What file format Brother embroidery machines use

What an embroidery file is

An embroidery machine does not read pictures. It reads a list of needle positions: move here, stitch, move there, change color, trim. That list is called a stitch file, and each machine brand saves it in its own format with its own file extension.

A JPG, PNG, SVG or PDF is not an embroidery file. To stitch artwork, someone has to digitize it in embroidery software, which means deciding stitch types, direction, density and order. That is why a picture cannot simply be renamed to .pes and loaded.

Design software also has its own working files, sometimes called native or object files. These keep the shapes and settings so the design can be resized and edited cleanly. You export a stitch file such as PES from that working file when you are ready to sew.

Formats by machine brand

This table lists the format each brand is usually associated with. Many machines read more than one, and the exact list varies by model and software version, so confirm it in the machine's manual.

Which formats Brother machines read

Brother home embroidery machines such as the PE545, SE700, PE900, SE2000 and NQ1700E are built around PES. When you buy a design for a Brother, choose the PES download. Brother's listings for its Artspira app mention importing PES, PHC, PHX and DST designs, and many Brother machines also accept DST from a USB stick.

If a design only comes as DST, it will often load, but it will not carry the original thread colors. The machine will show generic colors, and you pick threads from the design's color chart instead. Stitch quality is not affected, since the stitches are the same.

Brother machines also limit design size to the hoop the machine supports. A 6 x 10 inch design will not open on a machine with a 5 x 7 inch maximum field. Use the embroidery hoop size guide to check a design's dimensions against your hoop before you buy it.

Check if a design fits your hoop →

Getting designs onto a Brother machine

If the machine shows the design but says it is too large, the design is bigger than your hoop's field. If it does not show at all, the file is likely in an unsupported format, inside an unzipped folder the machine cannot browse, or the stick has too many files on it. Step-by-step machine setup is covered in how to use a Brother embroidery machine, and design screen errors are covered in Brother embroidery machine problems.

1. 1

   Download the design and unzip it on a computer. Designs are often sold as a zip file with several formats inside.

2. 2

   Find the file ending in .pes. Ignore folders for other brands.

3. 3

   Copy it to a USB stick. Many machines work most reliably with a small stick formatted FAT32, and some limit how many files or folders they can read.

4. 4

   Insert the stick in the machine's USB port, open the USB or memory screen, and select the design.

5. 5

   On wireless models, you can instead send the design with Brother's Design Database Transfer software or the Artspira app, where your model supports it.

Converting between formats safely

Converting a stitch file from one format to another, for example JEF to PES, usually works for the stitch data because both describe needle positions. Colors may be lost or changed, and some formats handle trims and jumps differently, so always look at the converted design on screen and stitch a test.

Resizing is the bigger risk. When you enlarge or shrink a stitch file without recalculating, the number of stitches stays the same. Shrinking makes stitches pile up, which leads to thread breaks, needle breaks and stiff patches. Enlarging spreads them out, which leaves gaps. Small changes of about 10 to 20 percent are usually tolerated. For bigger changes, resize in software that recalculates stitch density or ask for a file digitized at the size you need.

Tools that can export PES include Brother's own PE-Design software, commercial programs like Embrilliance, and the free Ink/Stitch extension for Inkscape. Any design that stitches poorly after conversion is worth checking for density problems; see embroidery thread shredding and breaking and embroidery machine bird nesting.

Note.Only convert or edit designs you have the right to use. Commercial design licenses often limit how a design can be resold or shared, even after conversion.

Choosing a machine with format in mind

Format support is rarely a reason to pick one home brand over another, because most design shops sell every common format. It matters more if you plan to move to a multi-needle machine later. Many multi-needle listings, including Smartstitch, Ricoma and Poolin models, say they read DST and DSB files, so software that exports DST keeps your library usable as you grow.

For machines that read PES, see the best Brother embroidery machines and the best embroidery machines for beginners. For business use, see the best embroidery machines for small business.

See Brother embroidery machines →

Frequently asked questions

What file do I need for a Brother embroidery machine? Use a PES file. Many Brother models also read DST, but DST files do not include thread colors.

What embroidery machines use PES files? Brother and Baby Lock home embroidery machines use PES as their main format. Some other brands can read it too, so check your manual.

Can I turn a JPG into a PES file? Not by renaming or a simple file converter. The image has to be digitized in embroidery software, which creates the stitches, then exported as PES.

Why does my Brother machine not see the file on my USB stick? Common reasons are a zipped folder, an unsupported format, a design larger than your hoop, too many files on the stick, or a stick formatted in a way the machine does not read.