PE-DESIGN 10 Name Drop: Turn One Template into a Whole Team’s PES Files (Without Losing Your Mind)

If you have ever managed a team order for a local soccer club or a corporate staff event, you know the specific kind of anxiety that sets in around 2:00 AM. You are staring at a spreadsheet of 30 names, manually deleting "Michael," typing "Michelle," saving the file, and praying you didn't accidentally nudge the logo three millimeters to the left.

This brings us to Brother PE-DESIGN 10’s Name Drop feature.

In the embroidery industry, we call this "Variable Data Stitching." It is the bridge between hobbyist frustration and commercial efficiency. Name Drop allows you to engineer a single, perfect "Master File," and then let the machine logic generate the individual variations. When executed correctly, it is the safest way to scale production without introducing human error (typos or layout drift).

However, software automation is only fast if your physical workflow can keep up. In this guide, we will walk through the exact steps to master Name Drop, while also addressing the physical realities—like hoop burn and alignment fatigue—that software alone cannot fix.

PE-DESIGN 10 Name Drop: the calm way to batch personal names for team uniforms

Name Drop is a specialized function within PE-DESIGN 10 that allows you to designate a specific text field as a "variable." You build the architecture of the design once, and the software swaps the text contents from a list you provide.

For a beginner, this looks like a time-saver. For a seasoned operator, this is a Risk Management Protocol.

If you are transitioning from a single-needle hobby machine to a semi-pro workflow, you need to understand the difference in mindset:

• Hobby Workflow: Open file → Edit text → Save As → Repeat. Risk: High probability of accidental mouse drags moving the design; high fatigue.
• Production Workflow: Build Template → Import Data → Batch Output. Risk: Low. The design is locked; only the text changes.

The production mindset accepts a simple truth: The most expensive error in embroidery isn't the thread—it is the garment you ruin because you misspelled "Jonathon" as "Jonathan" on a $40 jacket.

The “hidden” prep in Layout & Editing: set yourself up so Name Drop doesn’t bite later

The tutorial begins in the Layout & Editing module. Before you even think about the name list, you must stabilize your "Master Pattern."

Think of this stage as pouring the concrete foundation for a house. If the concrete is wet or uneven (bad alignment, wrong density), every room you build on top of it (the names) will be crooked.

Empirical Best Practices (The "Sweet Spot" Settings):

• Centering: Do not eyeball it. The center of your screen corresponds to the mechanical center of your embroidery frame. If your digital design is 2mm off-center, your laser alignment on the machine will lie to you.
• Font Selection: Avoid serif fonts (fonts with little feet) for text under 8mm in height. The needle points are too large for the detail, and you will get thread nests. Stick to block fonts like HobbyBlock or Salamanca for clarity.
• Density Safety: For standard name sizes (10mm - 20mm), ensure your density is not effectively solid. A standard value of 4.5 to 5.0 lines/mm is safe for cotton. If going automatically, trust the software but verify the "underlay" is on.

Prep Checklist (Pre-Flight Safety Check):

• Module Check: Confirm you are in Layout & Editing (not Design Center).
• Element Separation: Mentally separate your "Static" elements (Logo) from "Variable" elements (Name). Use different colors temporarily to visualize them if needed.
• Font Stress Test: Pick a font that is legible at 10mm.
• Folder Hygiene: Create a dedicated folder on your hard drive named JOB_Date_ClientName right now. Do not save files to your Desktop; that is how data gets lost.

Import Tab + Design Library (Miscellaneous): pull in the stock graphic cleanly

In the video demonstration, the template begins with a stock stock design: a coffee cup. This represents your "Static" logo.

1. Navigate to the Import tab on the top ribbon.
2. Use the From menu drop-down and select Design Library.
3. In the category drop-down, select Miscellaneous.
4. Scroll to the coffee cup icon. Double-click it to place it on the canvas.

Sensory Check: You should see the design appear instantly in the center of your workspace. Check the "Sewing Order" pane on the left. The cup should be the first item listed. If it is floating off-center, use your alignment tools immediately.

Text Tool + ENTER: build your static headline (“Hot Beans”) without accidental edits

Next, we add the top line of text: “Hot Beans”. This text is "Static"—it will appear on every single uniform.

