When I download the designs, the
colors look very, very strange.

We can not guarantee that your software will reflect the thread colors that we used to sew the designs. In fact, we can almost guarantee that your software will not reflect the thread colors that we used.

Each machine format has a certain amount of colors in its palette. For example, the HUS format has 28 colors in its palette; the PES format has twice that many. When we digitize a design, we might use a color that is not included in the color palette of a particular format. For example, we might use "light red" or "dark burnt brown," and maybe that particular shade or color isn't in a format's palette. When that occurs, the format will "guess" as to which color to use. Sometimes the guesses are close, and sometimes they are not. That means that not all colors will translate from the digitized file to the machine embroidery file.

We make a list of the colors that we used to sew the design, and provide that for you on color change sheets. Links to color change sheets are located near the design on the website. After you purchase a design, you will find links to the color change sheet in your order history.

Instead of following the colors in your software, follow the color change sheet that is provided for the design.

To demonstrate how thread colors can vary between formats, look at the image below:

This image shows the same design in DST, EXP, HUS, PCS, PES, SEW, and JEF formats. You can see that the colors of the frog vary, although it is the same design.

The DST and EXP formats (top left and right) save no color information. When these formats are opened by embroidery software, the embroidery software loads a default color palette, resulting in some wild and crazy color combinations.

The HUS format (row 2, left) has a small color palette. You can see that the frog is yellow and orange. For this particular design, we used many colors that are not included in the HUS format color palette, so that format had to do a lot of guessing.

The PCS, PES, SEW, and JEF formats (row 2 right, row 3, and row 4) are closer.  The frog is green, but you can still see variations in shading between the formats.

Remember: Ignore the colors that you see on your display screen. Follow the color change sheet that we provide for the designs -- not the color information that your software provides, or the colors on your machine's screen.

To use a color change sheet, thread the needle with the thread recommended in "CC1."  When your machine stops for a color change, thread your machine to the color listed in CC2. Continue until the design is complete.

If you'd like to learn more about locating and using color change sheets, click here.