§ FILE FORMATS

EMBROIDERY file formats

A short reference for every embroidery file format ValidStitch reads and exports. Find the format your machine expects, and the gotchas that bite production.

7 formatsDST · PES · JEF · EXP · VP3 · XXX · SEWUpdated as we add machines
DST.DSTPES.PESJEF.JEFEXP.EXPVP3.VP3XXX.XXXSEW.SEW
  • DST
    Tajima Stitch File · Tajima
    If you sell decoration to other shops or push files between machines, DST is the lingua franca. Almost every commercial machine will read it.
    Open
  • PES
    Brother Embroidery File · Brother
    If your buyers run a Brother PR or a Babylock, PES is the format that loads with color names intact and the embedded thumbnail rendering on the machine LCD.
    Open
  • JEF
    Janome Embroidery File · Janome
    Janome users expect JEF — sending DST forces a format conversion at the machine and frequently loses the color sequence the design relied on.
    Open
  • EXP
    Melco / Bernina Expanded Stitch · Melco / Bernina
    EXP is the format Melco and Bernina users expect — DST will load but loses the higher-precision stitch coordinates EXP preserves.
    Open
  • VP3
    Husqvarna Viking / Pfaff Vector Stitch · Husqvarna Viking / Pfaff
    Viking and Pfaff users expect VP3 — competing formats either lose color names or fail to load at full hoop size.
    Open
  • XXX
    Singer Embroidery File · Singer / Compucon
    XXX is a niche but still-active format — Singer Futura buyers frequently request it specifically and will reject a DST handoff.
    Open
  • SEW
    Janome / Elna Legacy Embroidery File · Janome / Elna
    If your buyer is on legacy Janome hardware, SEW may be the only format that loads correctly — newer JEF files often reject on the older firmware.
    Open