1. Click the Text Tool drop-down and select the first option (Text Tool 'A').
2. Click firmly once on the design workspace to drop your anchor point.
3. Type “Hot Beans”.
4. Crucial Step: Press ENTER on your keyboard to "Set" the object.

Why "Enter" Matters: Beginners often skip pressing Enter and try to click away. This leaves the text object in "Edit Mode." If you try to switch tools while in Edit Mode, you might accidentally type a letter or drag the text cursor.

• Visual Cue: When you press Enter, the solid flashing cursor disappears, and a dashed black box (the "marching ants") appears around the text. This means the object is sealed and ready for manipulation.

Salamanca font + Transform (Arc): curve the top text so it looks intentional, not “stuck on”

Now we apply styling. The goal is to make the text hug the graphic, creating a cohesive badge effect.

1. With the text selected, go to the Text Attributes tab.
2. Change the Font Style to Salamanca. (Note: Salamanca is a robust, satin-stitch font that handles curvature well).
3. Check the box labeled Transform.
4. Select the first arc shape (upward curve).

Expert Insight - The Physics of Arcs: Curving text changes the angle of the satin stitches. On the inside of the curve, stitches get crowded (high density); on the outside, they fan out (low density).

• Troubleshooting: If you see gaps on the outer edge of your letters in the 3D preview, increase your Pull Compensation by 0.2mm. This adds just enough thread bulk to close the gaps without making the text bulletproof-stiff.

Arrange > Layout > Center (and Ctrl+M): lock your alignment before you start swapping names

Alignment is the silent killer of batch jobs. If your master file is 1mm to the right, all 30 shirts will be 1mm to the right.

1. Click the Select tool and choose Select All (or press Ctrl+A).
2. Navigate to Arrange → Layout → Center.
3. Alternatively, adopt the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + M (Move to Center).

Commercial Workflow Note: In professional shops, we treat the software grid as the "digital truth." If you are using a physical hooping station for machine embroidery on your production floor, that station relies on your design being dead-center in the digital hoop. If you neglect software centering, your physical hooping station becomes useless because the reference points won't match.

The placeholder name (“Josephina”): the smart way to design your variable text line

Now we create the variable field. This is where many users fail by choosing a short placeholder like "Tom."

1. Select the Text Tool.
2. Click below the cup and type a Placeholder Name. The video uses “Josephina”.
3. Press ENTER.
4. In Text Attributes, uncheck Transform (keep the name line straight for legibility).
5. Move text to the desired position.
6. Select All and Center (Ctrl+M) again.

Why "Josephina"? You must design for the "Worst Case Scenario." "Josephina" or "Christopher" are long names. If you design your layout using the name "Amy," and then "Christopher" comes up in the batch, his name will either crash into the logo or run outside the hoop boundaries.

• The Rule of Thumb: Setup your template using a name with at least 8-10 characters. If "Josephina" fits safely, "Tom" will fit easily.

Name Drop checkbox + Maintain Aspect Ratio: the two clicks that prevent ugly distortion

This is the command center for the entire operation.

1. Click in empty space to deselect everything.
2. Click only on the name “Josephina”.
3. In the Text Attributes tab, check the box Name Drop.
4. Critical: Check the box Maintain aspect ratio.

The Danger of Aspect Ratio: If you do not check "Maintain aspect ratio," the software will force every name to be exactly the same width as "Josephina."

• Result: "Tom" will be stretched horizontally into a fat, distorted blob. "Christopher" might be squashed into a thin, unreadable barcode.
• Sensory Check: Look at the letters on screen. They should look like normal text. If they look like a fun-house mirror reflection, you missed this checkbox.

Name Drop List window: enter names like a production operator, not like a hobbyist

Select the Name Drop List tab (usually at the bottom or side pane).

1. Double-click the second line in the table.
2. Type the first real name (e.g., Sally) and press ENTER.
3. Repeat for Susan, Mindy, Cindy, Sarah, Melody.

