Embrilliance Essentials is a sewing and embroidery design software - compatible with both Mac and PC - that will give you a lot of flexibility if you are trying to merge applique or embroidery designs.
I use it with my Brother SE2000 and my older Brother SE600, which Brother has since replaced with the SE700.
Embrilliance Express is the free version. It opens and converts embroidery files, but you can't merge designs, add lettering, or resize with stitch recalculation. Essentials is the paid upgrade, and it's a one time purchase rather than a subscription.
In this tutorial I'll show you how to download Embrilliance Essentials for beginners on a Mac. The process is essentially the same on PC.
Embrilliance Express vs Essentials: What you Get
Express is the free version and it's free - no email signup, no strings. Essentials is the paid upgrade and it's a one time purchase, not a subscription. Here's where the difference between them:
| Feature | Express (free) | Essentials (paid) |
| Open and view embroidery files | Yes | Yes |
| Save stitch files for your machine | Yes | Yes |
| Install and type in BX fonts | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on Mac and Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Combine and merge multiple designs | No | Yes |
| Resize 50% to 250% with stitch recalculation | No | Yes |
| Stitch editing | No | Yes |
| Lettering and monogram tools, 21 built in fonts | No | Yes |
| Applique tools | No | Yes |
| Thread color changes and brand conversion | No | Yes |
| Remove hidden and overlapping stitches | No | Yes |
| Print full size templates | No | Yes |
| Built in stitch simulator | No | Yes |
| Send designs to Brother and Baby Lock over wifi | No | Yes |
| One licence, unlimited computers, Mac and Windows | - | Yes |
The short version: if you only need to open a design and send it to your machine, Express is enough. The moment you want to combine two designs, resize one, add a name, or do applique, that's Essentials.
The one that matters most if you own a Silhouette: Essentials can generate applique cut files straight from the placement stitches, so your CAMEO cuts the fabric and your embroidery machine stitches it. Here's how to use PES embroidery files in Silhouette Studio.
How to download Embrilliance Essentials
You want to start by purchasing the upgrade to Embrilliance Essentials. Swing Design carries it and often has it below list price, so it's worth checking there before you buy direct. After your purchase you'll get a license key code. Hold onto that code while you do the next steps.
To start go to the Embrilliance website and locate the Downloads page on the top menu bar.
In the middle of the page find the correct version of the Embrilliance Essentials software that matches your operating system.
If you're not sure go to the About this Computer on your computer (little Apple in the very top left corner of a Mac) and verify your operating system.
Click the correct download link to match your OS to begin downloading Embrilliance.
What's downloading is the free "Express" version of Embrilliance. We'll upgrade it to Essentials later in the process so you have more features and tools.
On your computer locate the download where your Downloads typically go.
Installing Embrilliance on a Mac
Double click the installer file to begin the installation and then follow through the on screen prompts.
If it asks you for a password during any of the steps, this is your computer password.
You'll get a confirmation message that the software installed successfully.
How to enter your Essentials license key
To launch the software and to upgrade to Embrilliance go to your Applications folder and find the Embrilliance software. Double click it to launch.
Click Continue when you're done and the software will open.
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