EMB vs PES in Hatch: How to Tell What You’re Editing (and Why Stitch Files Make a Mess)

What is a Stitch File vs. a Working File?

If you have ever opened an embroidery design in your software, tried to slightly resize it or adjust the underlay, and watched in horror as the densities went wild and the stitch angles collapsed, take a deep breath. Stop blaming yourself. And stop blaming your machine.

You have likely encountered the single most common frustration in digital embroidery: the File Type Trap.

To navigate this landscape without anxiety, we need a clear mental model. Think of embroidery files like baking a cake:

• Native Working File (EMB in Hatch): This is the Recipe. It contains lists of ingredients (objects), baking instructions (settings), and logic. You can change "sugar" to "honey" (density settings) or "square pan" to "round pan" (resize) easily because the logic exists.
• Stitch/Machine File (PES, DST, JEF, etc.): This is the Baked Cake. It is the final product. You can slice it (cut parts out) or put icing on it (add stitches on top), but you cannot un-bake it to remove the eggs. The logic is gone; only the physical result remains.

In Hatch Embroidery Software, understanding this distinction is the difference between a fluid, creative session and hours of fighting with "dumb" blocks of data.

Here is the Golden Rule that will save your sanity: If you plan to edit, you must start from the native working file (Recipe). When you open a machine file (Cake), the software has to "guess" what the ingredients were. Sometimes it guesses right; often, it converts smooth curves into jagged, un-editable geometry.

What you’ll learn in this walkthrough

We will move beyond theory into a clickable, verifiable workflow. By the end of this guide, you will master three sensory diagnostics to instantly confirm what file type you are holding:

1. The Filter Check: Using the Open Design dialog as a "gatekeeper."
2. The Structure Scan: Reading the Resequence docker (Objects vs. Generic Blocks).
3. The "Report Card": Using Design Information grades to objectively measure editability.

We will also expose the "Conversion Trap"—why simply saving a PES file as an EMB file does not magically restore its editing capabilities—and provide a safety protocol for your file management.

How to Identify an EMB File in Hatch

The video demonstrates starting with a native EMB file. Why? Because to understand what is "broken" (converted files), we first need to feel what "working" (native files) feels like. Control is about establishing a baseline.

Step-by-step: Open a native EMB (working file)

1. Launch Hatch and locate the Open Design button.
2. Check the visual filter: Before you click any file, look at the file-type dropdown menu at the bottom of the dialog box.
3. Select the EMB: If you are in "working file mode," the filter defaults to Wilcom All-in-One Designs (*.EMB). Select your target file (e.g., Who_s_Hatching.EMB) and open it.

Checkpoint: Did the dialog box hide all your PES/DST files? That is a good sign. It filters out the "noise" so you only see editable master files.

Expected Outcome: The design loads with crisp lines. More importantly, when you click on a segment, it selects the whole recognizable shape (e.g., a "Left Wing"), not just a random patch of stitches.

The fastest visual test: Resequence docker shows real object types

This is your primary diagnostic tool. Open the Resequence docker on the right side of your screen. This list represents the DNA of your design.

In a native EMB file, this list is rich with information. You will see specific icons and labels like:

• Branched: Complex shapes with automated pathing.
• Open / Closed Shape: Vector-based geometry.
• Applique: A smart object containing placement, tack-down, and cover stitches grouped together.
• Lettering: Text that is still typed text, not just shapes that look like letters.

Checkpoint: Scroll through the list. Does it look like a list of ingredients (Arm, Leg, Text)? Or does it look like a raw data dump?

Expected Outcome: You see a manageable list of named objects. When you double-click an object, the Object Properties menu allows you to change logic (e.g., changing a Tatami fill to a Satin fill with one click).

Confirm with Design Information: look for Grade A

If you are a data-driven person, this is your truth source. Hatch explicitly "grades" the quality of the file based on its origin.

1. Navigate to Customize Design in the top menu.
2. Select Design Information.
3. Click the Summary tab.
4. Scan the bottom of the text for the "Grade" field.

In a true EMB file, you are looking for Grade A. The description will read: Pure EMB Outlines / Pure EMB Stitches.