Hidden Consumables & Tricks:

• Import Feature: If you have 50 names, do not type them manually. You can often import a .csv or .txt file depending on your version. Typing introduces human error.
• Spelling Verification: Do not read the names from the screen. Read them against your client's original email. If the client spelled it "Sara" and you typed "Sarah," you are paying for the replacement garment.

“To Folder” output: the folder-click mistake that makes people think Name Drop is broken

This is a specific UI quirk in PE-DESIGN that trips up 50% of new users. Read carefully.

1. Click the To Folder button icon.
2. Input a base filename (e.g., “Hot Beans”). The software will append numbers (Hot Beans_01, Hot Beans_02).
3. Click the folder icon to browse the destination.
4. Create your new subfolder.
5. The "Hidden" Step: You must Single-Click the new folder to highlight it blue before clicking OK. If you just make it and click OK, the software often reverts to the previous directory.

Warning: File Location Amnesia. If you skip step 5, your files will vanish into a default system folder (often obscured in AppData or Documents), and you will spend 20 minutes searching for them. Highlight the target folder every time.

Design Database verification: the fastest way to catch a bad name before you stitch it

Never send files blindly to the machine. Use the Design Database module as your quality control.

1. Go to Options → Design Database.
2. Navigate to your output folder using the directory tree on the left.
3. Visual Audit: Look at the thumbnails.

What to Look For:

• Centering: Is the text centered under the cup for every file?
• Length: Did one long name wrap onto a second line or crash into the cup?
• Corruption: Do any designs look like gray static (indicating a file write error)?

This 30-second check saves hours of picking out stitches.

The “why it works” (and how it fails): batch text replacement is only as good as your template

Name Drop is a multiplier. It multiplies your efficiency, but it also multiplies your errors.

Expert Constraints:

• Text Size: Do not try to Name Drop text smaller than 5mm unless you are using 60wt thread and a 65/9 needle. The loops will close up.
• Stabilizer Selection: For a solid badge design like this, standard tearaway is insufficient for production. Use Cutaway Stabilizer (2.5oz or 3.0oz).
  • Sensory Check: The stabilizer should feel like stiff paper or fabric, not like a tissue. Tearaway allows the letters to shift during the aggressive zig-zag of satin stitches, causing "registration errors" (gaps between outline and fill).

If you are running a brother embroidery machine, standardizing your stabilizer choices is just as important as the software settings.

Production reality: Name Drop saves software time—your hooping workflow decides your profit

Congratulations, you saved 4 hours of digitizing time. But now you have a new problem: Physical Bottlenecks.

In a commercial environment, the software is instant, but hooping a shirt takes 1-3 minutes. If you have 50 shirts, that is 2.5 hours of just physical labor. Furthermore, using standard embroidery hoops repeatedly leads to hand fatigue and the dreaded "Hoop Burn" (that shiny, crushed ring left on the fabric).

The Upgrade Path: From Struggle to Scale

1. Scenario Trigger: You are doing a Name Drop run on 20+ Polo shirts. You notice your wrists hurt from tightening screws, and you are fighting to get the buttons straight in the hoop.
2. Judgment Standard: If you spend more time hooping the garment than the machine spends stitching it (e.g., 5 mins to hoop, 4 mins to stitch), you are losing money.
3. The Solution - Magnetic Tooling:
   • Level 1 (Consistency): A hooping station for embroidery ensures that every Name Drop logo lands in the exact same spot on the left chest.
   • Level 2 (Speed & Safety): Upgrading to a magnetic hooping station removes the friction of inner/outer rings. You slide the shirt on, and the magnets snap into place.
   • Level 3 (Machine Fit): For Brother users, dedicated magnetic embroidery hoops for brother are game-changers. They eliminate hoop burn because they hold the fabric with magnetic force rather than friction crush. This is vital for uniforms that cannot be washed to remove ring marks before delivery.

Warning: Magnetic Safety. Magnetic frames use industrial-strength neodymium magnets. They can pinch fingers severely (blood blister risk) if snapped shut carelessly. Keep them away from pacemakers and implanted medical devices, as the strong field can interfere with electronics.

Investing in a brother magnetic embroidery frame setup transforms a dreaded batch job into a rhythmic, profitable workflow.

