From Raster to Stitch: Digitizing the Nike Lakers Logo in Inkscape + Ink/Stitch

Watch the video: “Digitizing the Nike Lakers Logo for Embroidery with Inkscape and Ink/Stitch” by the creator on an unspecified channel.

Hook Turning a pixel logo into clean stitches doesn’t have to be a mystery. This fast, visual tutorial walks through every click—vectorizing, separating colors, ordering stitches, simulating, and exporting—so your machine sews exactly what you see on screen.

What you’ll learn

• How to set document properties precisely for a predictable stitch size.

• How to use Trace Bitmap (Colors mode, with scans tuned) to convert a PNG into vector paths.

• Why Break Apart and Difference are essential for clean outlines and fills.

• How to reorder paths for sensible stitching, then simulate the sew-out in Ink/Stitch.

- How to save to SVG for edits and export PES for a compatible machine.

Introduction to Embroidery Digitizing with Inkscape Embroidery digitizing is the bridge between graphic art and controlled stitches. In this video, the creator converts a PNG Nike Lakers logo into an embroidery-ready vector design using Inkscape and Ink/Stitch. The workflow is lean: set up the canvas, trace to vectors, separate and clean components, organize stitch order, set parameters, simulate, then export. Throughout, the process remains grounded in visible, repeatable steps.

Pro tip If you’re new to free tools, it’s encouraging that everything shown here uses Inkscape plus the Ink/Stitch extension. The video even shows a complete sew-out at the end on a Brother PE535, proving the digital-to-physical pipeline.

Quick check

• Was the logo successfully traced to vectors before you tried Ink/Stitch Params? Ink/Stitch needs paths, not a raw raster.

- Does the simulator preview each color change? If not, revisit your layers.

Setting Up Your Workspace and Importing the Design Customizing Document Properties The workflow begins with a clean canvas. In Document Properties, units are switched to inches and the page is set to 4.0 × 8.0 inches in portrait. The canvas immediately updates, giving you an exact design frame. This matters: when you later export to PES, the size will match your intent because the paths were created at the scale you need.

Watch out Forgetting to switch units to inches can skew the scale. If your design feels unexpectedly large or tiny later, revisit Document Properties and confirm both units and page size.

Importing Your Raster Image Safely The logo PNG is dragged from Finder into Inkscape. In the import dialog, the default choice is to embed the image. That’s important—embedded images travel with the file. After import, the image is oversized relative to the 4 × 8 canvas. The creator locks the aspect ratio and resizes visually until it fits comfortably.

Quick check

• Confirm the lock icon is engaged before resizing, so proportions remain correct.

- Check that the image is fully within the canvas boundary.

From the comments Some viewers asked about hardware compatibility. The video’s final sew-out shows a Brother PE535 in action. If you’re also using a brother embroidery machine, you can follow the same export step to PES as demonstrated.

Transforming Raster to Vector: The Trace Bitmap Process Understanding Trace Bitmap Settings With the PNG selected, Path > Trace Bitmap opens. The creator switches Detection mode to Colors, then adjusts Scans. The preview is inspected while toggling the scan count, landing at 4 scans to separate the purple and yellow regions cleanly. Live Update helps validate the cut. Then Apply generates the vector copy directly on top of the raster.

Watch out If the colors look muddy in preview, try a different scan count. Too few scans may drop detail; too many can create clutter. Always Apply when you’re satisfied, or the vector won’t be generated.

Achieving Clean Vector Outlines After tracing, the vector sits over the original raster. The creator deletes the raster to avoid confusion and recenters the vector on the canvas. This confirms the design is now fully editable as paths—critical for Ink/Stitch to read later. A quick visual check shows shapes look like the original logo’s contours.

Pro tip If you plan to adjust color logic later (e.g., outline-first vs. fill-first), keep the traced vector tidy now. Clean paths make later operations—Break Apart, Difference, and layer reordering—much easier.

Manipulating Vector Paths for Embroidery Readiness Using 'Break Apart' for Component Separation The creator applies Path > Break Apart once to split the logo into main color groups, then opens Object > Objects to see the new path list. To isolate letters and more granular pieces, Break Apart is applied a second time. With many paths visible, the next step is to remove extras—like fills that won’t be used and duplicate outlines. This cleanup leaves the yellow letter outlines and the main purple swoosh as distinct components.

