Manual Help
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers: cost, accounts, privacy, machines, formats, photos and more.
Does Lilo cost anything?#
No. Lilo is free and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Do I need an account?#
No. There is no sign-in.
Where do my designs go?#
They stay on your computer. Lilo only contacts one place: the GitHub Releases page, to check for updates once a day. You can switch that off.
Which machines can I send to over Wi-Fi?#
Brother and Baby Lock machines with built-in Wi-Fi. Every other machine works through a file on a USB stick. Read Set up Wi-Fi sending and USB stick.
My machine is on a 5 GHz network. Will it work?#
Most embroidery machines only use 2.4 GHz. Connect the machine to 2.4 GHz. Your computer can be on either band if both bands share one network.
Can I stitch a photo?#
You can, but photos turn out muddy. Thread has no soft shading. Use a simple logo or drawing, or reduce the photo to a few flat colours first.
What is the biggest design I can make?#
It depends on your hoop. The sewing area of the hoop is the limit. Read Sizing and hoops.
Why does my design look smaller when sewn?#
Thread pulls the cloth in. Raise Pull compensation. Read Underlay and pull compensation.
Why are my letters filled in?#
They are too small for the thread. Read Small letters.
Can I use my own fonts?#
Yes. TTF, OTF and TTC files. Read Using your own fonts.
Can I turn off the tour and the tips?#
You can skip the tour at any step. Hints only show when you ask for them. Dismiss a warning note with its close button.
How do I replay the tour?#
Open Help and press Replay the tour.
What if Lilo closes without saving?#
Lilo autosaves every 30 seconds. Reopen the project and look in Version history. Read Version history.
Windows says "Windows protected your PC".#
That is SmartScreen, because the installer is not signed yet. Click More info, then Run anyway. Read Install Lilo.