A simple decision tree: when to stay “one-off,” and when to build a batch pipeline

Do not overcomplicate simple jobs. Use this logic flow to decide your method.

Decision Tree (Reference for efficiency):

1. Is the design identical except for the text?
   • NO: Do not use Name Drop. Build separate files.
   • YES: Proceed to step 2.
2. Is the variable list longer than 5 names?
   • NO: Just duplicate the file 5 times and edit manually (Faster than setting up a template).
   • YES: Use Name Drop. Proceed to step 3 to plan production.
3. Are you stitching on difficult fabric (Velvet, Thick Fleece, or Silky Polos)?
   • NO: Standard hoops are fine.
   • YES: Hoop burn is a guaranteed risk. Consider magnetic embroidery hoops to prevent crushing the nap or pile of the fabric.
4. Are you stitching more than 50 items?
   • YES: This is a volume run. Verify you have enough bobbin thread (buy pre-wounds) and verify needles are fresh (change needle every 8 hours of stitching).

Troubleshooting PE-DESIGN 10 Name Drop: symptoms you’ll actually see in the shop

When things go wrong, they usually follow a pattern. Here is your structured repair guide.

Symptom: "The Name Drop buttons are greyed out."

• Likely Cause: You have selected the graphic and the text, or nothing at all.
• Quick Fix: Click on white space to deselect. Click only on the text object you want to change.

Symptom: "My names are shrinking and look crushed."

• Likely Cause: You forgot to check "Maintain Aspect Ratio." The software is forcing a short name into a long box.

Symptom: "The machine won't read the files."

• Likely Cause: File Format or Card capacity.

Symptom: "The top text is arched, but the name line is weirdly curved too."

• Likely Cause: You copied the "Hot Beans" text to make the name line, carrying over the "Transform" property.

Setup Checklist (The "Last 60 Seconds" Rule)

Do this immediately before clicking "Output to Folder".

• Selection Check: Confirm only the variable text is selected.
• Config Check: Name Drop = Checked. Maintain Aspect Ratio = Checked.
• Spelling Audit: Scroll the list one last time. Look for duplicates.
• Folder Logic: Confirm the output folder is created and highlighted blue.

Operation Checklist (Post-Output Verification)

Do this before the needle moves.

• File Count: Did you input 20 names? Verify 20 files exist in the folder.
• Center Check: Open file #1 and file #20 in Design Database. Visual confirm: Are they centered?
• Consumables: Do you have enough cutaway stabilizer pre-cut? (Don't cut as you go; it slows you down).
• Hoop Check: Inspect your hoop. Is the screw stripped? Is it holding tension? (It should sound like a drum when tapped).

Mastering Name Drop is about trusting the process. Once you lock in your template, the software does the heavy lifting. And when you pair that software efficiency with the right physical tools—like magnetic hoops—you turn a stressful "all-nighter" into a standard, profitable Tuesday morning.

