Which format
The DST, read by every Ricoma. It carries no colours: in the studio each colour is assigned to a needle in the Sequence panel, and the printable run sheet gives the threading order; on the machine, you assign colours to needles in the same order. Ricoma sells its own software, Chroma, with a $799 to $2,499 activation fee then $16 to $41 a month; Broderly is an alternative at €19.99 or €29.99 a month, with no activation.
Transferring the file
- USB stick: FAT32, file at the root, short name without accents (the studio offers “8.3” short names).
- Wi-Fi: models with a 10" touch screen receive files over the network; drop the DST in the shared folder.
Hoops and sizes
| Machine | Needles | Sewing field |
|---|---|---|
| EM-1010 | 10 | 240 × 300 mm (flat), cap 80 × 360 mm |
| MT-1501 | 15 | 560 × 360 mm |
| SWD-1501 | 15 | 500 × 400 mm |
| CHT2-1502 (2 heads) | 15 per head | 500 × 400 mm per head |
Recommended settings
- Machine: set 1 or 2 heads and 10 or 15 needles in the Machine panel; the studio warns when a design has more colours than needles.
- Trims: Ricoma trims on three consecutive jumps (Tajima convention), which the studio writes by default.
- Speed: 800 to 1,000 spm; 600 on caps.
Models
Ricoma EM-1010, RCM-1201PT, MT-1501, SWD-1501, MT-2002, CHT2-1502, CHT2-1504.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chroma mandatory?
No. Ricoma reads any well-formed DST. Chroma is digitizing software sold separately.
How do I handle 15 needles?
In the Sequence panel every colour gets a needle number; the large-print machine sheet reminds the operator. Assignment on the machine follows the same order.
Go further
The studio is free to draw, open and check designs. Your first machine file takes five minutes.
Updated 2026-09-24.