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Import problems

"Unsupported embroidery format"​

Boldbobbin reads these stitch formats: DST, PES, EXP, JEF, PEC, VP3, U01, XXX. Other embroidery formats can't be imported. 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 an image adds it as a reference. To import it as cross-stitch, hold Shift while dropping.
  • 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 from the SVG parser: expand them.
  • 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 size or center slightly off because bounding boxes use anchor points only. See Import an SVG.

"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….