FAQ

• Q: In Brother PE-DESIGN 10, why are the Name Drop controls greyed out when setting variable names?
  A: This is common—PE-DESIGN 10 usually greys out Name Drop when the wrong objects are selected; select only the variable text object.
  • Click on white space to deselect everything.
  • Click only the placeholder name text (not the graphic, not the “Hot Beans” static text).
  • Open Text Attributes and check that Name Drop becomes available.
  • Success check: the Name Drop checkbox is clickable and the selected object shows a selection box only around the name line.
  • If it still fails: confirm the text object was “set” by pressing ENTER (not left in edit mode).
• Q: In Brother PE-DESIGN 10 Name Drop, why do short names like “Tom” look stretched or long names look squashed?
  A: Check “Maintain aspect ratio” before generating the list, or PE-DESIGN 10 will force every name into the placeholder width.
  • Select only the variable name text (the placeholder such as “Josephina”).
  • Enable Name Drop and then enable Maintain aspect ratio.
  • Re-enter or re-import the name list after correcting the checkbox.
  • Success check: letters on-screen look like normal text (not “fun-house mirror” wide or compressed).
  • If it still fails: delete the Name Drop list and rebuild from the placeholder name again to clear the bad sizing behavior.
• Q: In Brother PE-DESIGN 10, how do embroidery operators prevent Name Drop names from crashing into the logo or running outside the hoop?
  A: Build the template using a long “worst-case” placeholder name (8–10+ characters) so every shorter name fits safely.
  • Type a long placeholder like “Josephina” (or any 8–10 character name) for the variable line.
  • Position the placeholder where it must sit under the graphic, then center the whole design (Ctrl+M).
  • Keep the name line straight by unchecking Transform for the variable text.
  • Success check: the long placeholder fits with clear space from the logo and stays inside the hoop boundary; shorter names will only get easier.
  • If it still fails: move the variable line slightly down or reduce the name size, then re-check centering before output.
• Q: In Brother PE-DESIGN 10, why does the variable name line inherit an unwanted curve when using Name Drop?
  A: The variable name text is often copied from curved header text, carrying the Transform (arc) property; turn Transform off for the name line.
  • Select the variable name text object only.
  • Go to Text Attributes and uncheck Transform.
  • Re-center the layout (Ctrl+M) after the change.
  • Success check: the name baseline is visually straight, while the top “Hot Beans” line remains arched.
  • If it still fails: recreate the name line with the Text Tool (type, press ENTER) instead of duplicating the curved text object.
• Q: In Brother PE-DESIGN 10 Name Drop, why do exported “To Folder” files seem to disappear or save to the wrong directory?
  A: PE-DESIGN 10 can revert to the previous directory unless the destination folder is single-clicked (highlighted blue) before pressing OK.
  • Click To Folder and set the base filename.
  • Browse to create the new subfolder.
  • Single-click the new folder so it highlights blue, then click OK.
  • Success check: the new folder immediately contains sequential files (e.g., Hot Beans_01, Hot Beans_02) and the file count matches the name list.
  • If it still fails: use Design Database to navigate the directory tree and locate where PE-DESIGN actually wrote the files.
• Q: In Brother PE-DESIGN 10 batch jobs, how do professionals verify every Name Drop file is correct before stitching the first garment?
  A: Use Design Database to do a fast thumbnail audit of the entire output folder before sending anything to the machine.
  • Open Options → Design Database and navigate to the output folder.
  • Scan thumbnails for centering consistency, name length issues (wrapping/crashing), and any “gray static” corruption.
  • Spot-check an early file and a late file (e.g., #1 and #20) for alignment and placement.
  • Success check: thumbnails show the name centered under the graphic for every file with no collisions or corrupted previews.
  • If it still fails: return to the master template, re-center (Ctrl+M), confirm Maintain aspect ratio, then re-output the full batch.
• Q: During Brother PE-DESIGN 10 Name Drop production on polos, how do operators reduce hoop burn and hooping fatigue without changing the design?
  A: If hooping time and fabric marking are the bottleneck, improve the physical workflow first—often by standardizing alignment and then moving to magnetic clamping.
  • Level 1 (Technique): standardize centering in software (Ctrl+M) so placement references stay truthful every run.
  • Level 2 (Tooling): use a hooping station to repeat left-chest placement more consistently on batches.
  • Level 2 upgrade (Comfort): switch to magnetic hoops to reduce screw-tightening fatigue and help prevent hoop burn on delicate or silky polos.
  • Success check: hooping becomes repeatable with fewer shiny ring marks, and hooping time drops below stitching time on typical items.
  • If it still fails: reassess stabilizer choice (cutaway is recommended for solid badge-style satin text) and verify the garment is not being over-tensioned in the hoop.
• Q: What magnetic hoop safety rules should embroidery operators follow when using magnetic embroidery hoops for batch uniform runs?
  A: Treat magnetic hoops as industrial pinch hazards and keep them away from pacemakers and implanted medical devices.
  • Keep fingers clear when closing magnets; close slowly and deliberately to avoid blood-blister pinches.
  • Keep magnetic frames away from people with pacemakers/implanted devices and away from sensitive electronics.
  • Store magnets so they cannot snap together unexpectedly on the workbench.
  • Success check: magnets close without sudden snapping, and operators can hoop repeatedly without finger injuries.
  • If it still fails: pause production and change the handling method (two-hand control, slower closure) before continuing the batch.