-on modules that significantly enhance your ability to create, customize, and organize embroidery designs.
These modules make Embird an even more versatile and powerful tool – ideal for professionals as well as hobbyists in the world of machine embroidery.
Embird Font Engine
Embird Font Engine enables you to create embroidery lettering using standard computer fonts (TrueType and OpenType). Text can be automatically converted into stitches and freely edited within Embird Editor – a perfect solution for personalization, business logos, or decorative text. It supports both outline and fill stitches, along with automatic letter connection.
Key Features:
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Use your own fonts without the need for manual digitizing
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Customize text style, stitch density, and alignment
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Ideal for names, dates, labels, and branded content
Embird Cross Stitch
Cross Stitch is a module designed for creating embroidery in the traditional cross-stitch style, offering a digital imitation of hand embroidery. It allows users to draw cross-stitch designs, import patterns from images, apply automatic coloring, and print charts. It’s ideal for enthusiasts of traditional embroidery and pattern creators.
Key Features:
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Supports custom color palettes and symbols
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Generates accurate charts for both hand and machine stitching
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Imports images and converts them into cross-stitch designs
Embird Alphabets
Embird Alphabets are collections of pre-digitized embroidery fonts, specifically created for machine embroidery. They offer a wide variety of styles—from classic to decorative—and can be used directly in Embird Editor without any additional processing.
Key Features:
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High-quality stitch-ready letters
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Perfect for names, labels, and text-based projects
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Can be used independently of the Font Engine module
Embird Iconizer
Iconizer is a convenient tool that lets you preview embroidery designs as thumbnails directly in Windows File Explorer. It simplifies the organization and identification of files without the need to open the Embird program.
Key Features:
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Quick preview of designs inside folders
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Supports multiple embroidery file formats
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Seamlessly integrates with Windows Explorer
*without Iconizer Plug-in
*with Iconizer Plug-in