From the comments Many viewers get stuck here: clicking Break Apart but “nothing happens.” In the video, the selection includes the traced vector before applying Break Apart. If you select a raster or an already-simplified object, Inkscape may have “nothing to break.” The creator’s replies also mention selecting all before breaking apart so every relevant piece is targeted.

Crafting Outlines with 'Difference' Operations The creator duplicates a letter outline (e.g., “N”), recolors the duplicate to purple to represent the fill, then selects both shapes and applies Path > Difference. This subtracts the fill shape from the outline, yielding a crisp layered effect with no overlaps. The process is repeated for I, K, and E, and again for the swoosh. The result is a neat two-color structure that will stitch cleanly: one path for the yellow outline and one for the purple fill per component.

Quick check After each Difference, zoom in. If a fill bleeds past an outline edge or the cut didn’t occur, undo and reselect in the proper order—outer first, inner second—then apply Difference again.

Organizing Layers for Stitching Flow In the Layers and Objects panel, the creator reorders components meticulously. The stated logic: the first letter toward the bottom of the stack and the last toward the top, ensuring a natural stitching order. The swoosh and letter components are arranged so the machine will sew in a sensible sequence without unnecessary backtracking.

From the comments A viewer noted their machine behaves better when fills stitch before satin borders. The video does not specify a single “right” order; it shows one consistent order that simulates cleanly. If you want fill-first, reorder your fills beneath the outlines accordingly. Either way, check in the simulator.

Applying Ink/Stitch Parameters and Simulation Essential Ink/Stitch Settings Explained With all paths selected, the creator opens Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Params. The dialog shows settings including Auto-fill underlay, Angle of finest fill stitches, Expand fills, Maximum/Minimum fill stitch length, Running pitch length (between sections), Spacing between rows, Skip stitch in each row, and Diagpass max rows before repeating. The video presents these values and applies them; it does not claim they are universal. Fabric, thread, and design scale can require different tweaks, so treat these as a working baseline, not a rule.

Watch out Skipping Params or relying on defaults without preview can lead to gaps, overly dense fills, or jump-heavy paths. The creator reviews the preview afterwards to catch issues before hitting the hoop.

Visualizing Your Stitch Plan The creator runs Visualize and Export > Simulator/Realistic Preview. The simulator steps through the design, showing the color changes and how the machine will traverse between elements. It’s a powerful sanity check: you’ll see the sew order you set, and any awkward jumps become obvious on-screen.

From the comments

• Some report the simulator not launching or spinning forever. Replies ask about your Inkscape version and whether you successfully traced to paths; Params and preview won’t run on a raw raster.

• Others noticed threads connecting between letters. A reply explains that jump stitches are normal and depend on design. The video doesn’t demonstrate additional commands, but jump control is typically handled with stitch planning and trims in your toolset.

Sidebar note If you’re working on compact designs, consider how your hoop size affects layout. For instance, many beginners start with a 4 × 4 field; if that’s you, you may already be familiar with the brother 4x4 embroidery hoop.

Saving Your Embroidery Design Preserving Your Work as SVG Next, the creator saves the design as “Nike Lakers design.svg.” SVG is the master file: it preserves vector paths and makes it easy to return for edits. This is especially helpful if a later test sew suggests that a fill angle or stitch length needs refinement.

Exporting to Machine-Specific Formats (e.g., PES) Finally, the file is saved again—this time choosing “Ink/Stitch Brother Embroidery Format (.PES).” The creator mentions using a Brother PE535, and the exported PES is what the machine reads. The video does not cover every brand file format; comments note that different machines may require other formats (e.g., JEF for some Janome models), so always confirm your machine’s supported types. If you are using a different brand’s workflow or larger hoops, research your model’s specific embroidery file requirements.

From the comments

• A viewer asked which format to buy for a Brother PE900; the reply suggested PES, aligning with the video’s export.

• Another viewer mentioned exporting for a Janome and not seeing the file on the machine; the video does not address that machine specifically.

