DST vs PES vs EMB: Which Embroidery File Do You Need?

Every embroidery machine reads a stitch file, but brands use different formats. Getting the wrong one means a file that will not open, or one that opens with the wrong colors. Here is what the three formats you will see most actually contain.

DST (Tajima)

DST is the closest thing to a universal format for commercial machines. It stores every stitch as a movement, plus jumps, trims and color stops. It does not store thread colors, so the machine shows default colors and the operator sets the real ones. That is why a DST often looks rainbow-colored in a viewer. Try it in our stitch file viewer.

PES (Brother and Baby Lock)

PES is used by Brother and Baby Lock machines. Unlike DST, it stores thread colors and a small preview image. Many newer Brother commercial machines also read DST.

EMB (Wilcom source)

EMB is not a machine format. It is the editable source file from Wilcom software. It keeps objects, stitch types, angles and lettering as editable shapes. If you ever need to resize the design properly or change a name, the EMB makes it fast.

Other formats you may see

Format	Machines
JEF	Janome, Elna
EXP	Melco, Bernina
VP3	Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff
XXX	Singer
DSB	Barudan
TAP	Happy

Use the file format finder to check yours.

Can you convert between formats?

Yes, for stitch data. Our free stitch file viewer and converter reads DST, PES, EXP and JEF and saves DST, EXP or PES. Converting does not change density or underlay, so a file built for a polo will still be built for a polo. Resizing more than about 20% needs a digitizer.

From the production floor: keep the source file. Customers who come back a year later for a resize or a new name save time and money when we can open the original objects.