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Import problems

If a file won't import, or comes in looking wrong, find the message or symptom below. Each section says what to change so the next import works.

"Unsupported embroidery format"​

Boldbobbin reads these stitch formats: DST, PES, EXP, JEF, PEC, VP3, U01, XXX, TAP, HUS, 100 and 10o. The last four can be imported but not exported. Other embroidery formats can't be imported: save the file as one of these from the program that made it, then import that copy. See Import an embroidery file.

"Unsupported image type"​

  • Reference images, cross-stitch, Photostitch, and Auto-Trace accept PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, BMP (Auto-Trace and reference images also take SVG). Other image types are rejected.
  • The exact message tells you which types are allowed.

My dropped file opened the wrong way​

  • Dropping an SVG asks whether to Convert to embroidery or Use as reference image: pick the one you want.
  • Dropping a picture asks what it is for (v1.3.2): Auto-trace into stitches opens Auto-Trace with it already loaded; Use as reference image places it to trace over by hand. For cross-stitch or Photostitch, open Auto-digitize and pick the method. Shift-dropping a picture no longer starts cross-stitch.
  • A file renamed to .vemb that isn't actually a Boldbobbin project will be rejected: Boldbobbin checks the real content, not just the extension.

The DST imported as one color​

DST files store color changes but not colors. In the import dialog, turn on Give each color change its own color so each section is distinct, then recolor them. See Import an embroidery file.

My SVG import is missing parts or looks off​

  • The import dialog may list warnings about the file: expand them to see what was skipped.
  • The Filter options drop near-invisible or tiny paths; loosen Min opacity / Min area, or turn the whole filter off with Remove tiny & invisible paths, if real art is being dropped.
  • Very curvy paths can come in slightly off-size or off-center. Check the size in the Properties panel after import and adjust it. See Import an SVG.
Example: the dots on the i's are missing

You import a small text logo and the dots on the i's are gone: at that size each dot is smaller than the filter's default Min area (mm²) of 1. Import the SVG again, and under Advanced → Filter lower Min area (mm²), or turn off Remove tiny & invisible paths. The dots come back; delete any stray specks by hand.

"Couldn't open … Boldbobbin projects must have a .vemb extension"​

To open a project, the file must be a .vemb. To open a stitch file instead, use File → Import → Import embroidery….