The rule
| Brand | Format | Colours in the file |
|---|---|---|
| Brother, Baby Lock | PES | Yes |
| Janome, Elna | JEF | Yes |
| Husqvarna Viking, Pfaff | VP3 (HUS for older models) | Yes |
| Bernina, bernette, Melco | EXP (PES on recent Berninas) | No (EXP), yes (PES) |
| Tajima, Barudan, SWF, ZSK, Ricoma, Happy, Chinese machines | DST | No |
| Singer | XXX (older models), PES or DST (recent ones) | Yes |
In the studio, the format is chosen once in the Machine panel and stays saved with the project. The same stitches are written in the grammar of each machine.
The transfer
Almost every machine reads a USB stick formatted as FAT32. The file goes in the root (Brother, Husqvarna, Bernina) or in a specific folder (Janome: EMB/Embf). Short names without accents avoid surprises on older panels. Recent machines also accept Wi-Fi (Brother Artspira, mySewnet, Bernina) or a network folder (Tajima, Barudan, Ricoma); in Chrome or Edge, the studio writes directly into the stick's or the network's folder.
What conversion keeps and loses
- The stitches: always kept, to a tenth of a millimetre.
- The colours: kept between PES, JEF, VP3, HUS and XXX (matched to the target palette); lost when going to DST and EXP, which do not carry them: the run sheet keeps them.
- The trims: translated (three jumps in DST, explicit in PES, EXP and VP3, three zero-length jumps in JEF). A converter that does not translate them leaves threads uncut.
- The hoop: JEF and VP3 carry it; select the mounted hoop before exporting.
- The size: never changed by conversion. To enlarge, re-digitize.
Special cases
Domestic multi-needle machines (Brother PR, Janome MB): they also read DST; PES or JEF remains preferable for the colours. Bernina: EXP everywhere, PES on recent models, never ART (proprietary). Singer: XXX on the Legacy and Futura, which the studio reads but does not write; PES or DST on the SE9180. Chinese machines: DST, sometimes PES; the manual has the final say.
Frequently asked questions
Can I give a DST to a shop without knowing their machine?
Yes, it is the universal format of industrial machines. Attach the run sheet for the colours.
Does a PES file work on a Janome?
No, convert it to JEF; the colours are kept.
Which format is the "best"?
Your machine's. None is more precise than another: they all work to a tenth of a millimetre.
Go further
The studio is free to draw, open and check designs. Your first machine file takes five minutes.
Updated 2026-09-24.