Embroidery machine file formats
Which design file each machine reads, and how the main formats differ.
Buy or save designs in the format your machine reads: .PES for Brother and Baby Lock, .JEF for Janome, .VP3 for Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff, .EXP for Bernina and .XXX for many Singer models. .DST works on most machines but carries no thread colours.
| Format | Native to | Colours stored | Machines that read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| .PES | Brother, Baby Lock | Yes | 20 |
| .DST | Tajima | No | 21 |
| .JEF | Janome, Elna, Kenmore | Yes | 4 |
| .EXP | Melco, Bernina | No | 0 |
| .VP3 | Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff | Yes | 1 |
| .XXX | Singer | Yes | 0 |
Which format does my machine use?
| Machine | Reads |
|---|---|
| Brother SE700 | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother PE800 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother SE2000 | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother PE900 | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother SE600 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother PE535 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother PE545 | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother PE770 | .PES, .DST |
| Brother SE1900 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother SE725 | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother SE400 | .PES, .DST |
| Brother NQ1700E | .PES, .PHC, .PEN, .DST |
| Brother PR1055X | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother SE625 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother PRS100 | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother PR680W | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother SE630 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Janome Memory Craft 550E | .JEF, .JEF+, .JPX |
| Janome Memory Craft 500E | .JEF |
| Janome MB-4S | .JEF, .JEF+, .DST |
| Janome Memory Craft 400E | .JEF |
| Baby Lock Flare | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Baby Lock Array | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST |
| Brother Stellaire XE2 | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST, .PEN |
| Singer SE9180 | .VP3 |
File format questions
What file format do embroidery machines use?
Each brand has a home format: Brother and Baby Lock use .PES, Janome .JEF and Husqvarna Viking and Pfaff .VP3. Bernina machines read .EXP, and many Singer machines use .XXX. Most machines also read .DST, the commercial standard. Always check your machine's manual.
Can I convert one embroidery format to another?
Yes, with embroidery software. Converting stitch files keeps the stitches but can lose colour names, and big resizes after conversion can spoil the design.
Why does my DST file show the wrong colours?
DST files store stitches and colour changes but not the thread colours themselves, so the machine shows its own default colours. Pick the colours on the machine or in software.