Chroma | Ricoma’s Digitizing Software

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Chroma redefines digitizing, offering a seamless experience for beginners and expert digitizers alike. Choose from three exclusive subscription plans to elevate your skills, unlocking advanced features as you progress. Plus, Chroma's universal compatibility ensures that no matter your embroidery machine, you can unleash your creativity without limits!

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Gain access to training + tutorials when you subscribe

Take advantage of Chroma's full potential with flexible monthly or yearly subscription plans, offering unlimited updates and automatic improvements. You’ll also have access to expert training with an instructor, tutorials, and unlimited tech support. Whether you're new to digitizing or a seasoned pro, our resources are designed to enhance your skills and elevate your designs. Subscribe now for seamless creativity!

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Highly Intuitive

Artboard Features

Horizontal and vertical toolbar
Grid view
Hoop view
Change color or add textures to background
See your designs in realistic view
Embroidery sequence panel

Customize and save color palette
Convert images to stitches and fills
Digitize over a backdrop image that is added to artboard using the backdrop tool
Tutorial videos
Save and export designs

Fully functioning

Digitizing Tools

Slow redraw (simulates sewing)
Auto-Digitizing
Multiple stitch types and complex fills
Artwork tool to create designs
Auto density adjustments when resizing designs
Convert artwork to digitized designs

Batch conversion to export multiple file formats at one time
Design with parametric shapes
Split design
Photo to embroidery
Sequin and Chenille options

Fully Customizable

Lettering/Font Features

Pre-digitized fonts
Import True Type fonts
Monogram, 3D puff, Small, and Appliqué font types
Edit lettering with break up text tool
Multiple text types
Reorder sequence of text

Resize, rotate, distort text
Adjust spacing between letters and lines of text
Duplicate text
Reverse direction setting
Change to and use True Type fonts with one click

Chroma is perfect for...

Embroiderers

Chroma is the premier digitizing software for embroiderers. Built and designed for both beginners and experienced digitizers, you'll be designing your next embroidery project with ease and speed. No need to outsource your designs when you'll be a digitizing master!

Digitizers

With an easy-to-use interface and built-in customization tools, Chroma allows digitizers to pump out high-quality designs faster than ever. Chroma speeds up the lengthy digitizing process, so that you can get your product in the hands of your customers quickly and efficiently.

Students/Teachers

Graphic and fashion design students and teachers alike can use Chroma software to eliminate the digitizing learning curve and dive straight into practical, hands-on designing for embroidered garments. Students and teachers will receive the full digitizing learning experience with Chroma's simple customization tools and free training videos.

Files Features

Create a new design or open an existing one

Save designs for any embroidery machine

Merge or open an existing design within another existing design

Design library to save, store, search and organize designs to use within other designs or open on the fly

Save design as image (JPG/PNG)

Import artwork/bitmap

Collapsible tool panels

Backdrop tool imports an image into your file, providing a reference for digitizing

Print out your design

Send a design to an embroidery machine (machine must support a serial port connection)

Batch Export feature exports multiple file formats at one time

View Features

Realistic view feature toggles between lifelike view and stitch view

Show or hide Grid

Show or hide stitches using the sequence panel

Zoom in & out using mouse scroll, 1:1

Pan tool is a scroll feature that allows you to click and drag your screen to move (left/right/up/down)

Show or hide Stitch Ends

Ruler tool measures any part of your design

Hoops tool allows you to select an existing hoop size inside of Chroma or you can program your own

Change background color of your artboard to match the color your design will be placed on

Add texture to your artboard background to see your design on different fabrics

Show or hide machine commands within your file

Set your own Start/Stop point

View/edit the sequence in which your design will sew out

See the order in which your design will sew out using the redraw tool

Navigator tool combines the scrolling and pan tool to view areas of your design quickly

Filter through your design by color or sequence (when right clicking on the design)

Access to Design Analysis which provides details about your design such as stitch count, sewing time, dimensions, etc.

View your design on a library of different 3D Models such as hoodies, t-shirts, caps, and more

Editing Tools

Rotate clockwise/counterclockwise

Flip selected paths

Mirror selected paths

Cut, copy, paste, duplicate, and group

Zoom in/out

Transform (resize, flip, or rotate selection)

Select tool

Color sort

Resequence by color

Align

Undo/Redo

Optimize path sequence

Optimize entry-exit points

Shape tool

Repeat tool allows you to repeat your design (good for sewing multiple designs at a time)

Select same feature allows you to select objects that have the same color, size, width, etc. as other objects in the design

Carousel tool puts selected paths into a circle

Reflect tool

Scatter tool

Place tool adds objects around necklines

Lasso tool is used to draw a line around a specific part of your design you want to select

Stitch tool allows you to manually edit individual stitches (inserting, deleting, changing color, etc.)