Checkpoint: Verify the grade is A.

Expected Outcome: This grade confirms you have 100% control. You can scale this design by 20% or 200%, and the software will recalculate the density perfectly, preventing the dreaded "bulletproof embroidery" that breaks needles.

Warning: Even with a Grade A file, modifying a professional digitizer's work requires caution. drastically changing stitch angles or densities on complex layered designs can cause registration issues. Always test-stitch significant edits on scrap fabric before ruining a garment.

The Dangers of Editing PES Files directly

Now, let’s look at the "Baked Cake." The video opens a machine file (PES) to demonstrate the loss of intelligence. This is where the frustration usually begins for new users.

Step-by-step: Open a PES (stitch file)

1. Return to Open Design.
2. Change the Filter: You must manually change the dropdown to Brother/Babylock/Bernina (*.PES) (or your specific machine format).
3. Visual Change: Notice that your EMB files disappear from view, and the PES files appear.
4. Open the file (e.g., EGGBERT.PES).

Checkpoint: The canvas looks identical to the EMB version. The visual preview deceives you—it looks like the same design.

Expected Outcome: While it looks the same, the software has fundamentally changed how it interacts with the data. It is no longer reading shapes; it is reading coordinate points for needle penetrations.

What “goes wrong” in Resequence: everything becomes blocks

Look at the Resequence docker now. The recognizable names (Arm, Leg, Text) are gone. They have been replaced by a long, generic list of "Block" items.

In many cases, what used to be one object (e.g., a satin border around a circle) might be shattered into 4 or 5 separate "blocks" based on where the machine trims or changes direction.

Checkpoint: Right-click a "Block." Try to find the "Underlay" settings.

Expected Outcome: You likely cannot find them, or they are severely limited. The software treats this block as a raw patch of stitches. It doesn't know why those stitches are there; it just knows where they are.

Why this matters (the practical pain)

The video highlights Underlay as the critical loss. In a native file, underlay is a toggle setting—you turn it on, and the software calculates the support stitches.

In a Stitch File (PES), the underlay stitches are just... stitches. They are mixed in with the top stitches or separated into their own "Block." If you resize a PES file down by 50%:

1. The stitches get closer together.
2. The density doubles.
3. The underlay (which should be light) becomes dense.
4. Physical Consequence: You get a stiff, bulletproof patch. Your needle heats up and gums up with adhesive. Your thread shreds.

Professional advice: If you must resize a PES file, do not go beyond +/- 10% without specialized "stitch processing" tools, and even then, tread carefully.

Understanding Design Grades: Pure Outlines vs. Converted Stitches

We used the "Grade" earlier to confirm the good file. Now let's see what a bad grade looks like.

Step-by-step: Check the PES grade

1. With the PES file active, return to Design Information > Summary.
2. Locate the Grade.

You will typically see Grade C (or sometimes B/D), described as Estimated Outlines / Converted Stitches.

Checkpoint: Grade says C or Raw Stitches.

Expected Outcome: "Estimated" is the keyword. Hatch is guessing. It looks at a blob of stitches and says, "This looks like a Circle... sort of." It wraps a shape around it, but the stitch parameters (like density, pull compensation, and underlay) are essentially "frozen" or approximated.

Expert reality check: what Grade C usually implies

When you edit a Grade C file, you are fighting the software.

• Gap Issues: If you move a "Block," the software doesn't know to fill the background behind it. You leave a hole.
• Pull Compensation: The software cannot accurately calculate how much the fabric will shrink, often leading to outlines that don't line up with the fill (registration errors).

If you are doing production runs—say, 50 shirts for a client—relying on a Grade C edit is a gamble. The time you save not re-digitizing is often lost in machine downtime when the file causes thread breaks.

Why 'Save As' Won't Fix a Stitch File

This is the most dangerous misconception in beginner embroidery.

• Myth: "If I open a PES file and 'Save As' an EMB file, it becomes a native editable file."
• Reality: You just put a store-bought cake into a different box. It is still a baked cake.