Pro tip If you plan to outsource stitching, ask your embroiderer what format they prefer and whether they want any specific thread charts or trims. Some shops prefer to receive both the editable SVG and the stitch file.

Bringing Your Digital Design to Life: The Embroidery Process The video concludes with a practical payoff: a Brother PE535 is shown actively stitching the digitized logo onto fabric. You can see the color order playing out and the design filling in. It’s a satisfying way to validate your path prep, Params, and simulation.

From the comments Multiple viewers found the visual approach straightforward and asked for slower pacing or voiceover. The creator noted that future videos may include voiceover, and also referenced newer Ink/Stitch versions where “Realistic” is called stitch plan preview.

Troubleshooting common roadblocks (from the comments and the video’s flow)

• Break Apart does nothing: Ensure you’ve selected the traced vector (not the original raster). If you already deleted the raster, you should have only paths on canvas.

• Simulator keeps spinning: Confirm you ran Trace Bitmap and that the objects are paths. Params and preview need vector paths.

• “Attach commands” errors: Comments suggest errors can occur when objects aren’t paths yet; trace first, then add Params or commands.

• Missing elements after converting: The video doesn’t show this happening. If it occurs, verify the original art is high contrast before tracing and that you set an appropriate scan count.

Watch out The tutorial’s Ink/Stitch parameter values are shown as-is. Optimal numbers vary by material and scale, so you may need to adjust. The video does not claim universal parameters.

Accessory and setup notes If you’re using compact hoops or upgrading your hooping workflow, consider how your accessories influence placement and stability. For example, the creator demonstrates a full process applicable to a PE535 user; if you’re exploring add-ons, some stitchers experiment with magnetic hoops for brother embroidery machines to speed hooping. The video does not cover magnet frames, but if you’re working on a compatible model, you’ll see references across the community to items like a brother magnetic hoop. Choose accessories appropriate for your machine, and always verify compatibility.

For broader planning, basic hoop dimensions can shape your design limits and layout strategies. Beginners often ask about brother embroidery hoops sizes and whether their machine can accommodate larger designs or split patterns. The video’s canvas setup (4 × 8 inches) is a digital planning choice; your actual stitchable area depends on your machine.

From the comments Viewers repeatedly asked about software names. Responses clarify that the tools are Inkscape plus the Ink/Stitch extension. One reply reminds folks to download Ink/Stitch separately, as it does not ship with Inkscape by default.

Wrap-up In a few focused steps—set size, trace to vectors, Break Apart, Difference, order, Params, preview, and export—the creator moves from PNG to stitches, then proves the setup by stitching on a Brother PE535. If you follow the same sequence and adapt Params to your fabric, you’ll be well on your way to confident, repeatable results.

A note on hoops and planning If you later scale up to larger fields or frames, think through path order and stabilizing options again. Bigger designs can make stitch travel more noticeable. Some users mitigate travel with careful layer sequencing or by staging fills and outlines. On certain setups, a larger brother magnetic embroidery frame (when compatible) can help reposition fabric more easily during multi-step projects. The video doesn’t cover these accessories or sizing, so check your machine’s specs.

From the comments (bonus Q&A) - “What’s the machine model?” Answer in thread: Brother PE535.

• “Why won’t Break Apart work?” Often selection isn’t a path yet or not all needed objects are selected.

• “Where do I get Ink/Stitch?” Replies point out it must be downloaded separately.

• “Why won’t my preview load?” Replies ask for Inkscape version and whether the trace created paths.

Quick checklist before your first sew-out

• Canvas size set (units in inches), art centered.

• Raster traced to vector; raster removed.

• Break Apart used (possibly more than once) and excess paths deleted.

• Difference applied to craft clean outline/fill pairs.

• Layer order reflects desired stitch sequence.

• Params reviewed; simulator run and inspected.

• Saved as SVG and exported to PES (or your machine’s required format).

If you’re experimenting with accessories or broader machines in your studio, you may also be comparing field dimensions and hoop ecosystems. For research, you’ll see mentions around the community such as brother embroidery machine setup basics, common questions about brother embroidery hoops sizes, and entry-level field references like brother pe800 hoop size when comparing models. The video focuses on the PE535 and PES export; other models and hoop sizes aren’t specified here.