Which format does my machine use?
Use this table to find the native format of your machine brand. When you buy or download a design, choose the native format whenever it is offered: it keeps the most information, especially thread colors.
| Brand | Market | Native format | Often also reads | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother | Home and semi-commercial | .PES | .DST.PEC | Most current models also read DST. Older card machines use PEC. |
| Baby Lock | Home | .PES | .DST | Built in partnership with Brother, so files are interchangeable with Brother. |
| Janome | Home | .JEF | .SEW | Designs must fit the hoop saved in the JEF file.Software working file: Artistic Digitizer (.jan) |
| Elna | Home | .JEF | .SEW | Elna embroidery machines are made by Janome. |
| Husqvarna Viking | Home | .VP3 | .HUS.SHV.VIP.DST | Older Designer models use HUS or SHV.Software working file: mySewnet / Premier+ (.vp4) |
| Pfaff | Home | .VP3 | .PCS.VIP.DST | Older creative models use the PCS family.Software working file: mySewnet / Premier+ (.vp4) |
| Bernina | Home | .EXP | – | Keep the .INF color file next to the EXP to see colors. Many recent models read more formats; check the manual.Software working file: Bernina Embroidery Software (.art) |
| Singer | Home | .XXX | .CSD | Support varies widely by model; check the manual. |
| Tajima | Commercial | .DST | – | The origin of DST, the de facto exchange format of the industry. |
| Barudan | Commercial | .U01.DSB / DSZ | .DST | Commercial shops exchange files as DST. |
| ZSK | Commercial | .DSB / DSZ | .DST | DSZ is ZSK's DST variant. |
| Happy | Commercial | .TAP | .DST | TAP is structurally close to DST. |
| Melco | Commercial | .EXP | .DST | Inventor of the EXP format.Software working file: DesignShop (.ofm) |
| SWF / Ricoma / most multi-needle | Commercial | .DST | – | Nearly every multi-needle machine reads DST. |
Before you stitch
- Check your manual for the exact list of formats and the largest hoop your model supports.
- If a design shows only one or two colors on screen, the format probably does not store colors (DST, EXP). Follow the color chart instead.
- When a format is not supported, convert it with embroidery software.