The file extension (.EMB) describes the container, but it doesn't automatically create the content (objects). When you save a specific stitch file as an EMB, you are saving a "Grade C EMB file." It contains the same limitations—raw blocks, estimated outlines, and no true underlay intelligence.

A practical way to explain it to your future self

Imagine asking a contractor to renovate a house.

• Native File: You give them the digital blueprints (CAD files). They can move a wall by clicking a mouse.
• Stitch File: You give them a photograph of the house. To move a wall, they have to tear down the bricks and rebuild them manually.
• "Save As" Trick: You put the photograph in a folder marked "Blueprints." It doesn't help the contractor move the wall.

Best Practices for Managing Embroidery Design Files

The video focuses on detection, but detection is passive. Let's move to active management. How do you set up your digital workflow to prevent these mistakes before they happen?

Build a simple file system that protects your master EMB

Do not mix your source files with your machine files. Create a rigorous folder structure:

• .../MyDesigns/MASTERS (EMB)/: The "Holy of Holies." Never delete from here. This is your library of recipes.
• .../MyDesigns/MACHINES (PES_DST)/: These are disposable. You generate them for a specific stitch-out and can delete/regenerate them anytime.

Naming Convention: Always append the version logic.

• Owl_Logo_v2_MASTER.EMB (You know this is editable)
• Owl_Logo_v2_Brother.PES (You know this is for the machine)

Decision tree: Which file should you open?

Pause and use this logic flow before clicking "Open":

1. Do you need to Change Logic? (Resizing >10%, changing density, changing underlay, changing text spelling).
   • YES: You must find the EMB Master. If you don't have it, you may need to re-digitize.
   • NO: Proceed to Step 2.
2. Do you simply need to Stitch It? (Sending to machine, checking colors).
   • YES: Open the PES/DST (Check that it matches your hoop size).
3. Are you desperate? (You only have a PES, but need to edit).
   • YES: Open the PES, recognize it is Grade C, save a copy, and proceed with extreme caution. Test stitch on scrap fabric.

When working with Hatch Embroidery Software, discipline in file selection is the single highest ROI (Return on Investment) habit you can build.

Prep: Hidden consumables & prep checks (so software work stitches cleanly)

The video shows the Design Information window listing "Backing: Tear Away x 2." Software data is useless if physical prep is ignored. A perfect EMB file will pucker and distort if the physical stabilization fails.

Before you export that file, ensure your physical toolkit is ready. Beginners often forget the "Hidden Consumables":

• Temporary Spray Adhesive (or Magnetic Hoops): To prevent fabric shifting.
• New Needles: A Size 75/11 Ballpoint for knits, or 75/11 Sharp for wovens.
• Topping: Water-soluble film (Solvy) if the design mentions "Pique" or textured fabric, to keep stitches floating on top.

Wait, what holding your fabric? Standard plastic hoops rely on friction and "tug of war" strength. They effectively distort fabric before you even stitch, which ruins the geometry your software calculated perfectly. This is often why users blame the file ("The outline is off!") when it was actually the hooping for embroidery machine process that failed.

Prep Checklist (End of Phase):

• Needle Check: Is it fresh? (Rule of thumb: Change every 8 hours of stitching).
• Bobbin Check: Is the tension consistent? Look for 1/3 white thread visible on the back of a satin column.
• Stability Check: Matches the Design Info recommendations (e.g., Cutaway for wearables, Tearaway for stable items).
• Hoop Check: If using standard hoops, is the screw tight? If using Magnetic Hoops, is the fabric smooth but not stretched?

Warning: Needle Safety. When changing needles based on file requirements, always power down the machine or engage "Lock Mode." A foot pedal bump or accidental start button press while your fingers are near the needle bar can result in severe injury.

Setup: Make your editing environment “production-safe”

Optimize Hatch so you can't make mistakes.

1. Dock the Resequence Window: Never close it. It is your X-Ray vision.
2. Default to "Working Files": Keep your "Open Design" filter set to EMB by default. Force yourself to intentionally switch to "All Files" only when necessary.

This setup enforces the "Master File First" mentality.

