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 | 73 |
| .DST | Tajima | No | 81 |
| .JEF | Janome, Elna, Kenmore | Yes | 20 |
| .EXP | Melco, Bernina | No | 14 |
| .VP3 | Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff | Yes | 13 |
| .XXX | Singer | Yes | 11 |
| .PHC | Brother, Baby Lock | Yes | 49 |
| .PEN | Brother | Yes | 17 |
| .PHX | Brother, Baby Lock | Yes | 7 |
| .PEC | Brother, Baby Lock | Yes | 15 |
| .SEW | Janome, Elna, Kenmore | Yes | 10 |
| .HUS | Husqvarna Viking | Yes | 10 |
| .ART | Bernina | Yes | 0 |
| .EMB | Wilcom | Yes | 0 |
| .SHV | Husqvarna Viking | Yes | 5 |
| .PCS | Pfaff | Yes | 10 |
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 |
| Ricoma EM-1010 | .DST |
| Brother SE630 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Janome Memory Craft 550E | .JEF, .JEF+, .JPX |
| Brother LB5000 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother PE550D | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Janome Memory Craft 500E | .JEF |
| Brother PE500 | .PES, .DST |
| Janome MB-7 | .JEF, .JEF+, .DST |
| Melco EMT16X | .OFM, .EXP, .DST |
| Brother PE150 | .CARD |
| Janome MB-4S | .JEF, .JEF+, .DST |
| Brother NQ1600E | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Janome Memory Craft 400E | .JEF |
| Ricoma MT-1501 | .DST |
| Brother SE425 | .PES, .DST |
| Brother PR1050X | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother VM5200 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother PR1000e | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Melco BRAVO | .OFM, .EXP, .DST |
| Janome Memory Craft 350E | .JEF |
| Brother NS1150E | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother PR655 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother SE270D | .CARD |
| Brother PR670E | .PES, .DST |
| Baby Lock Alliance | .PES, .PHC, .PEC, .DST |
| bernette b79 | .EXP, .PES, .DST, .PEC, .JEF, .VP3, .VIP, .HUS, .ZHS |
| Brother Stellaire XE1 | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST, .PEN |
| Janome Skyline S9 | .JEF, .JEF+ |
| bernette b70 DECO | .VP3, .VIP, .PEC, .HUS, .DST, .EXP, .JEF, .PES |
| Brother NQ3700D | .PES, .PHC, .PEN, .DST |
| Brother PR650 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother Luminaire XP3 | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother Stellaire XJ1 | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother LB6800PRW | .PES, .DST |
| Baby Lock Flare | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother PE540D | .PES, .DST |
| Bernina DECO 650 | .CARD |
| Brother Dream Machine 2 XV8550D | .PES, .PHA, .PHB, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother HE240 | .PES |
| Brother PE180D | .CARD |
| Brother PE570 | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Baby Lock Vesta | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother NQ1400E | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother NQ3600D | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Janome Memory Craft 300E | .JEF, .SEW |
| Janome Memory Craft 9850 | .JEF, .JEF+ |
| Pfaff creative 4.5 | .VP3 |
| Singer EM200 | .XXX, .DST |
| Brother PE525 | .PES, .DST |
| Elna Air Artist | .JEF |
| Baby Lock Array | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST |
| Brother PR620 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother SE350 | .PES |
| Baby Lock Verve | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother PE780D | .PES, .DST |
| Baby Lock Flourish II | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Baby Lock Venture | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST |
| Bernina B 700 E | .EXP, .DST, .PES, .PEC, .JEF, .PCS, .SEW, .XXX |
| Pfaff Creative Sensation Pro | .VP3, .VIP, .HUS, .PCS, .DST, .EXP, .PES, .JEF |
| Pfaff creative 3.0 | .VP3, .VIP, .HUS, .SHV, .DHV, .PEC, .PES, .PCS, .XXX, .SEW, .JEF, .EXP, .DST |
| Brother Innov-is Quattro 6000D | .PES, .PHA, .PHB, .PHC, .DST |
| Baby Lock Pathfinder | .PES, .PHC, .PEC, .DST |
| Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic 2 | .VP3, .SHV, .VIP, .HUS, .PEC, .PES, .PCS, .XXX, .SEW, .JEF, .EXP, .DST |
| Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby 90 | .VP3, .SHV, .DHV, .VIP, .HUS, .PEC, .PES, .PCS, .XXX, .SEW, .JEF, .EXP, .DST |
| Husqvarna Viking Designer Topaz 50 | .VP3 |
| Poolin EOC06 | .DST, .DSB |
| Brother PE700II | .PES, .DST |
| Husqvarna Viking Designer Jade 35 | .VP3 |
| Brother PR600II | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Singer Futura XL-400 | .FHE, .CHE, .XXX, .PSW, .PEC, .PES, .HUS, .SEW, .EXP, .DST, .PCS |
| Pfaff creative 1.5 | .VP3 |
| Singer SE300 | .XXX, .DST |
| Poolin EOC05 | .DST, .DSB |
| Baby Lock Altair 2 | .PES, .PHC, .PEC, .DST |
| Baby Lock Meridian 2 | .PES, .PHC, .PEC, .DST |
| Bernina B 880 PLUS | .EXP, .DST, .PES, .PEC, .JEF, .SEW, .PCS, .XXX |
| Brother PR1060W | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST |
| Brother PR1X | .PES, .PHC, .DST, .PEN |
| Brother Skitch PP1 | .PES, .PHC, .DST |
| Brother Stellaire XE2 | .PES, .PHC, .PHX, .DST, .PEN |
| Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 3 | .VP4, .VP3, .SHV, .DHV, .VIP, .HUS, .PEC, .PES, .PCS, .XXX, .SEW, .JEF, .EXP, .DST |
| Pfaff creative icon 2 | .VP3 |
| Singer Futura XL-550 | .FHE, .CHE, .XXX, .PSW, .PEC, .PES, .HUS, .SEW, .EXP, .DST, .PCS |
| Singer Futura XL-580 | .FHE, .CHE, .XXX, .JEF, .HUS, .PES, .DST, .SHV, .PEC, .EXP, .VIP, .PCS, .PSW, .SEW |
| 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.