Slice Tool

Bead tool creates mark stitches to show where beads need to be placed on fabric

Font/Lettering Features

Text tool allows you to type out text, pre-digitized fonts, size, and other text specs

Use True Type Fonts to import fonts from your computer to use in your design

Pre-digitized fonts

150 total

200 total

250 total

Monogram fonts

Small fonts

3D Puff fonts

Appliqué fonts

Break Up Text tool will separate any selected group of text into individual letters to be moved or edited separately

6 different text types: Normal, circle, monogram, spiral, path, and vertical (text type conforms to these options. Ex: circle, text forms in the shape of a circle)

Bubble Text tool lets you easily make text designs using shapes, colors, and decorations

Font editor to modify or create new fonts

Digitizing Tools

Auto Digitizing

Underlay settings

Pull/Push compensation settings

Column settings for satin stitches

Run/Classic Satin stitch types

Complex Fill with holes

Artwork/Create parametric shapes

Stitched Snapshots (photo to embroidery)

Auto Cross stitch

Auto Baste

Convert To (Steil, Fill etc)

Shaping options (Subtract, Exclude, and Knockout)

Applique

Pattern & Palette Creator

Steil/Cross Stitch

Add Notes to your design file

Magic Wand tool to digitize parts of your image/vector with one click

Utility (Create Border, Outline etc)

Gradient Fills & Color Blending

Varsity Complex Fill Type (mimics chenille)

Plaid Complex Fill Type

3D Foam Complex Fill Type

Stippling Complex Fill Type

Motif/Emboss Complex Fill Types

Wave Complex Fill Type

Split Design (Multiple Hoops)

The Appliqué Cutter tool will export your file for a plotter or vinyl cutter.

Add Button holes

Instant stitch estimation for your designs

Steil cap & miter ends

Sequin Stitch & Fill

Chenille Options

Formats

10o

CSD

DAT

DSB

DST

DSZ

EMD

EXP

HUS

JEF

KSM

PCM

PCS

PES

PHC

SEW

SHV

SST

T01

T03

T05

TAP

U01

U02

VIP

VP3

VP4

XXX

ZHS

ZSK

Minimum Requirements

Operating system – Windows 10 | Version 20H1 (Windows 11 recommended) or MacOS 10.14 Mojave (Big Sur and up recommended)
Memory – 8 gb
Free hard disk space – 40 gb
Graphics card and monitor – support for 32bit and 1600 x 900 resolution
Internet connection - required for software updates

New features to give you the best
best digitizing experience possible

Gain unparalleled efficiency and precision with Chroma's latest enhancements. With cutting-edge tools and features, you can speed up your workflow and enhance your designs in ways you never thought possible. Discover the power of innovation as Chroma redefines the digitizing experience.

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Video Tutorials

Master Chroma's digitizing capabilities with our extensive video tutorials.
You'll become a Chroma expert in no time!

Learn more

Training & Tech Support

If you're facing challenges with fixing a design or experiencing technical issues, our dedicated support team is here to help.

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Chroma subscription work?

To get started with the Chroma subscription, you first purchase the first 12 months upfront. Afterward, you can subscribe to either a monthly or yearly plan. To keep receiving unlimited updates as new features are released, you must maintain an active monthly or yearly subscription plan.

What kind of training do I receive?

Gain access to tutorials, which provide comprehensive guidance on the digitizing process from start to finish and will help you master Chroma's unique functions.

Enroll in exclusive training with an instructor through your My Ricoma portal, with multiple classes available every week.

For additional assistance, our tech support line is open 7 days a week to answer any questions about the software.

What file formats can Chroma create?

You can save your file as an RDE, EXP, DST, DSB, DSZ, T01, SST, KSM, U01, U02, DAT, T03, PHC, 10o, ZSK, T05, TAP, M3 PES, EMD, PCS, PCM, SEW, HUS, SHV, CSD, JEF, VIP, VP3, VP4, ZHS, or XXX

How do I use the software on more than one computer?

Chroma can be activated on up to 5 devices. You can download Chroma from your confirmation email or log in to your Chroma account or My Ricoma account. After downloading to your devices, follow the steps to enter your serial number and activate Chroma. Please note, Chroma cannot be used on more than one device at the same time.

How do you upgrade to a subscription plan?

Click here to get started.

What supported languages are available?

Chroma has multiple languages built-in, including English, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Korean.

What if I already have Chroma?

If you already have Chroma, you can upgrade to our new subscription plan to receive the latest updates and digitizing tools. Subscribe now.