Setup Checklist (Software Config):

• Docker Visibility: Resequence docker is pinned open on the right.
• Metric Check: Measurement units match your physical hoops (mm or inches).
• Grade Check: Design Information > Summary opened before editing starts.
• Bakup: "Save As" performed immediately to create a new version (v02) before edits.

Operation: The exact comparison workflow from the video

Use this repeatable A/B diagnostic whenever you inherit a file from a client or the internet.

1. Open the file.
2. Glance at Resequence:
   • Icons: Do I see Leaves/Flowers/Text icons (EMB)? Or generic Grid Blocks (PES)?
3. Verify with Design Info:
   • Grade: Is it A (Safe) or C (Risky)?
4. Execute:
   • If Grade C and edits are needed: Inform the client/stakeholder that quality cannot be guaranteed without re-digitizing.
   • If Grade A: Edit freely.

This confirms the difference between Stitch Files vs Native Files: one is a malleable blueprint, the other is a rigid artifact.

Operation Checklist (Execution):

• Object Validation: Verified recognized object types in Resequence.
• File Integrity: Design Grade confirmed as acceptable for the task.
• Export: Generated machine file (PES/DST) saved to the Exports folder (not overwriting Master).
• Transfer: File transferred to machine via USB/WiFi.
• Test Stitch: Run on similar scrap fabric before final garment.

Troubleshooting (symptom → cause → fix)

1) Symptom: You cannot change the underlay type (e.g., from Edge Run to Tatami).

• Likely Cause: You are in a Stitch File (PES/DST). The data is just "blocks," not objects.

2) Symptom: The "Open Design" window is empty, but you know the files are there.

• Likely Cause: The Filter is set to "All Customizer Files" (EMB), but you are looking for machine files.

3) Symptom: Outline misalignment (Registration Error) on the final sew-out, even though the file looks perfect on screen.

• Likely Cause (Software): Pull compensation settings in the Grade C file were insufficient for the fabric.
• Likely Cause (Physical): Fabric shifted in the hoop during the run.

Pro tips: Where physical tools fit (without slowing you down)

We have spent this guide fixing software headaches, but there is a commercial reality we must address. You can have a "Grade A" EMB file, perfect density, and perfect underlay, but if your hooping technique is inconsistent, your results will look "Grade C."

The Bottleneck of Traditional Hoops: Standard hoops require significant hand strength and adjustment time to get perfect tension. For hobbyists, this is fine. For anyone wanting to produce professional results or do volume (e.g., brother pr680w owners doing team jerseys), it is a pain point.

The Upgrade Path:

1. Level 1 (Technique): Use spray adhesive and rigorous practice to master standard hooping.
2. Level 2 (Tool Upgrade): Introduce Magnetic Hoops. They self-adjust to different fabric thicknesses (thick towels vs. thin tees) and eliminate the "screw tightening" variable. Terms like magnetic embroidery hoop are your gateways to understanding efficient production.
3. Level 3 (Machine Upgrade): If you are fighting with "File Types" because you are trying to combine multiple colors into one file for a single-needle machine, the ultimate time-saver is a Multi-Needle Machine (like the SEWTECH series), which reads the color change commands in your PES file and handles them automatically.

Warning: Magnetic Hazard. Magnetic Hoops use powerful industrial magnets. They can pinch fingers severely if snapped together carelessly.
* Pacemakers: Keep at least 6-12 inches away from medical implants.
* Electronics: Do not place directly on top of laptops or USB drives.
* Children: These are tools, not toys. Store them separated by their foam spacers.

Results

By integrating this workflow, you stop fighting your software.

• You save time: No more attempting impossible edits on "Grade C" files.
• You save money: Fewer ruined garments caused by dense, bulletproof resized designs.
• You gain confidence: You know exactly why a file behaves the way it does.

Deliverables to keep in your studio:

1. Clean Folder Structure: Separating Masters (EMB) from Exports (PES).
2. The "Recipe" Mindset: Always reaching for the EMB file first.
3. Physical Consistency: Pairing your clean files with widely trusted Embroidery File Types and reliable hooping/stabilization methods.

A bad file breaks a good machine. A bad hoop ruins a good file. Master both, and you master the craft.