I began trying to translate Robert Heel's php script to python but I'm a
beginner in python so I didn't come very far until I came into trouble, and
I think I must learn how to read a PES file first, before I can do anything
with it. I think it would be a good idea to ask the user for the prefered
size of the embroidery since most embroidery machines support a couple of
different sized frames that keep the fabric stretched during embroidery,
fitting the frames correct on a t-shirt or a pair of pants is in itself a
problem since the frames are always bigger than the embroidery, and on
jackets pockets tend to appear where customers want their embroidery.

It is also a good idea to have at least 1 mm width to a line as smaller
lines tend to sink into the fabric even though we use plastic on top of the
fabric, we have tried lowering the thread tension but it didn't help much.
Anyway I'm very glad for the response and I think that we will figure out
solutions eventually.
Mikael Öhlin.

2010/2/13 Alvin Penner <email address hidden>

>    Attached is a summary of what I have seen with respect to support of PES
> files. There are potentially three issues that need to be addressed:
> loading, editing and outputting. The editing and outputting are much more
> difficult than loading, and I am not aware of anyone who is working on them,
> at least not from inside Inkscape as a platform.
>    There are currently two methods available for loading, both of which
> appear to work very well, but neither is currently available in the Inkscape
> trunk for general use.
>    Method 1 - php script by Robert Heel (comment 14 above). To install
> this, copy the three files in the archive to the directory
> \Inkscape\share\extensions\ and install php5-cli support.
>    Method 2 - Python script in uniconvertor (comment 27 above, by max). To
> install this, unzip stitchloader.zip and copy the file stitchloader.py to
> the directory (on Windows)
> \Inkscape\python\Lib\site-packages\uniconvertor\app\plugins\Filters\ and
> copy the file pes_input.inx to the directory \Inkscape\share\extensions\.
>
>    I have just finished testing both methods and they both work equally
> well, as far as I can see. The .svg files they produce appear to be
> structurally identical. The only difference I can see is in the units.
> The php script uses the original coordinates, which were integers, and
> copies them unchanged into the .svg file. The uniconvertor script
> generates floating point .svg coordinates using the conversion factor
> 72/254. This is equivalent to stating that the .pes file was in units of
> 0.1 mm and the output .svg file is in units of points. In the case of
> Inkscape .svg it would be more appropriate to use 90/254 instead,
> because the Inkscape default unit is pixels at 90 dpi.
>
>   The only serious difference between them is in the installation
> procedure. The uniconvertor plugin has the advantage of being written in
> Python, but it is not yet officially included in uniconvertor, so it
> must be installed manually. The php script could easily be added to the
> Inkscape trunk, but would require the separate installation of php
> support.
>
>    Any preferences?
>
> --
> Support PES embroidery file format
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/247463
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in Inkscape: A Vector Drawing Tool: In Progress
>
> Bug description:
> (This bug is a followup to https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/171451)
>
> I am interested in seeing the PES/PEC embroidery file format supported by
> inkscape. My mom has a machine that uses the .PES file format and half dozen
> or so proprietary Windows programs that can either read or convert to/from
> .PES. I'd never tried reverse engineering a file format before and didn't
> get very far with this, but I'm eager to try with a little help.
>
> I asked Brother for file format details without success.
>
> There is some information about the file format at these pages:
> http://www.softhelp.ru/fileformat/pes/pes.htm
> http://www.achatina.de/sewing/main/TECHNICL.HTM
>
> This page has free (beer) Windows software for viewing and converting PES
> files.
> http://www.joachim-riedel.de/freeware/
> PesView works under wine.
>
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>